Lindsay’s Story
As a child, Lindsay knew no security. Dad was an alcoholic who wasn’t much a part of her life and Mom had men in and out of the house, men who were abusive. Lindsay knew what it was like to go without food, have the electricity turned off, and be homeless – again. She became involved with alcohol at the age of 8, then began use of other drugs, including heroin. Lindsay became involved with MaKenzie’s father at the age of 15 and started what was to become an 11-year abusive relationship. She hit bottom in March, 2012, when she was no longer able to provide for her daughter and admitted that she needed help. Lindsay was admitted to COMPASS in March, 2012, where she heard about the Aurora House.
Lindsay was admitted to the Aurora House on 5/17/2012 after spending 54 days in COMPASS. With a history of substance abuse, untreated mental illness and having survived 11 years of domestic violence, she was ready to make a change. Her daughter MaKenzie joined her two weeks later, after school had ended. At 8 years of age, MaKenzie had seen and experenced alot. Because she had been around adults most of the time, she was always attempting to engage in adult conversations. Through counseling at Harbor, this and other issues began to be addressed. To address child care issues, Lindsay enrolled MaKenzie in the afterschool program of the Catholic Club and the Summer Program through Pilgrim Church.
While at Aurora, Lindsay attended life skills classes, including job readiness and household management at Goodwill Industries, financial management taught on-site by Aurora staff and using free curriculum from the National Endowment for Financial Education ((NEFE), and nutrition education provided by staff of the Ohio State University Extension office. In addition, she attended and completed relapse prevention and evidence-based parent education classes, both taught on-site by Aurora case managers. During her stay, Lindsay was also assisted by the Resident Accounts Manager in maintaining her JFS benefits and having them restored when they were sanctioned for a short period of time. She was assisted by her case manager with applications for permanent housing placement to other agencies, including NPI.
On March 1, 2013, shortly after completing the majority of Aurora’s programming, Lindsay and her daughter were moved to one of Aurora’s Step Up units, located at Covenant House. Lindsay then made arrangements to attend Care4You2 for STNA training. She completed the course and will be taking her state test on August 6, 2013. Lindsay had requested a 2-bedroom unit at the time she had originally made application to Covenant House, prior to her move-in on March1, 2013. Because there were no units available at that time, she and MaKenzie were put on a waiting list. On June 25, 2013, she and MaKenzie moved from Aurora’s Step up unit to one of Covenant House’s 2-bedroom units She plans to seek employment as an STNA at an area hospital after she has received her test results. MaKenzie will be in fourth grade this year and will also be attending some fifth grade classes. Lindsay remains clean and sober and has the security of her own home, as does her daughter MaKenzie.
