“Eliza” felt like she had plunged into a nightmare. In a moment, she lost everything she held close: her parents were killed, requiring her to leave everything she knew at home and move to the United States to live with extended family. She was overcome with grief, culture shock, and the anxiety of living in an unfamiliar home.
In the midst of her tension, Eliza came to Second Story for Teens in Crisis. She found a safe place to take a break, process her emotions with the counselors, and learn about improving communication with her new guardian. Staff at the shelter were also able to connect her extended family with resources through Second Story in the Community to help them obtain permanent guardianship of Eliza.
Eliza cannot forget her traumatic past, but with support and care from Second Story for Teens in Crisis she can approach her future equipped with tools to process her grief, her new home, and her acclimation to the United States.
