Gillis | for children and families since 1870

Gillis Stories - Joan's Story

The staff of our Intensive In-home Services (IIS) program worked with Joan, a mother of 4, whose husband was accused of child abuse. He was court ordered to leave the home and have no contact with his child.

Staff worked with Joan helping her to understand how the abuse affected her child. We explained to her she needed to love and support her child. She learned better communication skills with her children. Even though she was still trying to grasp that her husband could do this she learned how to protect her children and keep them safe from this ever happening again. The child received counseling through MOCSA, and all of them went to family therapy sessions.

Given little time to begin to see how their lives had been impacted, Joan realized that life would now be different for all of them. She stepped up and is doing everything she can to keep her children safe.

Rachel Hodson, Assistant Coordinator of the IIS program, said, “We enjoyed working with this family and seeing the bond the children have with their mother and now we know they will get through this together.”

Stories

"In helping Rachel resolve some of her problems through mentoring and training, it is hoped that the long-term family history of poverty will be broken."

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Gillis News

As part of their community service hours at Rockhurst High School, two young men volunteered at Gillis, working with the residential students. One day they looked around and realized that the common areas were not what they, as “typical” teenagers, would like to look at every day. So, they undertook a cottage renovation project. READ MORE

Gillis is part of Cornerstones of Care, a partnership of agencies providing therapeutic treatment services for children and families.