Project: Healthy Steps
Organization: Infant Welfare Society of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Story submitted by
Lindsay Banman, Healthy Steps Project Director
Anita was born at 32 weeks gestation, weighing
only 2 lbs. and 15 oz. She
was
enrolled in Healthy Steps (HS) at the Infant Welfare
Society of Chicago (IWS). Her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Martinez, already had three sons. The eldest
two had been left in the care of their grandmother,
back home in Mexico. “We made the decision
to come to the United States to seek a better life
for our children,”
says Mrs. Martinez, “but it was horrible
at first being without Carlos and Jose. Then, I
became pregnant again with Jaime, who is now 10
years old.”
After her parents brought her to IWS, a HS Specialist
screened Anita using the Ages
& Stages Quiestionnaire, and found delays in
the areas of communication and gross motor skills.
She was referred to Child and Family Connections
for an early intervention evaluation. Mrs. Martinez
was worried and told the HS Specialist that she
did not feel like playing with her daughter or
stimulating her development. She experienced internal
conflict, thinking of her two oldest children who
also needed her but were left in Mexico. Mrs. Martinez
shared that it was difficult to call them and hear
their voices and cries as they pleaded for her
return. As she told the HS Specialist, she would
explain that she needed to remain in the U.S. so
she could send money back to them. The children
always responded that they didn’t care about
the money – they wanted her to come home. “It
is so hard to call and speak to them by phone,”
says Mrs. Martinez.
“My second son, Jose, became sick in Mexico
for a long time, and doctors could not figure out
what he had. They would give him medicine, but
he would not get better. I wanted to go to Mexico,
but my family told me that the best I could do
was to stay in the U.S. and help him from here.”
Then, Anita was born premature. At IWS, the Martinez
family received the help they needed from the HS
team.
“They referred me to the Family Therapist,
and I came to several sessions with her. Not only
did I get to meet with her personally, but she
also called me and supported me by phone.” While
Mrs. Martinez was receiving therapy, the HS Specialist
also visited her at home providing additional support.
The team members worked together, collaborating
and communicating.
Anita
began to receive speech, occupational, and developmental
therapy at home. As she made progress, the family
began to think about ways to address their situation.
During a meeting with the therapist, a possibility
arose that, after discussion, was chosen as the
solution. The family decided that Mrs. Martinez
would return to Mexico for Carlos and Jose along
with Jaime and Anita.
Mrs. Martinez realizes that time has passed, and
the distance will have its consequences.
“The time that I have spent apart from my
oldest sons will have had a significant impact
on our relationship. I worry that they will resent
me for not being available to them when they needed
me most. But I think that seeking professional
help when I get back to Mexico will help heal my
family’s emotional scars”. Reflecting
on what has happened, Mrs. Martinez concludes,
“I feel more prepared to handle the situation
– thanks to the help I received from Healthy
Steps.”
Graduates
2005 | Project's
Graduate Report | Project's
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