A Chance For Matthew

Recently, Matthew was referred to Ettie Lee for his drug use. Although he never knew his father, his mother has raised him and his two sisters with some help from her mother and her brother-Matt's uncle. Matt, age 17, has always felt sad and alone, he says, until he started using marijuana. When asked "what does the marijuana do for you?" he replies with "Happy" and a big grin. Using marijuana made him forget about his anger, his loneliness and his problems. When his uncle died a year ago in a car accident he started smoking a lot more marijuana. His mom too became mad and upset with everything in her life after the accident. Matt's mom began to direct her anger towards Matt.

At Ettie Lee, Matt said his goals were to build a better relationship with his mother and to learn how to communicate instead of leaving the house, which is what he often did to escape conflict. Matt is so glad that Ettie Lee wants to work with him and his mother. Since arriving at the Mt. Jurupa Group Home he has shown much improvement. He is enrolled in our on-site school, has seen our psychiatrist and is in our Intensive Day Program. He and his mother now feel like they have a strong chance of resolving their grief and angst and are excited to be moving forward.

Sergio's Story

Sergio H., age 16, arrived at Ettie Lee's Robertson Memorial home in March ('10). On arrival, he seemed to have no intention of doing anything but gang bang for the rest of his life. Sergio was involved in several serious confrontations and altercations with other residents over their disrespect of his "hood."

Shortly after his second month at Ettie Lee, Sergio received his first Rock Star award for completing many credits at school. Sergio took great pride in his achievement and began to focus more on school and less on gang banging.

Sergio later told a staff member that he knows he can be whatever he wants to be, "but where I come from you have to have somebody to have your back because it's very dangerous in my neighborhood." Even with those obstacles, Sergio still decided to make a serious attempt to stop gang banging.

In June, Sergio found out that he was having a son. That seemed to have a major (positive) impact on him. He started to do extra chores to earn money to help buy a crib for his baby while continuing to excel in school.

A few days before Sergio went to court to be released from Ettie Lee, he tearfully told a staff member the story of his brother who was killed several months prior. It will be especially hard on Sergio now that he is back in his old neighborhood. "My brother was from the same gang as me and those people in my hood didn't do nothing about my brother's death - they didn't do anything to show that my brother died for the hood." Sergio says that he does not want to gang bang and he knows that if he continues to do well in school he can get out of that area.

Sergio has learned a different way of seeing things. In the beginning, gang banging was the only was he knew to survive. After realizing when he applied himself he could graduate from high school made a huge difference in his life. Sergio went home on September 8.

Sergio H., Robertson Memorial Home, 2010

Ettie Lee Holiday 2010

Orlando Is Home

My son, Orlando, has made great improvements since he came to live with me 5 years ago. Although he still struggles with his ADHD, and initial adjustment to our home was challenging, everything has become less of a struggle because he now taking part in our seminary and youth activities. He has grown in every way – spiritually, emotionally and physically. He spends a lot of time with his cousins and is now earning A’s and B’s in school. He even cooks at home and plans to be a cook or a chef when he is done with school. Orlando's life has changed for the better and I am so proud of him.

Parent of Orlando, John Eccles Home '08

Help kids like Orlando by Donating Today

Emmanuel Graduates!

In May of 2009, Emmanuel was referred to Ettie Lee's Santa Ana home at age 17. He had very few high school credits at this time. He was so far behind that he had almost given up on the belief that he could graduate at all. Encouraged by the support he received from the on grounds school staff, Emmanuel started to believe in himself.

One of Ettie Lee's staff members described it as Emmanuel being able to allow the sun to shine through his clouds of doubt. Emmanuel not only started earning credits, he was earning them at an accelerated rate. It was at this time that he was transferred to Ettie Lee's North Hollywood Home (typically for older boys who are in transition to adulthood) where he would be able to recieve much needed independent living skills training.

Really motivated, and now enrolled in the local school from 7:45 AM to 6:00 PM, he was able to catch up to the other seniors and in his first semester earned straight A's! Emmanuel graduated North Hollywood High School in June 2010. Thirty days later Emmanuel was accepted into a transitional housing program where he will continue to work and grow.

to help out boys like Emmanuel and our after-care program please donate today

Tyler's Struggle... And Recovery

Tyler, age 17, never knew his father and watched his mother take her last breath about five years ago. As a result, Tyler turned to drugs and became an addict, specifically a meth addict - he was actually injecting meth into his veins. He stole from his family, his friends and strangers to support his habit. It was then that Tyler was referred to Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services. After arriving at Ettie Lee's Mt. Jurupa Home, he was unsure of himself. He could not look to the future and didn't know if he would ever be welcomed back into his family...

Sober since April, Tyler has gained weight and now shoes his bright smile. His family just recently came to visit him and was amazed how well Tyler has changed for the better. For the first time in a long while, Tyler is thriving and doing exactly what he should be doing - getting grief counseling, going to school and staying out of trouble. Tyler is now looking forward to reunifying with his aunt and grandmother. Tyler has even earned the privilege of the coveted Honor Room at Mt. Jurupa due to his progress and attitude.

to help out Tyler and children like Tyler, click here to donate now

Jonathan's Transition

Former resident Jonathan, 18, recently paid a visit to the John Eccles Home to visit the staff. He wanted to share with them his great news. He had a plan during is stay that he was going to join the military. Today he has joined the Air Force and is in the process of becoming a pilot. He was at the John Eccles Homes for two years. While at John Eccles, Jonathan was a good student, a football player and good influence on the other boys in the home.

Although Jonathan, a foster child, lived in several foster homes before he came to Ettie Lee, at 16 his aunt adopted him and they moved to Idaho. We are so happy to hear from Jonathan and are proud of his many accomplishments!