August 13, 2025 • 17 mins
In this powerful episode of The Shift: Voices of Prevention, discover how hope can be transformed into meaningful action for families. The conversation with Yolanda Bronner-Wooten dives deep into strategies for ensuring families have the access and support they need to thrive, highlighting the ripple effects of strong, connected communities.
“When families have access, communities have strength.”
Listen in and be inspired by actionable insights on building systems that center families, empower caregivers, and strengthen the foundation for long-term well-being.
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_01 (00:09):
This is the Shift Voices of Prevention, a podcast
from Prevent Child AbuseAmerica, where we explore bold
ideas, cultural change, and whatit truly means to support
children and families.
Join us to change the narrativeone conversation at a time.
Today's show was brought to youby PCA America's 2025 National
(00:30):
Conference.
Hosted in Portland, Oregon,August 12th through August 14th,
the transformative three-dayconference features three
keynote speakers and more than70 workshops that dive into the
key drivers of change.
From innovative programs andpractices to family-focused
policies, cutting-edge research,and public awareness and
engagement strategies, theconference is designed to push
(00:51):
the field toward upstreamprevention and creating a future
where every child and family canthrive.
To be in the room when changehappens, visit
preventchildabuse.org.
Hello and welcome to the ShiftVoices of Prevention, a podcast
by Prevent Child Abuse America.
I'm your host, Nathan Fink, andI'm thrilled to be joined by
(01:13):
Yolanda Braunerwooden, the StateLink Director at Canopy
Children's Solutions, whoconnects Mississippi families
with the supports and resourcesthat build stronger, healthier
relationships.
Yolanda, thank you so much forjoining the show.
SPEAKER_00 (01:26):
Good morning.
Thank you.
And I must say thank you for theinvitation.
SPEAKER_01 (01:30):
It's great to see you.
But I have to say, when I firstdove into Link, which of course
is under the awning of CanopyChildren's Solutions, I was
taken aback by the amount ofservices that you offer.
Can you give us a sense of whatthose services are?
SPEAKER_00 (01:46):
Sure.
So I want to start off by sayingthat Link is a preventative
solution.
So before there's like DHSsinvolved, true and C CPS, that's
where Link steps in.
Our ultimate goal is to providefamilies with support,
education, training, but mostimportantly, it's hope.
And we're linking families toresources, both local and
(02:09):
federal.
And we're doing this across theentire state of Mississippi, all
82 counties.
SPEAKER_01 (02:13):
Now you made a point of saying prevention,
prevention, prevention insteadof intervention.
Why is that such an importantdistinction?
SPEAKER_00 (02:22):
Because it's important because sometimes
people just need help.
They need help.
So once we step in and identifywhat their court need is, it's
not a case of CPS.
It's not a DHS case.
It's someone that they don'thave the support and they don't
know where to get that supportfrom.
So that's when we step in.
We want to prevent things fromhappening, prevent a child from
(02:43):
being removed from the home.
We want to prevent CPS frombeing involved if we can.
So that's why it's so importantfor us to go in and identify
what is the need, what is thatinitial need of yours.
And so we can identify that.
And once it's identified, we cango in to action and make sure
that they understand and knowthat we're here to help and
(03:04):
things can change.
SPEAKER_01 (03:06):
I love what you did there.
I love that you brought thedoorway to success closer to all
families by saying, hey, priorto having a crisis or a problem,
why don't we get you the supportwe know all families need?
SPEAKER_00 (03:22):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (03:22):
Now, the larger idea then is that you're stitching
together an ecosystem ofservices through existing
organizations, if I'm notmistaken, to meet families where
they're at.
SPEAKER_00 (03:33):
When we say meet families where they are, I don't
think people literallyunderstand what that means.
But for us, under the canopyumbrella, and especially in
Link, we're literally meetingfamilies where they are.
Whether that's in their carbecause they're homeless, we
will show up and assist you.
Whether or not it's a familythat is under a bridge.
We've been in those situations.
These are lived experience thatI've seen myself.
(03:54):
We're identified and we'remeeting those families where
they are.
We're providing them with hope.
And by us being able to do this,it's not just us standing alone,
it's the partnerships andrelationships that we've built
along within the community forus to be able to do those
things.
SPEAKER_01 (04:09):
Now, I want to talk briefly about the nature of
hope, if you don't mind, becausewhile the power of it, of hope,
certainly gets me out of bed inthe morning, at times it can
feel passive, like something wesay to others when the bottom
falls out.
But hope is much more active.
So let's redefine this together.
(04:30):
When you say hope, what do youmean exactly?
SPEAKER_00 (04:34):
We are helping families to see, create, and
understand that there arepathways to hope.
We're there for them to believeand understand that things are
going to happen.
Situations might look dark, butwe're there to step alongside
with them for them to accesswhatever they're needing.
(04:55):
We are increasing that abilityfor them, those families to stay
in the home, stay together, andwe're identified.
