At 6 years old, Julia loves dress-up, arts and crafts and making cards for people she cares about. She also enjoys spending time with her friends at school and is always eager to try new activities. Julia is building new skills at home, at school and in her community. For her family, that progress reflects months of hard work and support she has received through Tailored Care Management, Community Living and Supports (CLS) and Respite services.
Challenges at Home and School
Before receiving services, everyday life often came with challenges both at home and at school. Julia’s mother, Lynde Overcash, remembers frequent meltdowns, difficulty following directions and struggles with everyday tasks. At school, Julia was falling behind academically. At home, tensions sometimes grew between Julia and Serenity, a 6-year-old girl staying with the family while in foster care, who spent nearly every moment of the day with her.
The girls woke up together, attended the same kindergarten class, went to after-school care together and returned home together each evening. While the girls cared deeply about one another, the constant togetherness sometimes made it difficult for them to navigate disagreements and frustrations. Julia often wanted to take charge, and her family was becoming increasingly concerned about both her emotional regulation and academic progress.
“School was not good, “Lynde said. “She was falling behind.”
A Family’s Connection to Monarch Healthcare
After Julia completed testing and received diagnoses that made her eligible for NC Medicaid 1915(i) services, Lynde already knew where she wanted to turn for help.
Years earlier, Monarch Healthcare had supported Julia’s older brother, Caden. Through that experience, the family developed trusted relationships with members of the care team and learned about the services available to children and families. When Julia qualified for services, Lynde hoped to keep those relationships in place.
“I really didn’t want to split them up,” she said. “If I can work with one team, then it makes my life simpler.”
Through Monarch Healthcare’s Tailored Care Management program, Julia was connected to CLS and respite services. Lynde says Care Manager Aaron Bradley and the rest of the team have helped coordinate services and connect the family with support that meets Julia’s needs.
Growing One Step at a Time
Once services began, Julia started working on academic, behavioral and daily living skills. Through CLS, she and her support worker spent time reading, visiting the library, completing puzzles and building skills that supported what she was learning in school. At first, the improvements were small but over time, those changes became more noticeable. By the end of April Julia had reached grade level academically, which was a major turning point in her progress.
Her progress extended beyond the classroom as well. Respite services gave Julia and Serenity opportunities to spend time apart, something Lynde believes helped strengthen their relationship.
“I think it really strengthened that bond between them because they had a chance to miss each other,” she said.
The services have also helped Julia explore new interests in the community. One of her accomplishments has been learning to swim at the YMCA with her support worker.
Looking ahead, Julia’s goals include continuing to strengthen her listening skills, following directions before responding and building on the reading and math skills she has worked hard to develop. Recently, her teacher told Lynde that Julia had been one of the best listeners in her class, a milestone that meant a great deal to their family.
Helping Other Families Find Support
Lynde’s connection to Monarch Healthcare extends beyond her role as a parent. After seeing firsthand the impact Monarch Healthcare had on her family, she joined the organization as a developmental specialist and has worked as an employee for the past four years at Circle Drive Group Home supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Today, she hopes more families become aware of the services available to them and feel comfortable seeking support when they need it.
“A lot of people don’t know these services exist,” she said. “There’s so much out there to be utilized. You don’t have to do this alone.”
To learn more about Monarch Healthcare’s Tailored Care Management (TCM), Community Living and Supports (CLS) and Respite services, click below.