Voices

Carlos: Healing and Hope

Carlos* is a curious 12-year-old boy who loves art, especially pencil drawings. Carlos became court involved when his mother filed a Child Requiring Assistance application due to chronic absences and not listening at home.   In 5th grade, he...

Diego: Opportunity Awaits

With the right mental health services in place and no permanent record, Diego has many opportunities in front of him.

Diego* is a bright and caring teenager. He faced a series of traumatic events early on in his life. These experiences made it hard for Diego to deal with his feelings, and his behavior began to reflect the pain...

Jake: Going for Goals

Jake* is 13 years old, speaks Portuguese and English, and aspires to be a professional soccer player. He is a remarkably mature and responsible boy and had never been involved with the juvenile justice system prior to last year....

Lucia: On the Right Path

My experience with the programs these past few months has been really helpful. I’ve learned how to cope with my emotions such as my anxiety, my depression and how to cope with my anger. I’m glad that I’m getting the right help for me mentally because I was lost

Lucia* was 16 years old when she was referred to ACS through the District Attorney’s Juvenile Diversion program. Her charge was Assault and Battery after an argument with a peer escalated to a physical fight, and Lucia threw a...

Anna: Finding Her Way

Anna* is 14 years old and was referred to ACS for a diagnostic evaluation after her school filed a Child Requiring Assistance application due to her excessive absences. She has been suffering from severe levels of anxiety since the...

Stephanie: Keeping Family Close

We cannot thank you enough for all you have done and are doing to keep Stephanie with us.

As a young child, Stephanie was the victim of significant abuse and neglect at the hands of her caregivers. She was eventually removed from her home by social services and placed in foster care. Stephanie went on to experience...

Ivan: Community, Confidence, and Coping Skills

In response to the increased need for mental health treatment for adolescents, ACS expanded our Treatment program to include clients who were both court-involved and at risk for court involvement.   One of our first referrals from a community...

Abby: Advancing Through Anxiety

I want to thank you for listening. I feel like you really heard me and understand me.

Abby* had always enjoyed elementary school, earned good grades, and made many close friends. The transition to middle school, however, proved far more challenging. Her peers began to bully her and she lost trust in her friendships. She gradually...

Liam: Journeying Through Challenges

Cindy* is a single mother to her 15-year-old son, Liam*. Liam was diagnosed with ADHD in elementary school. He had done well in school until he entered high school, when he began to miss classes and started sleeping all...

Jackson: Patience, Perseverance, and Understanding

With patience, perseverance, and understanding, Jackson’s clinician was able to help him gain the skills he needed to participate in treatment and return to school.

Jackson* is 15 years old and struggles with symptoms of anxiety and depression.   He started having a hard time expressing his feelings and advocating for his needs before the pandemic. But when his school switched to online learning,...

Isabelle: Learning Skills to Cope

She has noticed an improvement in Isabelle’s behavior at home and that she has become more engaged in school, as well.

Prior to the pandemic, 14-year-old Isabelle* was earning good grades and attending school daily. While she sometimes struggled to manage her emotions at school, she was working on this issue with a counselor. But when the pandemic hit, everything...

Alexis: Finding the Right Support

Thank you again for your help in getting her back into school!

Alexis* is a bright and personable 14-year-old girl who has had ongoing behavioral difficulties both at home and school.   After some particularly challenging episodes, Alexis’s mother, Nicole*, had come to realize that her behavior was beyond her control...

Vincent: Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

Silvia* and Carlos* immigrated to the United States with their two young children after surviving a series of traumatic events in their home country. The transition to their new life in Massachusetts was difficult and brought many challenges.  ...

Jayden: Refusing to Give Up

“Can you believe I’m excited about school and want to talk about it when I get home?”

The school year was almost halfway through and Jayden*, an eighth-grader, had only attended one full day of school. By December, he had already missed more than 60 days of school.   In an effort to improve his attendance,...

Emma: More Than An Evaluation

The story of one young woman and her family helps illustrate the overlap between the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Emma’s mother was the victim of childhood abuse and neglect. At the age of fifteen, she was forced...

Riley: Trauma-Informed Recommendations

"Riley is now developing a greater sense of confidence and independence."

Riley* had endured years of abuse as a child. At the age of 10, she was permanently removed from her family’s custody and placed in a residential facility for children.   Having been the victim of abuse for so...

Aisha: Sharing Experiences

Aisha now has the space she needs to heal, grow, and plan for her future.

Aisha* has had a difficult relationship with her mother, Sandra*. Sandra’s boyfriend had been verbally and physically abusive to Aisha and Aisha felt that her mother put her relationships with men before her well-being. Aisha also felt overwhelmed and...

Dylan: Overcoming Obstacles

Dylan had to overcome multiple obstacles in order to access the care he needed. His ACS clinician was with him every step of the way.

Dylan’s* mother Sarah*, turned to the juvenile justice system as a last resort when her son’s behaviors became dangerous, and she feared she could no longer keep him safe. When Dylan arrived in court, the Judge ordered an Emergency...

Chloe: Finding Her Voice

It will continue to take time, but Chloe is clearly on a positive path forward.

Chloe* was 15 years old when she was referred to ACS through the Juvenile Diversion program. She had been charged with Assault and Battery after an argument with a peer escalated to a physical fight. Engaging in mental health...

Analisa: Transforming Conflict into Understanding

Analisa* is a 14-year-old young woman who became involved with the District Attorney’s Diversion program. Her charge was domestic assault and battery, the result of a physical altercation between Analisa and her mother, Elena. Analisa was functioning well in...

Jacob: Not Always As It Appears

In many ways, Jacob* is your typical 11-year-old-boy. He is artistic, tech savvy, and enjoys school. His teachers describe him as engaging and cooperative, but that’s only when he can stay awake in class. Despite his interest in school,...

Jessie: Understanding Herself

Jessie is getting the support she needs to begin to build her self-confidence.

Jessie* juggles the multiple roles that define her: teenager, adopted from a foreign country, child of divorce, and transgender.   Her life began in a Romanian hospital. Jessie was later placed in an orphanage. By the time she was...

Ryan: Driving Through Chaos

Ryan now has a larger team supporting him and rooting for his continued success.

Ryan* was raised amidst the chaos and violence that seemed to follow his mother, Cheryl*. The men in their lives had been abusive and Cheryl was hospitalized more than once with severe injuries. They’d had to move around a...

Jayla: Finding Home

Jayla* spent a lot of time on her own as a young child. Her father was incarcerated, and her mother, Maria*, had to work nights. Frequently, Jayla would phone her aunt, who would talk her through making a simple...