The counselor at Bow Lake Elementary School called New Futures for translation assistance. One of her students was turning paper clips into weapons. She wanted to speak with his parents, but she found out when she called them at home that they did not speak any English.

The counselor arranged for a New Futures Family Advocate to attend a meeting with the family. Together, they learned that Mohammed and his parents had recently arrived in Seattle from East Africa. At home with his family, he was a kind and mild-mannered child. At school, with no friends and minimal English skills, Mohammed struggled to get along and turned his frustration towards other students.

The Family Advocate worked with both the counselor and the family to create a solution. To build a more comfortable environment for Mohammed, his mother would sit at the back of his classroom one or two days a week. The counselor also asked his teacher to seat him with another Somali child so that he would have a buddy. For support with schoolwork, he was enrolled in New Futures’ After School Program. Mohammed has now made friends with some of his classmates at school and his behavior and academic skills continue to improve in leaps and bounds.

The Family Advocate also helped Mohammed’s mother win a scholarship to beauty school, after which she found a job as a beautician. The money from her job has been essential for her family’s welfare in this economically turbulent time. Her experience with New Futures was so deeply positive that she has since referred many friends and neighbors to our site, and she continues to increase our reputation in the community.

To read more inspiring stories about the kids and families of New Futures, visit our Story Archives.