“I didn’t know what I didn’t know,” Henrietta said. “I needed as much help as he did.”
Much of Darrion’s progress, Henrietta says, comes from the trust he built with London, who took the time to understand every part of his life, from home to school.
“She sees the whole child,” Henrietta said. “And Darrion trusts her. That trust has made all the difference.”
Today, Darrion is flourishing in ways that once felt impossible. He’s been matched with a mentor, continues in specialized schooling with a long-term goal of transitioning to a traditional classroom, and enjoys taking guitar lessons and learning songs by rock legends AC/DC.
London said Darrion now sleeps in his own room, communicates his needs and shows far fewer crisis behaviors. Meanwhile, Henrietta has gained confidence, implemented safety strategies, accessed community support and allowed Darrion more independence.
“He’s a different child,” Henrietta said. “And we’re living a different life now.”
Since starting Intercept, Darrion has not been hospitalized, a dramatic change from the past.
One moment stands out as a turning point. During a moment of emotional distress, Darrion opened the front door and stepped outside with intentions of running from the house, then stopped.
He turned back to his mother and said, “Mommy, I’m not going to do this. I’m going to come back inside and tell you what’s bothering me.”
For Henrietta, it felt nothing short of a miracle.
“He learned those skills in Intercept,” she said. “And I learned not to make it worse. We both learned how to stop things from escalating.”
About Youth Villages – Georgia
In collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and Division of Family & Children Services our work in Georgia focuses on strengthening families to prevent or limit the need for out-of-home placements (Intercept), supporting youth who age out of foster care or lack a stable caregiver as they enter adulthood (LifeSet) and providing short-term, intensive residential treatment for children whose needs are not met by traditional mental and behavioral health services (Residential Treatment Program).
Support the Elevate Campaign: Help expand access to life-changing residential care for children in Georgia. Your support brings proven treatment closer to home—where it matters most. Donate today!