IMPACT
in the Northern Hills
Your Generosity in Action
At just 16 years old, a young girl in the Norther Hills was facing unimaginable challenges. A survivor of sexual abuse from ages 8 to 14, she was referred to the Family Engagement Services (FES) program at Children’s Home Society of South Dakota due to truancy. Her life was marked by high-risk behaviors, family conflict, and a history of trauma that left both she and her mother struggling to cope.
When the FES Specialist first began working with the family, the youth showed little interest in engaging, often given short, contrived answers before retreating. Her mother, grappling with secondary trauma, guilt, and feelings of betrayal, felt powerless to help her daughter heal.
Over time, the FES Specialist worked tirelessly with both the youth and her mother to address their challenges. After a year, the family was discharged from the program, having made progress. But in 2023, their journey took another difficult turn. The youth was identified as a victim in an online sex trafficking case.
Because of their prior relationship, the FES Specialist was able to re-engage with the family, offering advocacy and support during this critical time. The youth was still facing struggles, including school dropout, difficulty maintaining employment, and ongoing conflict at home. But there were also signs of hope.
The youth expressed a desire to work on independent living skills, and the Specialist connected her with community resources. Together, they applied for public housing and Medicaid to address her physical and mental health needs. The Specialist accompanied her to the Department of Labor, where she began building employment skills and applied for a program that provides financial support while she works toward her GED. She has since started therapy, attended GED orientation, and found stability in a relationship with her boyfriend.
The youth’s mother has also found her own path to healing, thanks to the continued support of the FES Specialist. She recently expressed her gratitude, sharing how the Specialist’s presence helped her through some of her darkest times.
Thanks to generous donors like you, United Way of the Black Hills is able to make stories like this possible!