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CVCA Success Stories
JASON
In May of 2006, Jason arrived at Carson Valley School and resided in Stork Hill Cottage. Jason quickly established himself as a dependable, respectful, hard-working, young man that staff could rely on. Through determination and accomplishment of his goals and requirements, Jason left residential life at Stork Hill in April, 2007 to live with his Grandmother and became a day student in Carson's Alternative Education Program. Throughout his senior year, Jason only missed three days of school due to testing and visiting Thaddeus Stevens College where he will attend in September, 2008, enrolling in the Automotive Technician Program. Jason has become a very reliable young man with a strong work ethic. In his free time, Jason enjoys drawing, reading, writing, and solving puzzles.
NIKKI
The year before Nikki joined Carson Valley School's AWALTI (Allegheny West Adolescents Leadership Training Institute) Program in 2006, her oldest brother was a victim of violence that plagues the city streets of Philadelphia. Before his death, Nikki struggled with anger issues but her behavior problems only increased after his death and she became more argumentative, aggressive, exhibited poor self-esteem and experienced difficulty with authority. Nikki faithfully attended all of the AWALTI sessions and actively participated in group sessions dealing with anger management. It was a long hard struggle but Nikki was able to set goals for 2007-2008 of no fighting, no suspensions and making honor roll each marking period. So far Nikki has met her goals and her grade point average is currently 3.8. Her sense of self-esteem has improved and while college was not articulated as a goal when she entered AWALTI, Nikki is now talking about attending college.
JOYCE
Joyce and her sister, Gail came to Carson in the early 1970's. Joyce spoke of Carson as the most positive influence of her life. "It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to be at Carson." After the death of her mother, Joyce and her sister were sent to a foster home. This experience was not a happy one, and in 1971 Joyce and Gail were transferred to Carson Valley School where they resided until 1975. Joyce was one of four African-American residents at Carson. This was a new experience for Joyce. At first, she feared prejudice, and favoritism. Her fears were not only unfounded but she stated that one of the great lessons of her life was learned here. "If I hadn't come to Carson I might have grown up closed-minded. But Carson staff were loving, open-minded people. I never felt that I was treated differently. This acceptance and loving, nurturing, environment permeated the entire community. It came from the staff and flowed down to the children." As a result, Joyce has developed into an accepting, loving individual herself who has a great talent for relating to all people.
BOBBY
Before the age of 10, Bobby had lived in three different homes. Bobby doesn't know his biological father and remembers little about his birth mother. When he was 6 he was placed in a group home, where he remained for more than a year. Through the efforts of the Children's Aid Society, Bobby was introduced to the Hopely family. He arrived at the Hopely home and became a part of a large family of six children, five of which are adopted. The Hopely's live outside of Collegeville, PA on a small farm with horses, chickens and goats. "The group home was OK, but I didn't get to go outside much. Here I ride horses, play basketball and swim. This is a great family for me because there are lots of people to do things with. I'm really glad I was adopted."
LOIS
Lois is a special friend of Children's Aid Society. She had been a foster mother for 16 children, taking care of up to four children at a time, and she adopted a four-year old who is now ten. Every three years the foster kids have a reunion and visit Lois during Christmas week. Recently, this foster mother, who is an assistant teacher who "specializes" in autistic children at Grover Washington School, and is a leader in her neighborhood, graduated from The Institute for Community Leadership. The Institute for Community Leadership program is provided by three organizations: Children's Aid Society, Logan Olney EPIC Stakeholders, and Institute for Leadership Education. Lois says she will apply her new knowledge to trying to get her neighborhood on track. She said, "So many people moved away from our neighborhood. People bought the houses and rented them out. We need to help these renters to take pride in our neighborhood. The Institute for Community Leadership taught me to treat everyone the same, and listen to what everyone has to say."
ANN AND KALIF
Ann and Kalif are foster parents through Children's Aid Society. They share their home with Justin, a 19 year-old son adopted by Ann before her marriage to Kalif; their adopted daughter, Carly, 22 months and their foster son, 18 months. Ann says that her son, Justin, had been in five foster homes before he came to her home. She does not want that to happen to their present foster son. Now that they have another boy they love, they would like to adopt again. Kalif adds, "We can't take in all the kids who do not have opportunities in life, but we can give some a chance." Both parents agree that if they can not adopt their foster son, they will take in another foster child.
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