When 15-year-old Celia reached out to Safe Place in September, she was calling from her high school, scared, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn. Home no longer felt safe. The constant conflict with her mother had escalated to a point that left her feeling she had no choice but to ask for shelter.
Behind the arguments was a painful reality: Celia’s mother had recently discovered her daughter was engaging in risky behavior. For Celia, it was a desperate attempt to meet her own needs while feeling unseen and unsupported. For her mother, it was the breaking point in a household already stretched thin by generational trauma, financial instability, and the crushing exhaustion of working multiple jobs.
When Safe Place staff met with the family that day, something shifted. In a quiet room, both Celia and her mother finally had the space and support to speak honestly. Her mother shared the weight she had been carrying alone: bills she couldn’t catch up on, trauma she never had help addressing, and the grief of feeling like she was failing her child. Celia opened up about feeling abandoned, afraid, and pressured to survive in any way she could.
With Safe Place mediators guiding the conversation, the anger softened. For the first time in a long time, Celia and her mother truly heard each other. They cried together, acknowledged their pain, and agreed they wanted things to change.
That night, Celia still needed space to breathe. Safe Place helped arrange for her to stay with her aunt, ensuring she was safe and supported.
Since then, the family has embraced every resource The Children’s Cabinet had to offer. Through Family Counseling, they began rebuilding trust and learning how to communicate without fear. Their general case management team helped stabilize immediate needs, and Celia prepared to start fresh at our onsite high school, Redfield Academy, in the spring.
Slowly, hope returned to their home.
Celia now texts Safe Place staff when she earns good grades, when she gets her hair done, or just to share a happy moment. She recently gained her mom’s trust enough to attend homecoming, something that once felt impossible.
Her mother, supported by Cabinet staff, received rental assistance, obtained reliable transportation, and has begun building the support network she lacked for so long.
What started as a night of fear and crisis has transformed into a story of healing, stability, and renewed connection. With compassion, guidance, and consistent support, Celia and her mother are not just getting by; they’re growing stronger together.
