For approximately two and a half months, our consultant, B, remained committed to the Brenneman family despite very limited engagement from mom. B continued making frequent drop-in attempts, consistently reaching out by phone, keeping HHS informed, and ensuring mom knew that support was available. B understood the significant risks facing mom and her six children and continued showing up, even when her outreach often went unanswered.
During this time, mom was experiencing circumstances that made trusting others incredibly difficult. She had endured sexual and physical abuse, harassment, stalking, threats that she would be killed, and ongoing efforts to escape an abusive relationship. At a time when she needed support most, she also experienced abandonment from her father and siblings, who encouraged her to return to the abusive relationship.
Despite everything she was facing, mom eventually made the courageous decision to ask for help.
What makes that moment particularly significant is that mom had only met B twice during those two and a half months. However, B’s consistent outreach had demonstrated that she was someone mom could rely on. When mom reached a point of desperation and was ready to make a change, B was the person she chose to call.
B responded immediately. After already completing a full day of work, she spent hours with mom that Friday evening and continued providing support throughout the weekend. On Monday and Tuesday, B again spent hours upon hours alongside mom, helping her develop a plan, pack her belongings, arrange transportation, navigate resources, and take the necessary steps toward a safe and stable environment for herself and her six children.
But the story did not end with getting the family to safety.
That call for help became a turning point for mom and her family. Since that time, mom has consistently engaged in services with B. She participated in 10 days of Family Preservation Services, has gotten her children enrolled and attending school, and is actively participating in substance abuse treatment. The woman who initially had very limited engagement with services is now consistently working alongside B and taking meaningful steps toward increased stability for her family.
This success belongs first and foremost to mom. After experiencing abuse, threats, isolation, and the loss of support from people she should have been able to depend on, she found the courage to make a different choice for herself and her six children. She accepted help, left an unsafe situation, and has continued doing the difficult work necessary to move her family forward.
B’s role in that journey demonstrates why persistence and relationship-building are so critical to the work we do. This outcome was not the result of one phone call, one visit, or one extraordinary day. It was built through more than two months of continuing to show up when there was little response in return. B could not know when or if mom would be ready, but she made sure that when that moment came, mom knew she would not have to face it alone.
Today, this family’s story looks different. Mom and her children have moved toward greater safety and stability. The children are attending school, mom is participating in treatment and services, and she continues to engage consistently with B.
This family's story reminds us that lack of engagement does not mean lack of impact. Sometimes success begins long before we can see it. It begins by continuing to call, continuing to show up, and continuing to leave the door open. When mom was finally ready to walk through that door, there was someone on the other side whom she already knew she could trust.
That trust created an opportunity. Mom’s courage turned that opportunity into change.