Chloe Receives a Fresh Start
Life was stressful for Susan & Jim. With three children and a fourth on the way, the family was barely making ends meet. Jim worked full-time and Susan worked a part-time job, taking on occasional double shifts for extra income. They found an apartment and tried to make it as comfortable as they could with the resources they had available. A teenage girl from the neighborhood provided a much needed break for Jim and Susan by taking their 4 year old daughter, Chloe under her wing.
Chloe would sometimes go over to the girl's house to spend time and play. Everything seemed safe and normal until Chloe mentioned something that would change the family's life forever. One day, after returning from the neighbor's house, Chloe told her parents that she experienced "bad touches" at the neighbor's house.
Fortunately Susan & Jim knew about the services the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay provides for children who have been sexually abused. At the Crisis Center Chloe received trauma counseling and age appropriate therapy and education. Chloe was able to talk about what had happened to her and she learned about healthy relationships and how to set boundaries.
Susan & Jim also took steps to immediately get Chloe and the rest of the family into a new environment and away from the offending neighbor. They broke their lease and found a new apartment complex where Chloe could feel safe.
Unfortunately, the cost of moving left them with little money to pay their bills, including Susan's prenatal doctor's visits. Once again, Susan and Jim found help at the Crisis Center.
Their trauma counselor referred them to Family Stabilization where a case manager was able to help them with one month's rent and co-pays at the doctor's office. They also received help at the Crisis Center in applying for Medicaid and Florida Kid Care so everyone in their family would be able to receive medical care when they need it.
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is here to ensure that no one has to face a crisis alone. Your support allowed the Crisis Center to meet 183,000 needs last year. To learn more about the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, we invite you to take a TOUR. To support the work of the Crisis Center, please make a DONATION.
