Twelve year old Nicky...

Struggled with aggression, defiance, and ADHD.  Her mother said Nicky had been aggressive since an early age, hitting and biting children in her class and throwing knives and screwdrivers at her brothers.  Nicky was a year behind in school, had been suspended several times, and had poor grades.  She spent more time at home than in school due to her suspensions.  After Nicky's Wraparound Facilitator spent time building a relationship with her, Nicky finally opened up and began to share something that had been bothering her.  As tears rolled down her face, Nicky shared, "I just miss my Dad." She went on to say her father lived only twenty minutes away, but the last time she remembered seeing him was a month ago.  She called him almost every day, but he hardly ever answered her calls.  If he did answer, he was on his way to work and the conversation was limited.  Nicky's Facilitator tried to lighten things up by telling her that it sounded like her father was a hardworking man.  She suggested Nicky try texting her father and maybe he would text her back when he had the chance.  So, Nicky began to text her father and slowly he began to reply.  Eventually, the two began having small talks on the phone.  Nicky's mother began noticing a change in Nicky.  She was fighting with her brothers less and was a tremendous help around the house.  One day while visiting Nicky at school, the Facilitator spoke with the assistant principal, explaining Ascent's role in Nicky's life.  With a big smile on his face, he said, "I knew she had to be working with someone!" He expressed how proud of Nicky he was.  She had not been in any trouble since school started, was respectful to her teachers, and managed to remain in the classrooms.  The assistant principal was surprised to see such a vast difference in Nicky in the short period of time she had been working with Ascent.