Cumberland Spotlight: December 2005
RONNIE – PART II
In last month’s newsletter, you met Ronnie who had been placed in foster care at age 7 on an abuse and neglect petition followed by termination of parental rights. Ronnie was later admitted to Cumberland Hospital’s RTC program at age 13 after exhausting numerous less restrictive community services and presenting behaviors that posed a physical danger to both peers and caregivers. At admission, his diagnoses included mood disorder, PTSD, general anxiety, rule out for bipolar disorder, enuresis and asthma. In addition to psychosocial dwarfism, Ronnie was also diagnosed with mental retardation and, when anxious, his behavior regressed to barking and crawling on the floor.
After 12 months of integrated medical and behavioral treatment in the RTC program, Ronnie transitioned to a Cumberland-owned therapeutic community-based home located in Richmond City. The program at Cumberland Peninsula House is designed specifically for boys like Ronnie with an IQ range of 55-70. While residents in this program can typically function adequately in a community setting and manage activities of daily living (ADLs) independently, their safety and continued behavioral development is best achieved in a well structured and closely supervised environment with staff continuity.
Ronnie’s adjustment to the home was far from trouble free yet, with perseverance by all, his ability to develop relationships and behavioral self control improved over time. In group sessions, Ronnie learned to accept feedback from peers and staff and, with individual counseling, he developed insight into how his behavior affected those around him. He became active in a church-based youth group and choir located within walking distance of the home and he was fortunate to have a Big Brother who spent time with him regularly throughout his stay. In time, he joined a local Boy Scout troop and attended martial arts classes.
Since his foster care plan called for long term foster care leading to independent living, Ronnie stayed with the Cumberland group home program for four years. In the process, he transitioned from Peninsula House to Barton House where the program is focused on the acquisition of independent living skills. Slow but steady progress continued to be achieved in both his social skills and self esteem. He developed cooking skills as part of the house program and was assigned a job coach through the local DRS office. He performed volunteer work first at the SPCA and a local food bank, moving on to assist in meal deliveries as a Meals On Wheels volunteer. Having developed good employment skills through his volunteer activities, Ronnie was eventually hired by a local fast food restaurant and, to his delight, was able to open a bank account through which he was assisted in learning to manage his money through budgeting and shopping exercises.
While academics posed a consistent challenge, Ronnie came to understand the value of completing an educational program and he made the most of his IEP curriculum at a local private day school. One of his school highlights was proudly renting a white tuxedo with a bright yellow cummerbund from his own savings and escorting not one but two young ladies to the Senior Prom. While this was, in everyone’s estimation, a mark of his growth, Ronnie had a yet larger goal that he was working towards: moving to an apartment and living on his own without the ever-present watchfulness of all the adults in his life.
Ronnie was graduated with a diploma in the spring of 2003. His treatment plan called for remaining at the group home and continuing to develop his independent living skills until such time as he qualified for admission to an IL Program. A few months later, Ronnie's interview with the IL program manager went well. He answered questions confidently and appropriately and he asked questions that he had prepared with the group home manager. Questions that would assuage the fears and anxiety he was feeling. Ronnie left the interview elated that there was another young man in the apartment that he knew, a young man that would be his roommate.
The day soon arrived for Ronnie to move into the independent living apartment. He sought assurances that his Big Brother would continue to visit and telephone and that the door was not closed to the emotional ties he had developed with both staff and group home peers. Ronnie's belongings, long packed by him, were brought to his new apartment. As he put the key into the front door Ronnie grinned and laughed and joyously shouted, "I did it. I made it!" Yes, the staff agreed, somewhat misty eyed, Ronnie had made it.
Is there a Ronnie in your life? Cumberland could be the breakthrough you’ve been looking for.