Client Successes
Nafisa’s Story
Nafisa lived in emergency housing with her parents and two older siblings. She was just past her third birthday when she joined the preschool classroom and remained in the program until she was 4 ½ years old.Her family had been in the country for only four months after emigrating from Ethiopia. She had never been in child care and was not fully toilet trained. She knew some English, but spoke none.
Shortly after Nafisa enrolled, her mom was hospitalized with a serious illness, and the family moved into transitional housing. Her mother’s illness dramatically affected her behavior. She was emotional, crying off and on throughout the day, and generally acted in opposition to adults and other children. Teachers continued to remind her about classroom routines and comforted her as needed.
At a parent-teacher conference, teachers shared with Nafisa’s father that she needed help with her emotions. They suggested that he talk with her about her feelings and spend more time alone with her. He made a commitment to work with her at home.
In her mother’s absence, her father had assumed all responsibility of caring for the children. Teachers noticed that Nafisa’s hygiene had deteriorated. After she had worn the same clothes for a week and had not been bathed during that time, staff began working even more closely with her father.
Our Family Support Coordinator sent toiletry items and clothing home. Staff worked to ensure that Nafisa was getting her scheduled shots and that records of the immunizations were kept. When Nafisa developed a rash, the nurse prescribed medication and explained to her dad how to apply it.When Nafisa outgrew her clothes, we referred her father to the Baby Boutique, another Family Services program, where he could get clothing for her at no cost.
When he expressed his concern that she was overweight, teachers suggested that dad begin working with her on eating more slowly and on helping her identify when her tummy felt full. She also learned to put only the amount of food on her plate that she could eat.
With the support of the teachers, Nafisa settled down in the classroom. Soon afterwards, her Mother was out of the hospital and ok'd to work, and the family secured permanent housing in south Seattle, where Nafisa entered a Head Start program.When Nafisa left the program, her speech and language abilities and her leadership had improved to the point where she would explain classroom procedures to new students in clear English. She made great strides in her social interaction with children and adults, and in her physical development. Her parents were very appreciative of the respect and patience shown by staff.
The developmental skills that Nafisa learned at Morningsong will be critical in her future success in school and in life.