Lehigh Valley In-Home Services Creating Substantial Impact in the Communities – David G’s Inspirational Story About Perseverance, Courage, and Determination
David was only two years old when his birth family abandoned him. After being placed in the Child Welfare System for almost a year, he was adopted by his first adoptive family who took care of him for ten years. Everything was going great for David until his 13th birthday when his first instances of sexually acting out behavior began. Not understanding the situation and having limited resources to look after him, David’s then adoptive family decided to no longer become his guardian. Soon after that, David was yet again placed back into the Foster Care System.
Most Challenging Experience
After running several tests and assessments, David was identified as having problematic sexualized behaviors at age 13. This is commonly identified in youth who have experienced severe trauma, especially in their early childhood. Leanne Debrosse, Lehigh Valley (LV) In-Home Services Program Supervisor, stated, “David not only had to recover from his behavioral health concerns but also had to go through the void of not having the support of a family all over again”.
Despite the challenges, David’s resiliency was commendable. He continued receiving treatment services. Through trauma-focused services such as specialized individual/group/family therapy; problematic sexual behavior education and prevention; victimization awareness; and life skills training, he started showing signs of improvement.
David found a beacon of hope when a CHOR foster family, who had been temporarily taking care of him, decided to adopt him while he underwent treatment. After months of specialized intervention and proper supervision, David started showing immense improvements. His perseverance, determination, and courage to strive through the unimaginable circumstances at such a young age were remarkable, Mrs. Debrosse expressed.
From Seeking Treatment to Becoming a Mentor
Today, David is 20 years old. He is a proud graduate and a successful working professional. “David’s success is a proud moment for all of us. He is an exemplary young man. He has been a mentor and an inspiration for many other struggling youths in LV In-Home Services,” Mrs. Debrosse emphasized. David’s successful recovery story and his tremendous impact on fellow clients have encouraged many of them to more fully engage in the treatment and support services provided through the program.
