"My life now is very different. I like my life today.  I like who I am today."     
                                             Cindy,Counseling Client

Nadia
At 13, Nadia returned from school one day to learn that her mother had moved to Florida without her.  From that time on, "home" was a series of foster placements. On her own at 18, she had been thrilled when a young man seemed to care for her.  She thought she had found love.  Instead, she found herself pregnant—and alone again. (click here to continue)

Steven and Nancy
Steven was thirteen when his sister brought him to the Equinox Youth Shelter badly bruised and covered with scars from belt beatings and burns. He had been kicked out of school again and could not go home. There had never been much structure in Steven's life. With nine children crowded into three small rooms and a father with a history of substance abuse, home was not a secure or nurturing place to be. (click here to continue)
 

Nadia (con't)
Nadia moved into one of the community group homes for pregnant teens, but she knew she would need more space and privacy when her baby arrived.  After struggling with the decision for several months, she came to Equinox and asked to become a part of the Independent Living Program.  With her son, she became one of the first mothers in the program.

Nadia often reflects on how hard it was going to school, working and raising a son at the same time.  She welcomed her son's father back into her life only to experience more humiliation. In desperation and pain, still dealing with abandonment issues with her mother, Nadia took an overdose of prescribed medication.  She awakened in the hospital with her caseworker at her side.  "It wasn't until my life bottomed out that I was able to let them help me," she admits, "but once I did, the Equinox staff became my family."

Through intensive domestic violence counseling and drug abuse education, Nadia learned to cope with her pain and loneliness in constructive ways. While in the Independent Living Program, Nadia earned her GED and enrolled at Hudson Valley Community College as a Business Administration major.  Equinox was able to place her in an internship program at a local business where she put her new skills to the test and gained valuable work experience.  With each success, she set a new goal; and, with the support of her Equinox family, Nadia turned hard times into an exciting future.

Nadia credits her maturity and positive outlook on life to the programs at Equinox.  The staff credits Nadia's success to her inner strength and conviction.  It is obvious that she has always had within herself the desire to give her son a happy, stable life.  With Equinox's help, she now has the skills to do so.

"The program teaches safe risk taking and skills you can use to solve problems. It gives kids a sense of trust and pulls people together. Without Equinox, where would those kids be?" 
            Eric, Age 16, Adventure-based Programming Participant

Steven and Nancy (con't)
Once he came to Equinox, an evaluation showed that Steven was challenged on multiple levels by learning disabilities. His explosive behavior in school was triggered by frustration with his apparent inability to learn. Other students called him names. Too often, he resorted to the kind of violent behavior he had learned in his home.

Much of the stress Steven had experienced was alleviated the very first day at the shelter. He enjoyed the caring attention of the staff, the regular meals, and, surprisingly, the emphasis on school attendance. The youth shelter staff worked with the local schools to get Steven the specialized services he needed and then provided additional tutoring at the shelter. For the first time, he began to experience some success in school.

Steven's escape from his dysfunctional home life was a wake-up call for his mother, Nancy. She wanted to provide a better life for Steven and his siblings but she simply did not have the emotional and financial resources or parenting skills to cope. Equinox's Domestic Violence Services helped her break free from her abusive husband. While in the shelter, she and her young children were safe and she was able to participate in the counseling and advocacy services provided. She learned quickly as the supportive staff modeled healthy parenting skills. By helping her access community resources and find employment, Equinox helped Nancy regain her self-esteem and take pride in her family.

Intensive case management eventually enabled Steven to return home with his mother. He is doing much better and returns to the shelter every day for tutoring. He is proud of his achievements and gets a lot of reinforcement from our staff and his teachers. Last spring, our staff celebrated along with Nancy as Stephen graduated from middle school .   (back to top)
 

"I go to help work in the kitchen because Equinox was there for me when I needed them."
                                                       Dave, Equinox Volunteer