Resident Stories - Jackson-Feild
Changing lives since 1855

Resident Stories

Briana Lopez - The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

Briana Lopez’s life was nothing like the lives of her peers. Her friends had stable home lives with loving parents. Briana and her five siblings were placed in foster care when she was six years old, following the incarceration of both of her parents. Briana spent her days watching Annie...

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* This story is an adaptation of an actual child's case history.
To comply with HIPAA regulations, this child's name and photo have been changed.

Tiaa Mason – Paying It Forward

Tiaa Mason is a firm believer in the concept of ‘paying it forward.’ Seventeen years ago, Tiaa came to Jackson-Field from another residential program. Struggling with depression and the aftereffects of physical abuse, Tiaa was guarded, withdrawn, and skeptical about her future. Because she had anger management issues, Tiaa’s therapists...

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* This story is an adaptation of an actual child's case history.
To comply with HIPAA regulations, this child's name and photo have been changed.

Yessenia Melendez

I will survive! More than 22 years ago, Yesenia Melendez’ mother walked out on her – relinquishing custody of the local Department of Social Services. That’s when Yesenia began a long journey of struggling to survive a series of foster and group home placements. She arrived at Jackson-Feild as a...

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* This story is an adaptation of an actual child's case history.
To comply with HIPAA regulations, this child's name and photo have been changed.

Marsha

Living with her mother, stepfather, and much-loved maternal grandmother, Marsha was devastated when her grandmother passed away. Unable to deal properly with her grief, Marsha embarked on a long trail of dysfunctional and inappropriate behaviors that included verbal and physical aggression, substance abuse, promiscuity, stealing, poor impulse control, running away,...

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* This story is an adaptation of an actual child's case history.
To comply with HIPAA regulations, this child's name and photo have been changed.

Holly

 My daughter needs help. I need help. The realization rang through her head again and again. Holly’s mother was at a loss.  She had tried for many years to help her daughter on her own, but the last few years had been marked by eruptions of Holly’s distressing and dangerous...

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* This story is an adaptation of an actual child's case history.
To comply with HIPAA regulations, this child's name and photo have been changed.

Jeff

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Jeff’s story can so easily be proof of that adage. At the time of Jeff’s birth, his father was in jail, and his mother abandoned him. He was left the care of his paternal grandmother, a paranoid schizophrenic. All other...

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* This story is an adaptation of an actual child's case history.
To comply with HIPAA regulations, this child's name and photo have been changed.

Hillary

If it is to be, it is up to me. These ten simple words can help us change our life. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. We put roadblocks of negative thinking in our path in life. We are paralyzed by our doubts and fears. Hillary’s life was in...

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* This story is an adaptation of an actual child's case history.
To comply with HIPAA regulations, this child's name and photo have been changed.
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