Donielle’s Story

When my son turned 15, he really began to struggle. He was having behavioral issues, getting into trouble at school, acting out, and struggling with life and with himself. Things started to spiral out of control.

As a single mom, you wake up one day and think, “What just happened to my life? What am I doing wrong as a parent?” I knew I needed help beyond what I could provide at home on my own.

We had an appointment with his physician, and I was told she would not prescribe medication or run any tests because he was not suicidal. I was told he had to be in a state where he was going to commit or attempt suicide, and only then should I call the police. After that, we could come back and they would evaluate him, diagnose him, and possibly prescribe medication.

I sat in my car and cried.

We should not have to wait for a situation to reach that level of crisis before something can be done. At that point, finding help became incredibly important to me.

JFCS was referred to me when I was desperate for help for my son. It felt like the sky parted and light was shining through. Even now, it makes me emotional because it took me a long time to find support from anyone in my community.

For the first time, I felt like I was truly not alone.

Not only was my child going to get the support he needed, but I was going to get support too. At JFCS, everything was right there. They had everything I needed. I never felt judged. I felt like they were saying, “You’re here now, and we’ve got you.”

It was everything I had been searching for, all in one place.

This became a turning point in our lives. When I was struggling, I had this group of people who would not let me fall.

JFCS is a place where people do not fall through the cracks.

My greatest wish is that JFCS continues to be supported because when communities come together to lift one another up, we all become stronger.

We are remembered for the kindness and love we show others, far more than for the kind of car we drove or how big our house was. I truly believe you can never go wrong in life by helping another person.

That is the kind of world I want to live in.

JFCS saved my son’s life.