“Having someone come to your home is amazing”

October 14, 2011

Western Iowa – A single mother, Roycene juggles parenting, work and night classes so that someday she can help women and children affected by substance abuse issues.

“If there hadn’t been people helping me along the way, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said.

Sober for over two years now, Roycene recalls when her then five-year-old son Lucas finally returned home after being placed in foster care.

“Lucas came home with a lot of behaviors,” she said. “It was almost unmanageable. I went from not having a child with me for a year and half to this. It was a transition for him and for me.”

For two years through LSI’s behavioral health intervention services, LSI caseworker Heidi has helped Lucas, now age seven, learn anger management, communication skills and coping skills, or as Lucas used to call them, ‘scoping’ skills.

Many LSI programs are provided in a family’s home, which makes a big difference, Roycene said.

“Having someone come to your home is amazing,” she said. “Lucas is more comfortable here. I learn a lot from Heidi, and it’s really neat watching my son learn how to express his feelings.”

Because Heidi visits their home, she gets a firsthand glimpse of the challenges.

“One of the awesome things about Heidi coming to my house is she can actually see what’s going on,” Roycene said. “I could go to a therapist or doctor and try to explain, but it’s not the same.”

“I would be almost glad when he was having a tantrum, so she was able to see too and help us learn how to handle it. It’s nice having someone professional to help coach me in my parenting and decisions. It makes me more confident.”

Heidi is also helping Lucas improve his social skills to make friends at school and helping Roycene find ways to talk to Lucas about his father’s incarceration.

“She has helped me through that,” Roycene said. “It’s hard to know how to explain that his father isn’t in the picture and what to tell him. It’s not like he’s going to be in his life.”

Lucas has grown leaps and bounds since his first session, Roycene said.

“Anytime I get frustrated, I think about how it’s not like it was,” she said. “I’m just really grateful for this service. When friends are having problems, I tell them about how I have someone from LSI who supports me.”

They still have tough days, but ask Roycene if she’s proud of how far they’ve come and she grows quiet.

“Yes, I am,” she said softly. “We came a long way. A very long way.”

Someday soon she’ll be helping other families find their own way, too.

Learn more about family support programs.