“LifeSet changed everything for me.”
There was a time when Sidney couldn’t imagine what her future would look like. Now, at 19, she’s building one on her own terms, with strength she never knew she had.
Diagnosed with anxiety and depression in middle school, she spent much of her adolescence cycling in and out of hospitals, battling intrusive thoughts and the weight of mental health challenges. But today, Sidney is employed full time, managing her finances and setting ambitious goals for her future thanks to the help of LifeSet.
“I was really struggling,” Sidney said. “By high school, I had multiple inpatient stays. Every time I left the hospital, it felt like I’d just end up right back there. My family and I knew I needed more support than just a therapist or psychiatrist.”
That extra support came through the Department of Mental Health, which introduced Sidney and her family to LifeSet. She joined in August 2023 and was matched with LifeSet Specialist Oscarline Leneus.
“At first, I thought, ‘Great, another provider who’s not going to do anything for me,’” Sidney admitted. “But then, I met Oscarline. She’s close to my age and just gets it. She pushes me but not in a way that feels nagging. It was exactly what I needed.”
When Sidney entered the program, she was out of school, unemployed and unsure how to move forward. With Oscarline’s support, she set clear goals for herself. She wanted to find a job, get her driver’s license and generally start taking care of herself. Together, they built a budget, practiced job interview skills and even scrolled through job postings side-by-side.
“Without Oscarline, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Sidney said.
She found a job as an assistant teacher at a child care center. Sidney also passed her road test and opened her first bank account. These accomplishments helped her feel more independent and in control of her future.
Being in LifeSet was like being slapped with reality. I realized I was capable. I just needed someone to believe in me and treat me like an adult.
Oscarline describes Sidney as driven and always having a goal in mind.
“She should be proud of herself,” Oscarline said. “She doesn’t give herself enough credit. She has pushed herself so far.”
Today, Sidney is saving money, on top of taking care of herself and looking ahead. Her next goals? Get a car and find her own apartment.
“If my past self could see me now, she’d probably faint,” Sidney said. “I’ve come a long way and I’m proud of that.”
She credits her transformation not just to the LifeSet program, but to the relationship she built with her specialist.
“I hope every young person who needs this kind of support gets the chance to have it,” Sidney said. “LifeSet changed everything for me.”
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).
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