President’s Report
Making a Difference
November 1, 2009
At Northwood, we have many sophisticated systems in place to measure our students’ success, both while engaged with us in the treatment process and after their discharge from our programs. The information is typically very positive – we know that the young men and women in our care make a great deal of progress on their treatment goals, which helps them lead successful, satisfying lives when they return to their homes, communities and schools. We know that our key stakeholders – parents and referring workers – give us very high marks on satisfaction surveys and are grateful for the changes they see in their children.
Nothing, however, is a more powerful testimony to the value of our work than when former students take the time to visit with us and tell us, in their own words, what a difference we have made in their lives. I know I speak for all of the Northwood staff when I say that those are moments that we treasure. It is why we do what we do.
Recently, I had the opportunity to discover how we had impacted two lives out of the approximately 500 children we serve each year. The stories involve two young men, teenagers at the time they were placed with us, who were some of the first students we served when the West Campus opened about twenty years ago.
The first instance actually involved the father of one our students, who had a chance encounter with one of our therapists. Naturally, the conversation quickly turned to how the former student was doing. This young man had a complex and serious constellation of difficulties when he was with us. He had a great deal of difficulty in social situations, which we now know to be the primary feature of kids living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He would get locked in on strange narrow topics of interest, which often did not endear him to his peers. He could also be quite provocative with others and was even occasionally violent. He was also an incredibly interesting and likable kid. His former therapist was astounded to hear that the young man, now in his mid-thirties, had held a job as a skilled craftsman with the same company for more than 10 years. An exemplary employee and a homeowner, he has a variety of interests and leisure pursuits. His dad reports that he is a well adjusted, capable and ably functioning adult, and attributed much of the transformation to his time at Northwood. His father could not be more happy or proud of his son. Outstanding.
A few days after hearing about that success story, I walked out of my office one day and saw that same therapist talking with a cab driver in our parking lot. As I approached them, the cab driver said, “You probably don’t remember me, but I used to be a student here when you first opened your doors.” Even though he looked a lot different 20 years later, I recognized him right away. He has not had an easy life, both prior to coming to Northwood and as an adult. He was always a very bright, articulate and creative person, and it was amazing to hear him recount in vivid detail the people, fun times, the fondness he had for certain staff, and the lessons he learned that he applies to his life today. He has challenges in his life, there is no doubt. He has struggled with tons of issues, but he is trying hard to be a stand up member of society and to make the right choices. As he was leaving he commented, “You people are absolute saints to have put up with me when I lived here. I can’t believe you were that patient, and I hope you know that I was not mad at you, but was really in a rage about all the losses I had in my life. I know I have a long way to go, but I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you did for me and for putting up with me.”
You are welcome. Thank you for helping affirm that our mission is a noble and inspirational one. I can’t wait to tell the staff about the next former student who takes the time to tell us that we played a role in shaping their life in a positive way.
I’ll do my best to keep you posted as well.
Richard Wolleat
President & CEO
