Manatee Children's Services Annual Gala

Some Of Our Many Success Stories

Parenting Programs:

We are so proud of our client, “Katie,” who worked with the MCS Family Preservation and Reunification (FPRP) after her son was removed as a result of her drug arrest. At the time of her arrest, Katie and her son lived with her boyfriend and his two children. Katie worked diligently with our FPRP coach for six months to meet her parenting plan – which included supporting sobriety and recovery in her life, becoming knowledgeable of parenting skills and development, and building bonds between parent and child – and successfully created a safe home environment free of substance use. Katie wrote a relapse safety plan and was proud to graduate from Drug Court. In the meantime, her boyfriend was also working toward reunification with his two children. After securing a rental home, Katie was reunited with her son, and her boyfriend was reunited with his children shortly thereafter. Katie has reported to her coach that the family is thriving and the children love being at home with their parents. Thank you to our hardworking FPRP team for making dreams come true for parents like Katie! 

After attending the Safe Children Coalition’s annual reunification celebration last year and visiting a friend in their transitional living facility shortly thereafter, a mom in our parenting program told herself, “Next year, it will be me who’s celebrating being reunified with my child.” After hard work and dedication, she achieved her goal with the help of MCS parenting coaches and was invited to participate in this year’s celebration – this time as a parent celebrating her own reunification.

RESIDENTIAL (Shelter/group homes)

• A young male came to the MCS group home at age 16 due to abuse and neglect. He was falling behind in school, had no identification or driver's permit, had never created a resume before, and lacked emotional boundaries. MCS residential staff got him into therapy through our clinical team, connected him with a new school, helped him obtain his driver’s license, and witnessed him teaching younger children how to exercise and cook. MCS staff established a connection to a recruiter for him and, as a result, he decided to join the military after graduation. This young man aged out successfully with a brighter future thanks to the care and education he received through MCS.

• “When God called my mom home at 42 years old, it was one of the hardest days I ever had. I came to foster care at age 15, going from pillow to couch to home that wasn’t mine. I felt alone, abandoned, and sometimes helpless, like I was stuck in a pitch-black tunnel. I had many scary thoughts when I came to MCS a few months later: are they nice? Will they treat me different? The only way to find out was to open my heart. They taught me things where my mom left off on how to be an adult. I felt like I was home all over again. Staff showed me not to give up and that I could do anything I dreamed of. I’m back at MCS now as a staff member, helping kids cook in the same house I learned to cook. I let them know they’re not alone and they always have a purpose.” – Katrina Howard, MCS Residential Staff Member

• We love caring for foster children at MCS, but we love it even more when they get to reunite with family. Our staff are especially proud of one boy who came to the Emergency Shelter in August 2022. With the help of staff, he received weekly therapy and school support. He transitioned from shelter status to our Boys Group Home when it was determined that he would require more extended foster care. He excelled in school and blossomed under the care of the Boys Group Home house parent. While in the home, he continued weekly family visits, therapy, and Guardian Ad Litem visits. After four months in our care, he reunified with his mom right before Christmas. Since his reunification, he visited our shelter to thank the staff for being there for him and helping him accomplish his goals while at MCS. We are so proud of this young man! 

KIDS Personal Safety, Grandparents as Parents, and TRUTH (prevention programs):

"Laura" had witnessed domestic violence between her mother and stepfather, as well as physical, emotional, and verbal abuse from her stepfather. When she began working with TRUTH Advocate Janie Garza, she was unable to smile at her peers, look others in the eye when speaking to them, or make friends at school. Janie started with small steps by teaching Laura peer communication skills and having her practice each one slowly. She also helped enroll Laura and her family into therapy to help them heal their relationship from the wounds of abuse. Through Janie's help, Laura learned to socialize with others, make personal connections through eye contact, and gain new friendships. Janie's advocacy also enabled the family move away from the stepfather and into their own place without dependence and fear. 

A grandmother and grandfather joined the Grandparents as Parents (GAP) program at MCS in 2005 with their two grandchildren in hopes of meeting other kinship caregivers going through similar circumstances. Through GAP’s help, they adopted their grandchildren. Years later, the couple adopted their daughter’s third child after she was born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (drug withdrawals at birth). Sadly, six months later, grandfather passed away from an aggressive form of cancer, leaving grandmother to be the sole caregiver to all three children. Thanks to GAP, she has gained a wealth of support from staff and participants and is thriving with her grandchildren. She is incredibly thankful to GAP for helping through some of the hardest times of her life.

CLINICAL (therapy)

“Our therapist has been more than amazing. My son loves her. At first, he didn’t want to do it and now he asks when he’s going to therapy.”

“Our experience with clinical when my daughter was younger made us reach out and come back again."

“Tiffany” entered the Non-Offending Caregiver program as a single mother after her child was abused by her partner. Initially she did not believe or support her child after the abuse was disclosed, but after attending group sessions, Tiffany disclosed her own sexual abuse and lack of support. She realized this was a bad feeling and began to see the importance of supporting and protecting her child. Tiffany successfully completed all sessions in the program with a newfound mindset necessary to rebuild the relationship between her and her child.

Clinicians at MCS change lives for children and families victimized by abuse by providing therapeutic treatment that addresses trauma and helps them recognize safety threats, report abuse, and establish healthy boundaries. Our clinical program has a 99% success rate in building strategies to help prevent future abuse; however, our best success stories come from personal testimonials.

Our clinical director recently received a call from a former client, "Samantha," to say thank you for making a difference in her life. Samantha began therapy with our clinical team after being placed at our group home for long-term foster care. Our therapists worked closely with her to address her anger issues, which were a result of trauma, and develop healthy coping strategies. With the combination of therapy and a supportive living environment at our group home, Samantha was placed with a foster parent and later reunified with her grandmother in a much healthier state of mind. She is now 23 years old, has three children, and reported to our team that she is doing very well. Samantha credited her life success to the MCS clinical program and all the great staff she encountered in our residential program. Thank you to our hardworking clinical team for breaking the cycle of abuse every day!