Arden Shore

David successfully transitions from group home to his grandparents’ home

David was taken into the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services when he was eleven years old. He was living with his mother and her boyfriend when IDCFS took custody of him because of severe physical and emotional abuse. His mother was addicted to drugs and has not been in his life since. David was placed with his maternal grandparents and lived with them for a year and a half. His behavior became aggressive at home and at school. While living with his grandparents, he was psychiatrically hospitalized three time and placed on medication. He was diagnosed with mood and post traumatic stress disorders. IDCFS and the grandparents decided that he needed to be place in a restrictive residential facility to help him control his behavior.

During his stay at a residential program, David learned coping skills to control his emotional outbursts. His behavior eventually became manageable and he made academic progress at a therapeutic day school. After 2 years there, David moved to one of Arden Shore’s group homes in June of 2006.

At Arden Shore, David continued to increase his ability to control his behavior and began to enjoy going on community outings. Family therapy sessions helped David and his grandparents set up rules and expectations for their home for when David visited them. David began to have weekly overnight visits with his grandparents. While there were ups and downs, these visits went well. Both David and his grandparents become more trusting of each other. David attended a therapeutic day school and did very well while continuing to increase his ability to conform to rules. He graduated from high school and participated in the graduation ceremonies. In August 2008, David returned to live with his grandparents. His future plans include attending a local community college and eventually join the military.

Arden Shore Child and Family Services

329 North Genesee Street
Waukegan, Illinois 60085

ph: (847) 623-1730
fax: (847) 623-1733

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