Frankie, Nick and Olivia are looking to you for help.
During the last 100 years, F&CS has become the premier provider of expert, research-based strategies to heal hurting and abused children, strengthen struggling families and provide hope and a path to recovery for those battling mental health and addiction. During that century of service, we have helped tens of thousands of Tulsans like Frankie, Nick and Olivia BECAUSE OF YOU and your generous financial support (read their stories below).
You may not have had the privilege of meeting Frankie, Nick and Olivia in person, but please know this: you have made an immeasurable difference in their lives.
YOU have the power to strengthen family bonds, transform lives and truly make a difference in this community. We simply cannot thank you enough! Please join us now in providing a gift to F&CS to allow us to reach more people in need. You are our hope.
To meet 8-year-old Frankie is to fall in love with him instantly. He is shorter than his peers, but struts proudly. His intellect can barely contain itself, bursting forward with an advanced vocabulary, knowing smile, and for good measure, a colorful bow tie.
But recently, mood swings have overtaken his achievements. His cool demeanor gave way to outbursts in the classroom. He lashed out at classmates then retreated to the corner, sobbing into the sleeve of his favorite jacket.
His teacher referred Frankie to a Family and Children’s Services (F&CS) therapist embedded in his school. She quickly discovered that Frankie has never met his parents. Soon after he was born, his father abandoned his family and his mother was incarcerated. Frankie went to live with his grandmother.
Frankie began to trust his therapist and open up about his difficult family circumstances. When his school closed during the pandemic, F&CS provided him with an iPad to continue his therapy sessions. He taught his grandmother to use the iPad and even provided a few tips to his therapist.
Now Frankie is one of the best behaved students in class. He works as a special “assistant” to his teacher and was accepted into an advanced studies program. His therapist also began to work with his grandmother to teach her ways to redirect Frankie’s behavior and strengthen family bonds.
This year, our therapists have reported that children in the Tulsa area are experiencing heightened levels of anxiety, depression and emotional distress, leading to disruptions in the classroom. This is hardly surprising considering the challenges we all are facing as we begin to emerge from the pandemic.
To meet these challenges, F&CS has increased the number of therapists in our schools and utilized telehealth, allowing us to reach more people with help – hope. That crucial intervention—which can make all the difference in a child’s life—is only possible because of your concern, understanding and support.
Frankie has much to overcome, but so much more to give. With early intervention and help, we truly believe he will reach his potential—whether he becomes a classroom teacher, medical researcher or community leader.
Nick had just adjusted to attending his first grade class online during the pandemic when he was faced with more difficult life changes.
His mother recently picked him up from school with bad news. They would be moving to a new apartment across town. Nick was already bashful around the other kids and susceptible to bullying. Now he had to adjust to a new school.
This fall, as the pandemic began to ease, he attended his new school in person. However, he had difficulty paying attention, and soon, began arguing with other students.
His teachers took him to meet a Family & Children’s (F&CS) therapist embedded in the school. She provided him with therapy and tools to increase his attention and avoid arguments with his classmates. As Nick began to adjust to his new school and home life, his attention span improved. Recently, he was selected as student of the month.
Olivia never thought of herself as a “senior citizen.” At 65, she had successfully raised two children and had three grandchildren. She never felt old, but was recently diagnosed with cancer.
During the pandemic, she was not able to work due to her chemotherapy treatments. Then she found out that there was no one to take care of her youngest grandchild, Nattie, who was only 3.
Although she was weak from treatments, she could not bear the thought of Nattie going to live with strangers. After all, she was the only one who could fix Nattie’s hair the way she liked it.
This fall, the health care bills began to pile up. Olivia was concerned that she could not afford winter clothing for Nattie, let alone holiday gifts.
A case manager from F&CS provided Olivia with a gift card to buy clothing and gifts. On the first cold day, Olivia proudly walked Nattie into her early childhood education center, warm and pretty in her new puffy coat. She’s looking forward to a visit from Santa.
