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Jasper was referred to Pathfinder as a result of domestic violence. As a father of a baby boy, Roger, he was hoping to gain some tools at its Center for Family Success to help him successfully navigate the pitfalls of first-time parenting. During initial home visits it became apparent that both parents could use skills to help manage ongoing conflict between them.
As Jasper engaged with the Caring Dads class and continued home visits, staff developed a deepened rapport with the family which allowed for identification of safety concerns in the home. Due to the strength of the relationship that the family developed with the home visitors, Pathfinder was able to respond quickly with safety planning and wrap-around supports to keep the family safe. So often, it is difficult to keep family engagement intact when safety concerns arise, particularly when mandatory reports must be made. One of the greatest strengths of this family is that they did not pull away from services during these difficult times. In fact, they met all safety planning requests and continued diving into the work of skill building.
The love that the parents feel for Roger is deeply apparent. Dad is especially dedicated to providing him with developmentally-responsive interactions and continues to strive to improve his skills as a parent. Mom is now enrolled in the Pathfinder Healing Trauma program and deeply engaged in the work of recovering from past traumas. The staff look forward to seeing Roger for childcare during group every week. His contented demeanor is a testament to the love and dedication of his parents. When asked why they keep coming to the Center for services, Amber and Jasper said:
"We really like coming here. You are all so nice to Roger and we never feel judged when we are here, like we have at other places. Tasha [the home visitor] really cares about Roger and even when she is tough on us, we know it is because she wants the best for him. We are very grateful to the Center for everything they do for us."
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