Success Stories

"No one else would do for us what Elizabeth Peabody House did."

When Clara, her husband, and three young children arrived in the U.S. from El Salvador, the family spoke very little English and both parents had to work long hours to make ends meet. In the midst of a traumatizing family event, the children began misbehaving. They had difficulty in school and showed signs of learning problems. One child was forced to leave school, and another child was put on medication. In desperate need for childcare and parenting assistance, the family came to EPH for help.

Two children enrolled in the School-Age Program at 277 Broadway. The youngest entered the Peabody Ames Pre-school Program. The parents regularly attended parenting workshops and soon began to see change in there children's behavior.

Clara still recalls the night her middle child was hospitalized. She remembers that EPH staff stayed with her throughout the night in the emergency room helping her understand what was going on so she could make the best medical decisions for her child. "No one else would do for us what Elizabeth Peabody House did," she insists.

Today, one year later, this family has made great strides toward a normal, happy life thanks to the personalized care they continue to receive from EPH. The oldest child is back in school. With the mental health services that EPH helped find for her, she is succeeding and moving forward with her education. The middle child is off medication and taking full advantage of therapy that EPH was able to arrange. The youngest child is receiving speech and language services and is beginning to talk like any other child her age.

Camp Gannett

A parent of one camper speaks gratefully for the chance to send her child "away from the cement and away from the gangs."

Another parent told EPH that because of Camp Gannett, "There has been a life-altering positive change and now a lifelong happy memory for my child."

A camper who reluctantly enrolled in the summer of 2002 showed symptoms of depression.  Camp staff worked closely with this young woman.  They learned of her fondness for and abilities with young children, and they assigned her responsibilities as a counselors' aid.  Working with the youngest children at camp, she developed skills, grew in confidence, and made friends.  She experienced the self-worth born of success and the joy and acceptance found in mentoring.