Family violence can have profound, long-term effects on a young child’s well-being and early development. United Way and its Ready Children Impact Partners step in to help children heal and become healthy in mind, body and spirit. Through safe, stable and nurturing environments, children can resume their growth as curious learners who are progressing toward their full potential.

Emily and Karen Resendiz*, both under the age of 10, were removed by Child Protective Services due to neglect. Both sisters had not seen a doctor in more than five years. Both showed signs of fearfulness, caution and depression. Now living in a safer environment with their new legal guardians, they can focus on the healing process.

With the support of United Way and ChildSafe, young children who have experienced trauma go through an initial forensic interview to determine the best course of action to recover. After this initial interview, staff advocates for the family’s needs through medical services referrals, care coordination using a trauma-informed approach, counseling services, therapy and more. The forensic interview resulted in Emily and Karen receiving specialized support that is helping them thrive in school today.

Through this support, Emily and Karen show tremendous progress in their personalities. They can now express their creativity through their preferred methods, art and dance, while showing increased happiness that would not have been possible without an early diagnosis for the services they needed.

“Thank you for providing us with a social worker who went above and beyond, assisting us with obstacles we faced each step of the way,” said a legal guardian of the Resendiz girls.

The healing process for children like Emily and Karen continues back at home, where children need nurturing environments to grow and learn. Through ChildSafe’s “Desires of the Heart Design” program, the sisters also had their bedroom transformed to help foster continued healing at home.

“The girls never had a space to call their own or environments where they felt safe,” said a ChildSafe representative. “Their space, through the bedroom makeover, was not only a remodel but a restoration of childlikeness, belonging and love,” they added.

The support Emily and Karen received, from counseling and therapy to their bedroom makeover, has created a much-needed sense of safety in their lives.

With the support of United Way and its impact partners, the Resendiz sisters are restoring their lives today. With greater stability, they finally have a place they can call home.

*Names changed to protect their identities.