I knew something was not right with my son. I didn’t know that my son would need medical attention. He would have loud out bursts and use foul language. He was very disrespectful to our neighbors. The neighbors notified my landlord. The landlord gave me a warning. Then it would happen again. Again, the neighbors notified my landlord and again my landlord warned me until he got tired of the situation. I would have been homeless, but I had Section 8 housing. It gave me time to find another place to live.

Now I live in housing that is provided by the company where my man friend works. Even so, I am still not secure. Prior to my son receiving services he was causing such problems and I was having a hard time dealing with him. It had me scared that I would be put out and homeless. He is now taking medication for paranoia and bipolar and is under control.

Help came in the form of wraparound services from Aspiranet. Before I was introduced to wraparound services, I really had no concept of what mental illness was. I knew that there was something terribly wrong with my son but did not know what it was. I knew nothing of medication. When it was first suggested to me that my son might need to take medication, I was in denial that he needed it.

It was the gentle understanding of a parent partner who had already gone down much of the same path that helped me to learn about mental illness, medication and how to speak up for myself and my children. It has taken nearly seven months but I feel that my housing is more stable than it has been in a long time.

My son is not showing the signs of his paranoia and his bipolar is under control. He has done well in school when no one thought he would even be able to make it outside of a non public school. I am very thankful to wraparound, my parent partner and UACF for educating me about mental illness, public policy and how to speak out.

This is not to say that I don’t still have my challenges. My younger son is giving me some of the same problems, and I’m seeking medical attention for him. I hope I last and don’t become homeless