I was referred to Extern by a judge when my 14-year-old son appeared before him on an assault charge, what is worse he was also awaiting expulsion from school during his junior cert exam year. As a single mother of a large family, desperate to keep my son in school and out of trouble I had found myself in a vulnerable and frightening position. Despite all my efforts things were going wrong and my son’s future was hanging in the balance. I felt unheard and powerless.

As I welcomed Extern into my home, I was feeling anxious of the unknown. I did not know what to expect, but I was soon put at ease when I noticed their positive and genuine attitudes. They were non- invasive and friendly. One lady was assigned to work closely with our family (K).

When K came to visit, she would always acknowledge the younger siblings in the house. She brought them games and colours and was always happy and entertaining, K always created a comfortable and natural environment for the kids and rewarded them for good behaviours and it had a positive impact on our sessions.

K helped my son and I to assess all circumstances that were leading him into trouble. We came up with three main goals that we wanted to achieve by the end of the programme. Once identified K set out pathways to achieve these goals, including plans, mini tasks, timetables, problem solving and our engagement.

I was impressed as K consistently demonstrated such exceptional work ethic and unwavering support to our family. Her responsiveness to our needs and willingness to go above and beyond as an advocate and supporter was truly appreciated. K arranged group meetings with all professionals linked to my son, with the focus on his needs and future. She reached out to other professionals in the community and soon had created a support network for my son to ensure his chances of success. I experience a friend and ally in K. She always offered me dependable advice, guidance, and compassion. She attended every meeting with me, and I didn’t have to face anything alone.

In what felt like a short period of time, K had managed to completely turn our lives around! My son achieved all of his goals, he was given a second chance in his school, he returned to his soccer team, joined the local gym and has stayed out of trouble. He started to do more positive and beneficial things with his time.

Through the education and awareness gained from working with K and Extern, my son has learned to manage his time, emotions and decisions more mindfully and productively. He benefited from the structure and routine. He has more awareness, and he is in a much better place mentally and emotionally. He has matured and has grown in confidence. He is now focused on creating a good future for himself all thanks to K and Extern for their help.

I have learned the importance of clear communication. I now have stronger boundaries and expectations for my children. I have learned to balance fairness with firmness. I have applied the knowledge I have gained and see an overall improvement in the functioning of my family life.

I will be forever grateful to K and Extern for saving my family.

Thank you so much for the amazing work that you have accomplished with my family.