Meet Rose: building a stronger family for her son
There are so many stories of those who have worked so hard to build healthier and stronger families and communities during the last year, and we want to share one of those stories with you today. We want you to meet Rose.
Rose is a single mother who has lived through some incredible challenges through her life. With help from CUPS, she has been working to improve her health and manage the burden of stress and trauma.
A client of CUPS’ Family Development Centre where she has joined our parenting program, Rose has learned to be a nurturing parent to her son, who is being supported for development delays at CUPS’ Child Development Centre. Together, they have discovered healthy attachment and have grown closer as a family.
Rose lives with a mental health diagnosis that, while stable with supports, is impacted by the many rules and the copious amounts of paperwork that come with being a low-income single parent in our city. Accessing Alberta Works, childcare subsidies, and programs that assist with food and nutrition can be a constant source of stress.
Throughout her life, Rose has rarely had the opportunity to feel a true a sense of home. Moving frequently because of overdue rent, breakdowns in relationships, and safety concerns mean that Rose sometimes had a hard time finding a landlord who would rent to her.
While she did not graduate high school with her peers, Rose is motivated to complete her GED. She enrolled in a program last year, but with the pandemic and other stressors had to take a step back and focus on managing her health and her family’s needs. She knows that completing high school will positively change how potential employers perceive her and will help her to have a more predictable and stable future, and she is hopeful that she can return to her studies soon.
A victim of a recent violent crime, Rose had CUPS’ support to find a new, safe home for her and her son. We also helped her manage her injuries resulting from the crime and provided support for navigating her interactions with law enforcement.
With no access to technology at home when pandemic restrictions took effect, Rose was disconnected from her school program and support services. Through CUPS, she accessed a grant to acquire a laptop so that she could continue participating in programs and receiving services.
Caring for families holistically means acknowledging that needs extend beyond financial and clinical, and just last month CUPS’ Care Coordination Team and Child Development Centre Team worked together on a project referral so that Rose’s son has gifts on his upcoming birthday.
Rose and her family have benefitted from the impactful programs and services offered through CUPS and our sector partners. They are safely homed and have access to a full range of programs and services to help them to be healthy together.