I would like to share some of the things SSEF has been seeing - just so you
know.
Ninety percent of the South Sudanese community are doing great. We just sent 48
kids to sleep over camp including 16 that went to Boarding Schools for the
summer! The parents and the kids love academic rigger.We have one family that
is moving to Concord! We are thrilled!
However the 10% that are not doing well are being failed by our
system......those 10% have KIDS who are being neglected because of our broken
systems.
Case #1
We have a family with 4 kids - they live in Chelsea. The father who was very
stressed a year ago hit the mother and he went to jail. A few months later the
daughter age 12 told her counselor at school that she was suicidal and had a
plan. The Counselor called Boston Medical Center mobile team who does
evaluations in homes. That team will not see anyone unless the person says it's
okay. The mother said the daughter was fine,She was not evaluated. SSEF had to
step in.
The mother has to now financially take care of her family. She works at Whole
Foods and makes $17 an hour- four kids....she can't make ends meet. She is
living in a horrible apartment that has bugs, mice and rats. They should move
out of there BUT her credit score is horrible and no one will rent to her.
She has a car which is expensive ...but her kids are in four different schools
so she needs a car to get them to where they need to go each day.
When the father hit the mother Department of Children's Services got involved.
They saw the family for a short period- never contacted the father- they have
closed the case.So we have a family about to be evicted, kids with mental
health problems and they closed the case????????So we are spending time writing
letters and connecting with different shelters for this family...shelters are
full and you have to be on a waiting list. Horrible.
Case #2
A woman and her two kids live in Lynn in a shelter. The mother has a long
history of mental illness. The girls thanks to SSEF (And many of you) were
involved in Girls Inc (fabulous organization). The mother was involved in job
training- sort of. Her extended family lives in Lynn and the girls would see
them occassionally.
A permenant housing situation came up in South Boston. The mother thinking this
was a good idea, signed a lease for one year.
The girls lost Girls Inc, the mother lost her connection to Lynn Health Center,
and lost close connection to her extemnded family.
The family moved almost a month ago. We went there two weeks ago and there was
no food, no fans and no furniture.The apartment is in public housing in Boston.
Need I say more? Horrible place.
We have a mother who is very stressed and has a history of mental illness,
living with a 8 and 10 year old in a horrible neighborhood. The 10 year old
looks 25- tall and very beautiful...BUT 10.
Called DCF two weeks ago and it took them 9 days to visit the home. The girls
who sleep a lot during the day were sleeping when DCF visited.. DCF never
contacted us despite calls and emails.
In the meantime SSEF called the police and they did a well check but never
spoke to the girls. They felt, according to the mother, that everything is
fine.....
SSEF contacted the Lynn Health Center and has an appointment on Tuesday there
with the mother, a psychaiatric nurse and the primary care phyiscan.
Two issues- the shelter doesn't understand where the mother is coming from and
connected her to permenant housing in South Boston....the shelter is doing
little to nothing to support the mother through this transition.
DCF and the police? Useless
Lynn Health Center- a savor.
I could go on and on about how our systems are not working to help kids that
are vulnerable.
It is very painful to see...and this is Massachusetts!
How can you help? All donations received to SSEF in the next few days will go
to the Housing Fund. This will enable us to continue to refer families to
appropriate support systems and follow up! It is not something SSEF has done in
the past but because of the housing crisis we are seeing issues more and more.
A delayed crisis ......and the kids are the ones who suffer......
SSEF
PO Box 492
Lincoln MA 01773
Thank you for reading my tirade.
Susan
'
Susan Winship, LICSW
Executive Director
South Sudanese Enrichment for Families
PO Box 492
Lincoln, MA 01773
781-424-8774
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