Success Stories

Strengthening Families

Martha* is in the process of settling her divorce. She has not been employed for two years and is concerned about her ability to be a successful single parent. Her Family Support Worker from Burlington County Community Action Program (BCCAP) was also concerned about her parental capabilities and the change in her support system resulting from the pending divorce.

The Family Support Worker modeled parenting skills and provided Martha with information on single parenting, support groups, creating a resume and job interview techniques.

Since entering the program, Martha has made new connections which provide her with various services to help her succeed, including rental assistance, medical transportation, food stamps and Medicaid.

*Not their real names

Promoting Independent Living & Self-Sufficiency

Bob*, a 24-year old man, was experiencing anxiety and debilitating panic attacks. He had been unable to maintain employment, finish high school or obtain his driver license.  Bob decided to enter Burlington County Behavioral HealthCare’s Family and Community Services program, where one of their therapists encouraged him to work through these issues in weekly psychotherapy and facilitated monitoring from the staff psychiatrist.

Since starting the program, Bob does not seem to experience panic attacks and anxiety anymore. He has become motivated to complete his G.E.D., seek vocational rehabilitation and enroll in college.  He is also looking forward to obtaining his driver license and remains committed to moving forward with his life.

* Not his real name

Investing in Children & Youth

Carmen and Bobby (Big Brother) have been matched for over a year. Carmen is a 13 year-old African American boy that has two younger siblings, whom he often looks after. Throughout this last year, Carmen has had to deal with many adversities. Carmen often has to carry a lot of weight on his shoulders for his family, as his mother is not physically able to do as much as younger mothers. His mother’s health has continued to decline, his biological father took his mother to court and states he cannot afford to pay child support, the family’s home was recently burglarized and many of their valuables were stolen.

Through these ordeals, Bobby has been a strong, supportive guide. Bobby let Carmen know that, “Sometimes you have to deal with a lot of issues – more than most kids your age. You cannot let this get to you. You have to rise above and be resilient. If you can handle these kinds of problems, you can handle anything. Don’t give into the pressure. It is the easy out and you are better than that.”

Bobby has helped Carmen learn not to take out his anger and frustration on other adults or his peers. Bobby also assists Carmen with school projects. Carmen won an award in science with a project that Bobby helped him with. Carmen lives in a poverty stricken unsafe neighborhood. It would be extremely easy for Carmen to give in to the peer pressure of drugs, gangs, violence and drinking. However, he has not. Instead he has joined a bowling team, has learned to use exercise as a way to help outlet his frustration, and really encourages his siblings to help their mother. He is extremely polite, respectful and considerate. Carmen has hopes, goals and aspirations for the future. He refused to let the pressure of adolescence and society bring him down; he is working to rise above and continue to look to his Big Brother for guidance.

Providing Basic Needs & Responding to Crisis

Mary, a resident of Willingboro, is a working mother of a 10 year-old son and a daughter 9 years old. While she works full time at a local mortgage company and earns $2,018.92 a month, her monthly living expenses for her and her 2 children total $2,610.58

Mary and her husband had just separated but it wasn’t until she applied for child support that she learned her husband had quit his job and because of his unemployment, she wasn’t able to receive child support. She was counting on that money to help meet her monthly expenses. Due to her inability to collect child support; she fell behind in her utility payments and was faced with the choice of paying either her rent or her utility bill. Not paying her rent could put her and her children in jeopardy of eviction and eventual homelessness.

Mary came to Emergency & Community Services to seek assistance with a delinquent utility bill of $954.00. When her case manager called the utility company, she was informed that Mary, until recently, always paid her bills consistently and had a good payment history. She was immediately approved for $954 of NJ SHARES funds, which gave her a $0 balance on her utility bill and avoided a utility shut-off.

Upon receiving the news, she cried and thanked Emergency & Community Services for their assistance.