Success Stories

Rogerlynn was living in a homeless shelter.  The victim of sexual abuse as a child, Rogerlynn was severely depressed and was not receiving treatment for her paranoid schizophrenia.  She had been hospitalized on several occasions for suicide attempts, and once spent three months in a coma as the result of an overdose of pills.

Rogerlynn  was referred to Hopewell following another suicide attempt.  Hopewell found her a place in its residential care facility (a group home) and she began participating in Hopewell's Community Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program (CPRP).  The CPRP provided the support she needed to ensure that she received proper medication and that she saw a psychiatrist weekly.  Her psychiatrist urged her to begin writing about things that made her angry or fearful. She found that writing gave her a way to "lay down her burdens."  She began carrying a pen and a notepad with her at all times.

At the urging of her community support worker (CSW), Rogerlynn began coming to the day program at Hopewell.  There, she had an opportunity to socialize with other clients, take part in exercise classes and learn basic living skills.

With help from Hopewell, Rogerlynn applied for and received a scholarship to cover her tuition and books at St. Louis Community College. She loved going to classes and always chose a seat at the front of the room.

Rogerlynn  received an associates degree from St. Louis Community College.

She's living in her own apartment and manages her own finances with little help from her Hopewell CSW.  She goes to an exercise class with a friend on a regular basis.  She'd like to lose a little weight.

Rogerlynn works as a cashier.  It's a job she enjoys, but she knows that in time, she'll be ready to look for something more challenging.  She plans to go back to school to get her bachelor's degree.