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Casey's Story
Casey and her husband are foster parents to their three grandchildren who were exposed to drugs before birth. The children face intellectual, social, and emotional challenges.
After one of her grandchildren was hospitalized, the family was referred by Child Protective Services to The Monterey County Screening Team for Assessment Referral and Treatment (MCSTART). She explains about her grandson, “He had failure to thrive.” She continues, “He did not want to live.”
MCSTART assessed the children and helped Casey’s family by providing a variety of services including: occupational therapy; seeing a counselor through Monterey County Children’s Behavioral Health; Salinas Adult School’s Parents as Teachers (PAT) home visiting; and a referral for speech therapy. Additionally, Casey and her husband participated in MCSTART’s family classes that help parents and caregivers understand and care for children with drug exposure.
Casey observed that her grandson has become more trusting and now plays more with his siblings. She is especially pleased that occupational therapy has helped her grandson improve his attention span, hand-eye coordination, and balance. Through the family classes at MCSTART Casey and her husband have learned to be more attuned to their grandson’s needs, “They let us know what to look for.”
She adds, “We know… when he is getting to the point of over-stimulation. We have learned not to give him too many choices, and we have learned his triggers.” In addition, Casey believes the improved patience and communication brought together the “whole family as a unit".