Personal Impact Stories
Meaningful, tangible and sustainable outcomes that make a positive difference.
Former clients, current and former staff members, and others who received Beech Brook services describe the impact Beech Brook has made on their lives in these personal impact stories. Several describe the support Beech Brook has given them throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
Helping Children Reach their Potential
Joey was a gifted athlete, but his anger and impulsivity were getting in his way at school. To help him manage his behavior and emotions, he was referred to Beech Brook and began working with Pauline ...
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Finding Hope Through Music
School was a struggle for 14-year-old Ana, both socially and academically. Withdrawn, unmotivated, and isolated from her peers, Ana had to repeat the eighth grade and was dreading the start of high sc...
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Finding your Smile: The Importance of Little Moments
When you work with kids, it’s all about the little moments. The little moments are the ones that help children learn that they can trust you – playing games, coloring, or even sitting wit...
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Breaking the Generational Cycle of Unhealthy Conflict
Gil Harrison, or “Mr. Gil,” as his families affectionately call him, sees his work at Beech Brook as an opportunity to use his own personal skill set – communication, empathy, and au...
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Strengthening Families Strengthens Children
When Dawn Brodnick, then a therapist working with families in the community, visited the home of her new 12-year old client for the first time, his six-year old brother opened the door. Dawn asked wh...
Continue ReadingLGBTQ youth are just kids
LGBTQ youth are kids. Like all youth, LGBTQ kids and teens have the same worries and fears as the other kids in their schools. They worry about their grades. They get nervous when they have to do som...
Continue ReadingCollin's Story - REACH
“He apologized to me and told me he was going to work on his behavior. It was hard to believe that this was my son!” For staff who work directly with children, those words from the parent...
Continue ReadingParenting: A lifelong journey
Even after raising multiple children, these parents found there was still much to learn and room to grow. Blending a family can present challenges, even under the best circumstances. No surprise ther...
Continue ReadingThe Hidden COVD-19 Pandemic: Orphaned Children
We’ve talked about mental health problems as the second wave of COVID-19. But there’s another long-term consequence of the pandemic.In 1852, when Beech Brook opened its doors, it was to ca...
Continue ReadingFoster youth beats the odds and heads to college
Like many high school graduates, Alexavier is excited about heading off to college this year. On August 14, he’ll move into his dorm room at Cleveland State University and get ready to immerse h...
Continue ReadingA healing journey leads to a new beginning
Like far too many children who come into our care, Katie’s early years were marked by exposure to violence and the trauma it leaves in its wake. Now 12, Katie has been working with Beech Brook ...
Continue ReadingBeech Brookâs SAFE Program restores hope to a boy and his grandmother
Sixteen-year-old Alex was already struggling before the disruption of the pandemic sent him into a dangerous downward spiral. Increasingly he’d leave home before dawn, not returning for hours or...
Continue ReadingSierra's Story
I wanted to share a very meaningful interaction that I had with a client. I was in my first year as an LPC in the Outpatient department on campus, as well as working with the residential kiddos (indiv...
Continue ReadingProviding PAR services during the pandemic
While the PAR Program has gone a long way in changing the perception of CMHA residents about the police, engaging them in services still can present a challenge. Many don’t initially understand...
Continue ReadingTina's Story
Tina was expelled from four different schools. She often got into fights. She was disrespectful and hated school. There were times when she wanted to end her life, to just give up on herself like many...
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Mark, 8 years old, was smart, confident, kind and helpful. But he could also be conniving, defiant, confrontational and aggressive. In class, he was easily provoked and would throw a chair, walk out, ...
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Giving back to those in need
Therapist Toni Zingale puts her tough childhood experiences to work for kids in the neighborhood where she grew up. Imagine the joy of having a child enter the world on Thanksgiving Day. What greater...
Continue ReadingBobby's Story
Things were never easy for Bobby’s family. Every day was a struggle to get by, and it took a heavy toll. Sadly, Bobby became a victim of this chaos. Then Bobby’s mother died, and things g...
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