The rest of the story.

So that’s the story of how The Basket came to be. But that’s not the entire story.

When a young person returns from out-of-home treatment, it is almost always recommended that the family enlist the help of a “transitional service”. The purpose is to strengthen the home environment, rally the support of key individuals, and help ensure that new habits are not derailed by inevitable challenges the young person and their family will face.

Upon hearing this we were shocked. Wasn’t 3 ½ months enough? Now we are faced with more intervention and more expense? Yes, they told us. “It’s been known to pay great dividends.”

What we learned was profound. This is the pivotal stage where all the progress made in treatment, and all the positive changes made in behavior, started to truly get “baked-in.” It’s where everything was applied to real life. Our life! This is the “make it last” phase.

After researching our options, we chose to enroll with Homeward Bound. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. The value they bring in working with youth and their families is immeasurable. We looked at it as a type of insurance. We surmised that failing to achieve a successful transition home would nullify any success we had achieved up to that point.

But, as you are aware, insurance comes at a cost. And this is where The Basket aims to be a blessing. And where donors like you can make a meaningful impact. Often times a family may find themselves being just shy of the funds needed to engage Homeward Bound. And on the front end, it may be that a family can’t afford the entire tuition for out-of-home treatment. The Basket can help those families as well. In either case, imagine throwing your child a lifeline, only to discover the rope is too short. The Basket will assume that shortfall. Again, with no obligation to the family.