On a recent afternoon, Daniel Alejandro, a case worker for the nonprofit Youth Villages, walks up a hill in Lowell, MA, to meet three brothers who have been living on their own since their mother died from cancer last Christmas. If 18 year-old Aniel cannot take over the parental role, the brothers will be separated. Securing housing, healthcare and finding appropriate schools are top priorities. The middle brother, 17-year-old Joan, who is deaf, is doing well academically. But there are challenges. The youngest, Yaniel, 15, has been skipping school and leaving the house late at night to visit his girlfriend.
In the apartment, Alejandro and Aniel review the list of things Aniel must accomplish to keep his family together: finalize the paperwork on a new apartment and get Yaniel to a dentist and a therapist. Aniel had already worked on a plan, using Collaborative Problem Solving — an approach developed by Massachusetts General Hospital — to stop Yaniel from sneaking out at night.
Alejandro "has been really helpful," said Aniel. "I needed a lot of help learning how to navigate this situation."
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