Loss had shaped Angela’s outlook at an early age. When her mother was bed-ridden with cancer, 15-year-old Angela, the oldest of six children, dropped out of school to care for her. Her Spanish-speaking father, who had moved the family from Uruguay when Angela was seven, juggled three jobs to feed them, pay the rent and their growing medical expenses.
Six months later, tragedy struck again. While at work, Angela’s father had a stroke that paralyzed him on one side and caused speech and memory loss. Social workers coordinated the care of her parents and placed Angela and her siblings in foster homes. During the next two years, she lived with three foster families. Weekly visits with her parents and siblings only made her more heartsick about all she had lost. At 17, the once happy and vibrant girl was distant and withdrawn. She rarely spoke and lacked interest in school, friends and her future.
A referral to the Villa’s Supervised Independent Living Program (SILP) was made to help Angela prepare for eventual independence. Living in a community apartment with the benefit of regular visits from Villa social workers, Angela began to focus on herself and her goals. Intelligent and strong-willed, she blossomed under the guidance of Villa staff who taught her daily living, job-hunting and money-management skills while also working to restore her emotional strengths and confidence. Most of all, they talked to her about how she could carve a path for herself with hard work and conviction. With a strong work ethic, and a focus to one day reunite with her brothers and sister, Angela worked toward her GED while working full-time as a receptionist in a medical clinic.
When her mom died, 18 year-old Angela relied heavily on her social worker to cope with a flood of emotions she had kept inside. Her father’s death less than a year later left her completely on her own. With continuous support, she was able to find peace despite her loss, and felt a new desire to be strong for her family and pursue her dreams the way her parents have wanted. At 22, Angela now has a secure job and is working toward a nursing degree. She shares an apartment with her sister and enjoys weekend visits with their younger brothers.
She has a fresh outlook on her future.
Frank's Story...
