Deandra always wanted to be a mom. Upon discovering she could not bear children, she became licensed to foster. She initially planned to solely foster but has since adopted five children out of care.
One of them is 14-year-old Alayah, who has lived with Deandra since she was 3 years old. She has a history of abuse and neglect and, as a result, often exhibits trauma-based behaviors. Deandra practiced a traditional parenting style that appeared successful up until recently. As Alayah grew, her emotions grew with her, and Deandra found it increasingly difficult to parent her alone. Earlier this year, Deandra reached out to the Family Works team to get some help acquiring skills to handle Alayah’s behaviors.
Quesha Combs, Deandra’s Family Works Specialist, worked with her to increase her capacity to support Alayah. Deandra underwent a lot of psychological training, during which she developed an understanding of the impacts of trauma on children and how to navigate relationships with those who have adverse childhood experiences. Deandra has evolved into a therapeutic parent who employs healthy boundaries, empathy, and self-care. Her relationship with Alayah has improved; she recently reported they have “finally found their groove.”