Before Youth Villages entered their lives, Sam described her home as “complete chaos.” Her three boys, ages 10, 8 and 5, struggled without structure. Routines didn’t exist, and communication was tense in the home. Something as simple as going to a grocery store would turn into an ordeal.

“My stress levels were through the roof,” Sam said. “We were all overstimulated, frustrated and overwhelmed. We didn’t know how to deal with each other.”

Her middle son, Wyatt, who has autism and ADHD, was facing significant behavioral challenges at school. Sam was frequently called to pick up Wyatt from school at a moment’s notice, so much that it became impossible to keep a job. Eventually, Wyatt was hospitalized. The drive to visit him was long and painful, and Sam feared it was the beginning of more out-of-home placements.

When the Department of Health and Human Services referred the family to the Youth Villages Intercept program, Sam believed it was a lifeline.

“I felt hopeless,” she said. “If there was even a chance for help, I was going to take it.”

From the first visit, family intervention specialist Caraline focused on building trust, not just with Sam but with each of her boys.

“They needed to feel like somebody cared about them,” Caraline said. “Not just someone who was there to tell them what to do.”

Caraline met them where they were – in moments of tension, in tears or feeling overwhelmed – helping them along the way to find new ways to communicate. She worked with Sam to learn self-regulation skills to help remain calm during tense moments. She helped the boys find words for their emotions, understand what they were feeling and practice calming strategies.

One of Sam’s first goals for her family was simple but deeply meaningful, to go out in public with her children without fear of a meltdown.

“That first goal felt impossible,” she said. “I just wanted to be able to take my kids to the store and not have it be a horrible time.”

Slowly, things began to shift for the family. Sam learned to understand the “why” behind her sons’ behaviors. The boys learned to express their emotions instead of acting them out. Arguments became conversations. The family soon settled into healthier routines.

For Wyatt, the changes were especially meaningful. With consistent, in-home support, he remained safely at home and out of the hospital. He was enrolled in a specialized school for children with autism and soon will return to public school. The family no longer lives in constant crisis mode.

Today, Sam views her parenting through a new lens.

“No parent is a bad parent,” she said. “Sometimes, we’re just overstimulated and don’t have the tools. And kids don’t want to do bad; they just have lagging skills that make it hard for them to meet expectations.”

Sam knows the work isn’t over, but with the foundation Intercept helped her build, she feels hopeful.

“We’d still be struggling without them,” she shared. “Intercept didn’t just help my kids; it helped me become the parent they needed.”

About Youth Villages – New England

In collaboration with state child welfare agencies and juvenile justice systems, our services in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island focus on strengthening families to prevent or limit the need for foster care (Intercept) and supporting youth who age out of foster care or lack a stable caregiver as they enter adulthood (LifeSet).

Donate now to help us expand our reach and build a stronger community.

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