HANNAH LAZEROWITZ
Every family has its own story, its own journey worthy of care and attention. In this case, Dad was a sales executive earning $350,000 a year, until he abruptly got sick and landed in the hospital. He could no longer work, forsaking the joy and pride of providing for his family. Mom was a fitness instructor who made roughly $60,000 a year. Typically, she’d teach three sessions a week, but due to Dad’s health concerns, she had to take a work hiatus in order to take care of her husband. Mom and Dad have three children: a thirteen-year-old daughter and two sons, ages fifteen and eighteen. Mom had her hands full—whipping up delicious dinners every night, helping with homework, and imparting essential life lessons. However, the home structure suddenly flipped from comfort to chaos. Mom and Dad had too much on their plates to be present for their kids and shower them with the love they deserved. The youngest child wasn’t doing well in school, the middle child didn’t want to attend at all (and protested by misbehaving), and the oldest child was worried because high school graduation was looming and he needed life guidance. Putting her pride aside, Mom knew exactly whom she needed to turn to; she needed the full-package assistance that SBH provides. Knowing when to reach out for help is the first step, and being strong enough to make the call is just as important. Mom demonstrated bravery by following a community volunteer’s advice and contacting the SBH Client Services Division.
SBH’s mission statement is threaded with hope, assurance, and a guarantee that they will do their absolute best to mitigate family crises and act as a complete support network. Mom was vulnerable with SBH’s intake coordinator and opened up about her family’s recent struggles. The coordinator conducted an initial assessment of the case and ensured the situation fit the criteria.
“Here’s how the client service structure works,” the intake coordinator explained. “Each family is assigned a case worker and a community volunteer—referred to as a ‘captain.’ That is the team that walks families through crises, collaboratively creating both short-term and long-term goals. We employ a holistic approach for the entirety of this process. The holistic model enables us to cater to both the individual and the family as a whole. We work as a collective, as a team.”
Mom nodded with appreciation and was grateful for SBH’s dedication to help.
The intake representative continued to detail the confidentiality aspect. SBH would never disclose the names of its clients. Before someone is officially assigned a team consisting of a social worker and a captain, SBH verifies their names with the individual to ensure they are comfortable having them on the case. Assigning the right team to the right client is vital. SBH wants to cater to every family’s needs and find them the perfect match. The entire process is laced with compassion and understanding.
Later on, the team was confirmed with Mom, and they began their services by conducting a house visit. The social worker noticed disarray. Mom and Dad were behind on their bills and drowning in their mortgage. There was significant financial stress. The team agreed that it would be important to attend to the family’s physical needs as well as their mental health.
The goals were as follows: working toward providing Mom with more daily structure, facilitating Dad’s eventual return to his job, and ensuring that each child reaches a state of homeostasis and returns to a healthy lifestyle.
The dominoes were then set into motion, and SBH began to enlist their many incredible departments.
- The SBH Food Division sent over meals for dinner.
- The SBH Medical Division aided Dad with his recuperation process, making sure he was recovering properly and seeing the best doctors.
- The SBH Volunteer Division tutored and helped the kids with their homework and drove Dad to and from his appointments.
- The SBH Young Adult Division assigned mentors to both sons to guide them through crucial formative years.
- Mom and Dad were referred to the SBH Counseling Center, addressing anxiety and circumstantial uncertainty.
- SBH assisted with pressing bills, provided aid toward grocery shopping, and aimed to get the family back to their normal routines.
- The SBH Clothing Division bought Dad a new suit.
- SBH Career Services helped polish his job résumé, aiming to get him job-ready.
- The SBH SEARCH Program assigned a coach to guide Mom and Dad on how to deal with a teenager who acts out.
Not only does SBH excel at collaborative problem-solving, but they highlight the importance of maintenance through weekly check-ins:
“Mom, how is everything progressing?”
“Hey Dad, what skills can we accentuate to prepare you for a job interview?”
“Are things running smoothly?”
As portrayed, there are numerous moving parts to the SBH client services process—a harmonious intermingling of divisions and a strong army of people eager to help alleviate families from crises. SBH provides an unparalleled level of care and guidance to those in need.
Your family may look different than the one depicted—every member undergoing their own journeys and overcoming their own obstacles—but the message remains: SBH is a pillar of support every step of the way. Help yourself by letting us help you. With a case manager and captain guiding the process with love, care, and comfort, we can get through some of the toughest treks.
Hannah Lazerowitz has published several articles and essays about her life and how writing has shaped her. She is working toward publishing a novel and a poetry chapbook. Hannah is deeply passionate about her craft and hopes to continue wielding her writing as a powerful tool of connection.
