Monday, March 01, 2021 12:00 AM

Successfully back on track at Child Development Resources

CDRPatricia’s family first became involved in CDR’s Early Head Start program during Patricia’s brief incarceration for a nonviolent drug offense, while her mother cared for her almost two year old son, Troy. Grandma Shirley asked for help in managing some of Troy’s challenging behaviors and preparing for Patricia’s return home.

While incarcerated, Patricia participated in CDR’s Linkages program at the regional jail that provided a six week parenting education class and a once a month family night where Grandma Shirley could take Troy to visit his mom. Patricia wanted to be sure that everyone knew that her main priority was her son and getting her life back on track. Once she completed her time in jail, Patricia eagerly anticipated her weekly home visits and attended the weekly play and parent groups offered by CDR. She also became an active member of the EHS Policy Council.

Patricia’s dream was to start her own home cleaning business. What she quickly learned was that her criminal record made it difficult to become licensed and bonded. CDR’s EHS program linked her to an information session at the Virginia Employment Commission about their Bonding Program for ex-offenders. After learning she was eligible, she applied for a temporary job at a medical office while she worked toward starting her business. She was hired immediately and within a few weeks she proved herself invaluable to the practice and she was offered a permanent position as the office manager. Around that same time, the EHS staff helped Patricia and Troy transition to Head Start and Patricia went on to become the chair of the Head Start Policy Council.

Troy recently completed 2nd grade and is reading at grade level. Patricia still stays in touch with her “CDR family” to share updates about her own family. She still dreams of being a small business owner one day, owning her own home, and sending Troy to college – a first for her family. She gives much of the credit to the “early head start” she and her son received, but as a program, our role was to be a supporter and partner to Patricia.

*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality