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Friends,
Cierra was referred to Kaleidoscope's Intact Family Services program at a time when she was living in her car with her two sons. She has no family in the area, and she had no one she could turn to for a little extra help.
Through our Intact program, Cierra and her caseworker met her family's immediate needs: an apartment, a local food bank, and some extra support at school for her boys. This short-term, intensive support program keeps families together – and keeps kids safe – while caregivers get the care they need to provide for their families. Cierra says:
"My Kaleidoscope caseworker was the first person to ever really listen to me. She was there when I didn't know how to get help, and I had nowhere to turn. I am so thankful for every conversation we had, every resource she shared, and all the times she just let me cry."
When her Intact care ended, Cierra was excited to opt-in to our THRIVE Collaborative – where she gets ongoing care through Kaleidoscope and our partners on the West Side. Now that her and her boys' immediate needs are met, Cierra has her sights set on a more stable career for herself. Our THRIVE Resource Manager describes her journey:
"Cierra is such a hard worker, and she is determined to do what's best for her boys. She just needed a little extra care. In our first meeting, she said she wanted to go back to school to become a certified medical assistant – but she just had so many day-to-day concerns that school was out of reach for her.
"I worked with her to schedule a tour with Malcolm X College, and she discovered the radiology program. We worked together on her admission and her FAFSA application. And now she's enrolled starting this fall!"
We're so proud of Cierra and everything she has done for herself and her boys. Like nearly every family we serve, Cierra was doing most things right, but she lacked the social and financial safety net many of us take for granted. She didn't need a miracle; she just needed a little extra.
YOU are the little extra for Cierra and hundreds of families just like her. When you donate to Kaleidoscope, you connect caregivers with the vital resources they need to keep Chicago families safe, happy and healthy.
Please donate now in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. We're beyond grateful for your support and the lasting impact you have for every family we serve.
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