Phone 704-372-4663

Author: Kamaria Clifton

L was 13 years old when she was admitted to the maternity program last June. She remains in DSS custody due to the incarceration of both of her parents, as well as her maternal aunt and her brother. L’s mother and brother are both addicts. The brother is serving time for assaulting L while becoming enraged under the influence of narcotics. On the day that she was admitted, we took her to the emergency room to have staples removed from the head injury. She has had to testify in court and struggles with feeling responsible for his incarceration. L had been “home schooled” by her mother, but has made a successful transition to public school. She responds well to our structured and stable environment. She is well-behaved, compliant and respectful. She enjoys spending time in our vocational lab and hanging out with her friends. Despite her young age, she is a very nurturing mother to her son, and she loves to learn all that she can about parenting. She just turned 14 years old.

Today is the day of FCS’s annual plant sale. Our amazing volunteers from the FCS Auxiliary host this sale every year and all of the proceeds go towards our scholarship program. Past and present residents from FCS are able to apply for scholarships to receive funding for secondary education. They have helped countless women go through college. We are honored to have the FCS Auxiliary supporting us and our residents in such a profound way. This is just one more example of not only our comprehensive services, but also our compassion and dedication to our clients’ success.

For more information on how to join our Auxiliary please click the link below.

Volunteer Positions & Opportunities

One more healthy baby born last night!

Please congratulate J!! She welcomed her newborn son last night at 8:35. He weighed in at 7 lbs., 13 oz., with a length of 19 inches.

J, sends her thanks and says that she already misses everyone. I am certain, she will be missed…particularly the Kitchen staff, since she was a very good and helpful “dishwasher”!!! Thank you to everyone who had a part in making certain J felt welcomed here throughout her stay.

Thanks….

LilyAnn
Maternity Program Case Manager

“THANK YOU” …this expression of appreciation was voiced on many occasions by S, who entered the Maternity Program from a Shelter where she had been living after her situation with her boyfriend became unsafe. She was 24 years old, and a recently “clean” drug addict. While she was in the Maternity Program, S received intensive individual counseling, support through the CASCADES program (substance abuse treatment for women), and medical care. S’s words of thanks were also directed to agencies to which she was referred by FCS – Crisis Assistance Ministry and DSS. These agencies helped her to secure furniture (including a washer and a dryer) so that she could set up her apartment. Due to the appropriateness of her behavior and the active pursuit of her goals, FCS staff worked together to provide her with necessary items to fully furnish her home, and many items for her baby. S entered and completed a local Culinary Arts Program. This opportunity was a long-time dream for S, and the Florence Crittenton Staff believe she will be a very productive and positive member of the community as a result of her participation in the Maternity Program.

Volunteering at FCS is such a personal and unique experience. No matter what your expertise or passion, there is a place for you at FCS.

Today, I joined a wonderful group of women. They call themselves the “Knitwits” and they get together and knit baby items for our mom’s to be at Florence Crittenton. Not only did I have the opportunity to further explain all of the amazing things going on at FCS, I was able to meet these knitting machines. It was inspiring to see them knitting away for our babies while asking how they can help even further.

I hope to see many of them for our Annual Luncheon on May 7th at Myers Park Methodist Church.

For information on other ways you can get involved, please check out our website below.

Giving

My life was less than perfect growing up, and I add no blame to my parents for that. I was like most teenagers; I thought I knew everything there was to know about life even though I had barely experienced it. I felt like I was invincible, and walked around acting like life owed me excitement and thrills without consequence. Life, however, did not meet my expectations. It was during the summer of July 2008 that I got a rude awakening. I was pregnant, and the future I hadn’t even got a chance to live was over, or so it would appear at the time.

Contrary to society’s belief that all teenage pregnancies end in disaster, I knew my pregnancy was saving me from one. My ‘YOLO’ (you only live once) philosophy had been taking me down a road I would have never survived. Somehow, the thought of having life growing inside me rewired my way of thinking, and life was no longer about satisfying my own selfish desires. The very thing that most people thought would destroy me is the very thing that ended up saving me. It was like my unborn child was subconsciously challenging me, driving me to rise above the statistics that the world has laid out for me.

At the time, the thought of achieving that seemed impossible. I questioned myself and my capabilities. What success could a 17-year-old drop out have at raising a child? I had never even had a job before, and could barely manage to keep my room clean. The odds seemed to be stacked against me, but I didn’t have time for a pity party. If I was ever going to make a life for me and my child I had to come up with a plan. There were two things that I knew absolutely had to be done if I was going to prove that I was serious about becoming a mother. First, I needed to change my setting, my lifestyle and my habits, and then I needed to get back in school. I knew working would be a necessity and that a G.E.D (General education Diploma) would be better than no diploma.

It was hard not to become overwhelmed. I knew what I had to do, but was clueless about how or where to begin. It was through Florence Crittenton Services, that I finally found my footing. This organization would provide the jumpstart I needed to establish myself. The constant care, diligence (and sometimes nagging) I received kept me focused on what was most important. I made it my priority to study for my G.E.D every chance I got, and surrounded myself around other positive moms who were hopeful about their future. Within fifty day, or less, I was able to complete and pass all my exams on the first try.

I can’t quite explain the feeling I felt when I received my diploma on my 18th birthday. I kept it close, as if it were a life source, which in many ways it was. It was a reminder of what hard work and determination can get you. By the end of my stay, at FCS, I had managed to receive a certificate in banking and customer service, and even make a few good friends out of other mothers who lived there.

There have been many things I have accomplished since leaving FCS. The main thing, raising my daughter with the love and diligence all children deserve. My life is, by no means, a fairytale. I have had some good days as well as bad. I have still made my share of mistakes, and learned from them. I have shed many tears since those past four year, and will probably shed many more. I have lost friends, and even at times lost faith, but if anyone asked me if I felt successful I would hold my head high and answer “yes”. It is through my hardships and struggles that I have learned that success first begins in the mind. Every day I push pass my insecurity’s, and continue to work towards achieving my goals, is a day I have been successful.

Having a child young did not put a stop to my life; it simply turned a new chapter in it.

Kimberly R.
April 5, 2013
Florence Crittenton Services

Spring Time At FCS

I love spring time at FCS! It is enjoyable because we are located within walking distance to the park, farmers market, green way and shops. This gives us many of opportunities to go on little adventures.

Its easy to tell someone “Eat vegetables! Go on walks!” It’s much more effective, however, to go on the walks together.

Today was an excellent example of doing instead of telling. Staff and clients walked to the local farmers market together and talked about healthy eating choices. We were able to discuss weekend menu planning and try to think of creative new recipes. It was a fantastic learning experience about being healthy without the usual nagging.

It was delightful to finally be able to enjoy Charlotte after being cooped up for the winter, and the residents and staff at FCS all agree.
Photo: Story #87 Spring Time At FCS I love spring time at FCS! It is enjoyable because we are located within walking distance to the park, farmers market, green way and shops. This gives us many of opportunities to go on little adventures. Its easy to tell someone “Eat vegetables! Go on walks!” It’s much more effective, however, to go on the walks together. Today was an excellent example of doing instead of telling. Staff and clients walked to the local farmers market together and talked about healthy eating choices. We were able to discuss weekend menu planning and try to think of creative new recipes. It was a fantastic learning experience about being healthy without the usual nagging. It was delightful to finally be able to enjoy Charlotte after being cooped up for the winter, and the residents and staff at FCS all agree.

Today we pass along words of wisdom from influential and inspirational women.

Pearl Bailey: “No one can figure out your worth but you”.

Mother Teresa: “Its not what you take but what you leave behind that defines greatness”.

Oprah Winfrey: “There is no paycheck that can equal the feeling of contentment that comes from being the person you are meant to be”.

Lena Horne: “Its not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it”.

Nancy Reagan: “A woman is like a teabag. You never know her strength until you drop her in hot water”.

Zelda Fitzgerald: “Nobody has ever measure, not even poets, how much the heart can hold”.

Lauren Bacall” “Imagination is the highest kite one can fly”.

Eleanor Roosevelt: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their
dreams”.

Marva Collins: “Character is what you know you are, not what others think you have”.

Congratulations is in order for Bl!!! She welcomed her baby boy into our world this morning at 10:33 (thank goodness, she waited until after she took her CNA re-certification exam, which she took yesterday morning)! He weighed in at 6 lbs., 8 oz., with a length of 19 inches. Although mom had some minor complications in the midst of delivering, all is now well with both of them.

Even though B was a fairly not-too-difficult client, she had many, many skills that needed enhancing, which we, as staff, all persevered in helping her with. She completed many of her goals (graduating from a substance abuse treatment program at Mercy Horizons, completing her CNA re-certification exam, being on the highest phase/level-Responsibility/Tuma Dala, being employed as the Resident Donations Coordinator, etc., etc., to name a few), as she demonstrated her ability to progress and grow, while residing here.

A BIG thank you to EVERYONE who had a hand in all that B accomplished and learned while she was a client of FCS.

Thanks,

LilyAnn

Maternity Program Case Manager

6 weeks after her 13th birthday, F became pregnant by her boyfriend, a 17 year-old unemployed high school drop out. F’s own mother was a young woman who died before F was one year old and F’s father was incarcerated about 12 years ago, and remains in prison. F has lived with her grandmother most of her life. Her grandmother was upset about the pregnancy, and concerned because F had shown disruptive behavior in school, was involved in several physical fights at school, and had a poor attitude both at home and at school.

F was admitted to FCS during the summer, and was enrolled in the 7th grade to start school in the fall. Keeping F in school was a priority. Although F was occasionally challenging with regard to going to school, she did begin to attend school on a daily basis. Medical care is another huge priority for a pregnant child, and FCS staff was especially diligent in making sure that F went to all of her medical appointments and received all prenatal care.

F often had to be re-directed by staff because of her negative behavior. She became easily upset and angry; however, over time she learned to interact more appropriately with her peers and staff. She responded very well to the Mentor who was provided by the FCS Volunteer Coordinator and to opportunities to be one-on-one with staff. She particularly seemed to enjoy working with staff on specific projects. F was a resident in the Maternity Program at FCS for 6 months, when she delivered a healthy baby boy weighing 7 lbs and 3 oz. She was discharged with the baby to her Grandmother. F is currently being followed up through FCS’s aftercare program, and is doing very well.

F is a perfect example of the challenging situation our clients are in. Pregnancy alone is difficult, but add in the numerous overwhelming variables our residents face, and it is easy to see how important FCS is in their lives. We provide a safe place for our clients to get their lives on track. We enable them to prepare for a solid, productive, and healthy future.