Author: Kimberly Jackson-Luzader

Kelly, 17: Family Matters

Kelly, age 17, was admitted into Florence Crittenton Services (FCS) after becoming pregnant during a very difficult time in her life.  She had dropped out of high school and was running away on a regular basis.  Kelly and her mother were arguing daily, and her mother was constantly besieged with the pressure of trying to raise Kelly and her two other children by herself.
Kelly’s father had been convicted of sexually abusing her when she was 14.  Her family unraveled after this horrible trauma.  She stopped listening to her mother, was angry, hurt and started to act out by becoming promiscuous.  Kelly’s mother felt overwhelmed and unable to help her daughter, subsequently making FCS a uniquely perfect place for their family.

FCS was able to support Kelly, and allow them to work through their challenges as a family.  While at FCS, Kelly was incredibly successful.  She worked as a housekeeper and participated in all programming.  She attended parenting and GED classes and passed both in flying colors.

The father of baby was also a teenager and was ill prepared for parenthood.  He too was able to attend parenting classes at FCS and to learn his role as the father.  Kelly’s story is an excellent example of how FCS is able to work within a support system in order to gain the greatest outcomes.

Due to her mother working a full time job along with a subsidy that the family receives from her father’s imprisonment, Kelly’s family was unable to receive State Maternity Funds.  This combined income put the family right above the poverty line and were therefore ineligible for state funding, leaving FCS to find other means of payment for services.  Kelly’s mother, incredibly grateful for FCS, attempted to help every month by providing a financial contribution, an incredibly challenging feat for Kelly’s mother.

At the end of her stay at FCS, Kelly left with a healthy baby, a stronger relationship with her mother, and confidence towards parenting.  She also obtained her GED and had secured a job.  Kelly and her mother are so grateful for the skills she was able to gain while living here, as well as the promise of a bright future.

If you like the stories we have been sharing, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.

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Story #26

Story #26

“My Story”: Louise Watson

More than 5,700 girls and young women have come to live at FCS since I first came on staff at FCS. Each one of those young women, like the thousands of FCS residents before them, has had her own story, her own needs, and her own plan for her future and the future of her baby. Over the years, I have seen first-hand how FCS residents are cared for, and the outstanding programs and services that are available to each one of them. I have come to understand why former residents tell us the time they spent at FCS was one of the most important periods of their lives – a time of positive changes that often opened new and wonderful futures for themselves and their children.
The very same can be said for me: Being a part of this agency’s amazing staff and volunteers as together we seek to achieve the mission and vision set before us has been a very important part of my own life and has brought positive changes and a brighter future to me.

I would like to thank each and every FCS client whose path crossed mine over these past years. You have shown me what personal strength in times of adversity and difficult life circumstances really means. You have shared your smiles, your tears, your struggles and your achievements with me, and I am truly humbled and grateful to you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

If you like the stories we have been sharing, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.
https://crittentonofnc.org/giving-opportunities/

Story #23

Story #23 – Whats your story…

I remember the first volunteer orientation I conducted. When telling these amazing people of all the wonderful things FCS does, several of them started to cry. I was so moved by the love in others hearts. FCS has shown me the true beauty of humanity. To give of oneself for another is something I experience almost daily as the volunteer coordinator. The residents are continually blessed by the generosity and giving spirits of our community. Thanks to all who inspire me and the residents of FCS to be the best we can be!

P, 27: A Safe Haven

This review of Florence Crittenton Services of NC was found on Superpages, and demonstrates once again the lifelong impact FCS makes.

Notably good service experience:
I am a former resident of this facility. Although the circumstances that brought me there were not the most pleasant my experience while there was life changing. I often said that one day I would love to return to this one or one in my city/state and work/give back. I know that my stay at the Charlotte home affected my choices in life, love, and career. The staff there were very attentive, caring, and understanding. Thank you for supplying a safe-haven for young women who otherwise wouldn’t have one.

If you like the stories we have been sharing, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.
https://crittentonofnc.org/giving-opportunities/

Story #21

Story #21

Legacy Hall, full of success stories….

FCS’s independent living program for non pregnant adolescents in foster care has had a week filled with celebration.

Through out the past few years this program has steadily grown and strengthened and is now proud to boast it is serving more clients than ever before. It is so wonderful to see our Legacy Hall family grow, for that is what it is… a family. Our residents have the opportunity to hone their life skills in preparation for adulthood, while simultaneously forming lifelong friendships.

While the number of clients is increasing their successes are as well. This week, two of our girls graduated from High School. With the support of each other, staff, tutors, mentors, and other volunteers, our residents were able to devote their time and ability and achieve this huge milestone. We celebrate with them, and cheer them on to more successes in the future.

If you like the stories we have been sharing, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.
https://crittentonofnc.org/giving-opportunities/

Story #20

Story #20

I work on Legacy Hall at Florence Crittenton which caters to non pregnant/non parenting teens aging out of the foster care system.

Our goal is to help them get on their feet and learn skills including employment, budgeting, and housing so that they could move out on their own successfully.

