“STRONG offered a life raft to my family at a time when it was really hard to stay afloat.”

When 9-year-old  Ariyeh first came to STRONG a few years ago, he was at a low point. He had been diagnosed with severe ADHD. His parents, Matt and Naomi, had searched tirelessly, determined to find a course of treatment that would help their son.

The journey was not an easy one. Ariyeh had been kicked out of daycare, and every year his behavior seemed to get progressively worse. He was in kindergarten when the pandemic hit and remote learning became detrimental. His behavior worsened when in-person school resumed at the end of first grade.  By the end of second grade, Ariyeh could no longer attend school.

At the start of third grade Ariyeh was turned away from Karate, since his behaviors didn’t allow him to participate well with the other kids.

“He started to lose the things he loved to do in life and it was just hard on all of us,” Matt says.

Searching for Solutions 

Matt and Naomi knew they needed to get him into a program that offered solutions and hope to their family.

It was during a visit to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin mental health emergency clinic that Naomi ran across a pamphlet for STRONG Child & Adolescent Day Treatment Program, Milwaukee’s only in-person day treatment program for children ages 4 to 14 who face significant behavioral and mental health issues.

“I called several places, and STRONG was the only one I got a friendly response from,” Naomi recalls. “That made all the difference – and we started really pushing to get in there.”

There was a long wait list at STRONG at the time.  Naomi called every few weeks to see if Ariyeh had moved up the list. Her persistence paid off. Ariyeh got into the STRONG program that fall.

The family had to navigate transportation to the STRONG Milwaukee Center from their home in another county. They were pleased with the responsiveness and help they received with arrangements. Ariyeh went through a bit of time building trust and learning to work with his therapist. Within a month of starting his treatment at STRONG, things began to click.

Dr. Ashley Schoof, director at the STRONG program, says children who come to STRONG need to first feel unconditional love and acceptance. Once connection and trust are established, the therapists at STRONG explore the root causes of a child’s feelings and the behaviors that result. During treatment, the STRONG team guides a child (and parents/guardians) toward a better understanding of those feelings, then how to recognize, cope and regulate their own behavior.

“STRONG listened to us,” Matt says. “They came at things from a different angle to meet Ariyeh where he was, and figured out what was needed.” Matt and Naomi realized the importance of a community of support built around a team at STRONG and a family at home, all working together for the same goal of Ariyeh’s success.

STRONGer Together

Matt admits he had been a bit skeptical at first. Then he observed the positive changes in his son’s behavior. The approach to Ariyeh’s treatment helped the whole family heal. During family meetings, the team at STRONG gave Ariyeh’s parents tips and techniques to create a positive home environment and enhance his treatment progress. The family could now go out in social settings without the awkward or unpleasant interactions they used to experience with their son. Ariyeh was also able to participate in sports again because he could better handle taking directions from the coaches and managing social interactions with teammates.

This family’s quality of life has changed for the better, and Ariyeh is on a good trajectory for his future. The community at STRONG loved and accepted him and helped him understand how to manage his energy and emotions.

“He’s more respectful now,” Matt says, “and he doesn’t need constant redirection like he did before.”

Ariyah has graduated from STRONG and is back at school full-time with his classmates. He is managing well and learning to play the saxophone. Matt and Naomi tell people that STRONG made a dramatic difference in their lives.

“We have the proof – this model works!”

How do our donors help?

Our donors help bridge the gap between the costs of providing day treatment and the insurance reimbursement rates. We are able to continue offering STRONG – and expand to meet the growing needs – because of our generous donors.

We are grateful to our donors who help us help children and change the trajectory of young lives.

STRONG is Milwaukee’s only in-person day treatment program for children ages 4 to 14 who face significant behavioral and mental health issues. Few mental health providers offer day treatment for children because the work is difficult and costs more than reimbursements available. Christian Family Solutions remains committed to serving these children.