For much of his young life, Drew* faced challenges that most children could never imagine. Frequent auditory hallucinations, causing him to hear sounds and voices that were not actually present, disrupted his daily routine and made it difficult for him to feel safe at home, at school and in the community.
During difficult episodes, Drew would frequently run away from home in an attempt to escape what he was experiencing. His grandmother, Maureen,* often found herself desperately searching for ways to keep him safe.
After a challenging incident, a county worker referred Maureen to Child and Family Services Wraparound Program. Though she was unfamiliar with it, she was eager to find support for her grandson.
That support came from Care Coordinator, Cameron LaRosa.
From the beginning, Cameron established a trusting relationship with Drew. Building on that foundation, she brought together Drew’s grandmother, therapist, psychologist and school staff to create a unified support system focused on helping him develop healthy coping skills.
“By staying in close communication and working together, everyone in Drew’s life has been able to reinforce the same coping skills,” shared Cameron. “This gives him opportunities to practice them both at home and at school.”
As the team learned more about Drew’s needs, they discovered that his urge to run during difficult moments wasn’t something that needed to be eliminated entirely. Together, they developed a plan that allowed Drew to run laps in a gym whenever he needed to. This gave him an outlet that met his needs while keeping him safe.
Another breakthrough came through music. Cameron introduced Drew to using music as a coping mechanism when he was experiencing hallucinations. Over time, it became one of his most effective tools.
As these strategies became part of Drew’s daily routine, measurable progress followed.
“It was incredible to see the difference in Drew’s behavior as I worked with him,” Cameron said. “Toward the end of services, Drew went two full months without running away.”
Today, Drew and Maureen leave the program with new tools, a support system and greater confidence in their ability to face challenges together.
*Names changed for confidentiality.