I enjoy spending time with the foster care clients in the program. The challenges of the position are highly motivating.

Witnessing the girls successes: graduating from high school or substance abuse rehabilitation, getting their permits or getting their first job, making better grades and raising their grade point averages, improving their attendance at school… or failures that they learn from: what clothes not to wash together, how not to cook an item, groceries that don’t last all week, having to work out taking turns cleaning their bathrooms… all make incredible learning experiences for us all.

Florence Crittenton Services has made a difference in my life because it has given me the opportunity to make investments in people,  and that opportunity is truly important to me!

If you like the stories we have been sharing, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.

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Tammy, 16: Love Yourself

Hi, my name is Tammy and 17 years ago Florence Crittenton changed my life forever. I was 16 years old and pregnant with my second child when I came there. I had a low self esteem, I did not care about anything anyone had to say at the time. It was there that I was taught to love my self and then my baby. The staff were awesome even down to the doctors. I had a lot of complications with my first baby, but being in the environment of this home I had no complication because I was stress free. I can go on and on about how great this home is for pregnant women who are trying to get their lives together.
I just want to tell y’all that Florence Crittenton saved my life and from the bottom of my heart,
…tears are rolling…
appreciate every little thing they have done for me.

If you like the stories we have been sharing, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.

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H, 16: For Anyone who is Scared

Client writing a letter of advice to new clients:

Hello!!! I am currently 37 weeks pregnant. Tomorrow I will be 38 weeks pregnant. This is my first baby and don’t plan on anymore until the future. Anyways I am 16 years old and I’m still in school living my life just as well as anybody else. But here is something that I and you might have in common that might surprise you is that I also stay here at Florence Crittenton.

Being only 16 and also scared of what it was that I was facing, coming to Florence Crittenton I was kind of nervous at first. Soon I come to realize that this was where I needed and wanted to be.

This program put so much comfort and dignity in me. When I thought that the world was only looking down on me I came here and realized that I’m not a bad person and no matter what there is still hope and I’m very confident that I can make it being a single mom as long as I can keep my priorities set straight. With the help of staff always being here to talk to me when I’m worried or having troubles, I never worry myself about being lonely and not knowing what to do because there always here when you need them.

I don’t feel like I’m the only one anymore because there are some girls here that are in the same situation as me. This place has truly changed me and I don’t know where it is that I would be without Florence Crittenton. Coming here you’ll learn a lot of new things about becoming a parent. There are so many programs that come here to help us with the start at a foundation of becoming a mother. I’m s sure that you will love this place!!! Well, thanks for taking the time to read my story. Never give up because your life if not over. You have a precious gift that God gave you growing in you and please don’t for get that.

If you like the stories we have been sharing, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.

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Story #15

Story #15

How did I begin my involvement in Florence Crittenton?

I was eating breakfast early one weekday morning at Anderson’s Restaurant near uptown Charlotte. A person I only slightly knew came over to my table and identified himself as a FCS Board member and simply said, “I’ve been asked to invite you to become a member of our Board. I’m sure he was a little surprised at how quickly I said, “I will be happy to join”. I asked if he was surprised at the quick response and told him perhaps the key reason. My younger brother and his wife, thinking they could have no children, applied for adoption, were approved and soon received a baby girl. She came through The Children’s Home in Greensboro. I had a very strong feeling that perhaps also through Florence Crittenton. The later didn’t matter, but seeing how much joy she had brought into the lives of my brother and his wife, I knew I wanted to try to “give something back”. That request by the Board member was almost 25 years ago and I’m still involved in this incredible organization as a member of the Advisory Board.

F, 26: “Dare”

Today’s story was an email received from an FCS supporter. I love how this story demonstrates the many facets of Florence Crittenton’s impact.

Hello, Friends,

I just checked a book out of the Char-Meck library that my friends had been raving about: Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander, MD. Eben, a neurosurgeon, was born in December of 1953 at the Florence Crittenton Home in Charlotte, next to Charlotte Memorial Hospital!

His mother was 16, the youngest resident, and took the “code name” of Virginia Dare. She was called “Dare” by the residents, and desperately wanted to keep her son. Residents at that time were at the Home three months before and two weeks after the birth of their babies. She and the father eventually did marry and had more children.

Eben spent his first Christmas plus eleven days in the hospital, and then went to a “baby dorm.” He was adopted by a wonderful couple, which was meaningful to me since our first child, now deceased, was also adopted.

The birth father was a naval aviator, NASA Apollo trainee, an airline pilot for Piedmont and Delta, and an attorney! Eben did reunite with his birth family.

You can read a sample at the link below. I haven’t gotten very far into the book as of now, but I am really enjoying it!

http://www.amazon.com/Proof-Heaven-Neurosurgeons-Journey-Afterlife/dp/1451695195/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358865705&sr=1-1&keywords=eben+alexander

Blessings,
FCS Supporter

If you like this story, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.
https://crittentonofnc.org/giving-opportunities/