At only 10 years old, Parker has been in DSS custody for half of his life. He faced neglect from his parents, and his mom admitted to battling drug addiction. As he moved from placement to placement, Parker lashed out with physical and verbal aggression.

Parker’s mom has been open about the guilt she still carries from that chapter of their lives. She admits she was struggling with addiction when he was removed from their home, and she regrets deeply that she couldn’t care for him properly. But she and Parker’s dad have worked tirelessly over the past five years by completing every recommendation from DSS in hopes of rebuilding their family. In July of 2025, DSS granted Parker’s parents full custody of him. That same month, Parker and his parents began our Child ACTT (Child-Focused Assertive Community Treatment Teams) program.

The transition was not easy. It had been 5 years since Parker’s parents had a child in the home, but they knew they needed the support of a team like CHA’s to restart a life together as a family. Our crisis program is designed to provide wraparound care for the whole family, which involves individual therapy, family therapy and ensuring the home is a place of healing. CHA’s Child ACTT therapists provided Parker with intensive therapeutic support to help him heal from his trauma.

As Parker began working with CHA’s therapists, he struggled to regulate his impulses both at home and in his day treatment program. He would often bully others, view inappropriate content online, destroy property, and used aggression to “defend himself.” Yet even in those moments, Parker continued engaging in treatment. He was slowly building trust and beginning to process the trauma he had held inside for so long.

As weeks passed, something began to shift. With the help of family therapy, individual therapy, and coordinated support between CHA’s Child ACTT team and his day treatment providers, Parker started developing self-management skills. He began controlling his emotions more effectively, respecting boundaries, and showing improved focus in school. His impulsivity and hyperactivity decreased, and he started practicing the coping skills he had been learning.

Parker’s parents also showed profound engagement in our program, too. They never missed an appointment, stayed in constant communication with our team, and embraced every tool offered to help their son heal.

Today, Parker has developed skills such as controlling his emotions, focusing on school, and respecting the boundaries of others. He even won an award for academic achievement! His parents and care team are so proud of the progress he has made and the stability their home now has.