It's not just us talking totalk.
You know, people can talk thetalk all day, Nathan.
It's not that.
It's us showing up and toaction.
We can say a lot of things, butyet when once we show up with a
solution, they know that we arethere.
(05:16):
So with us having a solution totheir situation or their
problem, they understand thereis hope.
We're not saying it.
We're taking action to providethat.
SPEAKER_01 (05:26):
I love that you break it into these component
pieces because sometimes we talkabout it as the science of hope.
And I heard you say three thingsthat I want to dive into see,
believe, and then pathway.
So talk to me a little bit aboutsome of the things that you
might help a family see,believe, and then continue on
(05:48):
their path.
SPEAKER_00 (05:48):
Well, one thing that we're helping families to see
that there are resources outthere.
Nathan, I'm gonna be verytransparent.
Before moving into thisposition, I didn't know that
there was a number of resourcesout there for families, access,
local, federal, informal, andformal resources and support out
there.
So that's us helping them to seeand to show them this is what we
have, this is what we can do foryou.
(06:10):
This is the partnership that wehave.
And we bring that partnershipalongside with us to show them
like, hey, they are ready tostep in as long as you have that
willpower to move forward and dowhat needs to be done.
So we're helping them to seethat.
We want them to believe itbecause guess what?
They're gonna believe it becausewe're coming in with the action.
We're coming in and say, hey,here is a resource for food,
(06:31):
here is a resource fortransportation, here's a
resource for your child that'son the spectrum and you're in
need of a school for your child.
Here's a resource for our autismclinic.
So we're providing them with thematerials.
They see the materials, it'sright in front of them.
So they understand that we'rethere to support, they can
believe us, and they can trustus, that we're there to educate
(06:52):
them and help them on whateverthat need is.
SPEAKER_01 (06:55):
Do you have any examples of, say, cross-sector
partnerships that you havebrought to bear for Mississippi
families?
SPEAKER_00 (07:03):
Well, yeah, I can think of a number.
How much time do we have,Nathan?
Nathan, we build relationshipsacross the entire state, whereas
we can literally call them andsay, hey, can you do this for a
family?
I can think of one, our bridgebuilder relationship, and that's
a relationship with the facebase, whereas they provide free
after-school care, free summercare, as long as that individual
(07:24):
has transportation to make itthere, they're able to provide
that with them.
That's a relationship that wehave built, whereas I can call
them and say, Hey, I have afamily that we just enrolled,
they're looking for child care,they cannot afford it.
Is there a way for you to fitthem in?
And they will do that for us.
The bed ministry, like I toldyou, Nathan, do we have time?
I'm gonna go down the list ofthem now.
(07:44):
The um the bed ministry, whereasif there's a family that is in
need of beds, and I we found outthere is a number of families in
Mississippi that have never,never had a bed, let alone a
mattress.
They've been sleeping on thefloor on the couch.
But with our partnership withthe bed ministry, we're able to
contact them, let them know theneeds, how many they build those
(08:05):
beds, they deliver the beds, andit comes with all of the bells
and whistles.
It comes with the comforter, itcomes with um carrots, whatever.
If it's for a little boy or alittle girl, we identify the age
and they are there to supportand give those resources.
Another one, Elijah's Closet.
Elijah's Closet is a clothingresource for families across the
(08:27):
state of Mississippi for theentire family.
Um, another one, the SalvationArmy.
We were able to partner withthem and give out 400
mattresses, 400 mattresses,Nathan.
It was the hottest day ever inMississippi.
We were out there breaking downboxes, open them up, helping
(08:47):
families tie them to the top oftheir cars.
By any means necessary, we weregoing to make sure that those
families walked away with theneed of a mattress that day.
So just by the partnerships andthe relationships that we've had
across the state of Mississippi,it has been, let me say,
priceless.
SPEAKER_01 (09:04):
We were started this conversation a bit with hope,
right?
Because what we're talking aboutnow is material goods, creating
environments where parents andfamilies have access to the
things that they need to besuccessful in their unit, which
then leads to belief, whichleads to stronger and maybe
deeper levels of hope.
(09:25):
Can you think of any examples offamilies or anecdotes from
families where this type ofservice or effort led to a new
horizon line for them as afamily?
SPEAKER_00 (09:37):
Well, Nathan, I can think of a number of families
that we've served, so manyfamilies that have benefited
from our services.
But I will say there is onefamily that sticks out in
particular.
And it was a young lady that umcame to us and she was expecting
she was in need of employment,she was in need of resources for
her son that was on thespectrum.
(09:57):
She was struggling with thepublic with her child being in
public school and just notgetting what he what she felt
like he was needing.
And then on top of that, she wasliving in a hotel and so she was
in need of housing.
With those relationships that Imentioned earlier, we were able
to link her to those resourcesfor her to be able to obtain
employment.
We've built relationships with anumber of businesses across the
(10:20):
state, and we're able to contactthem and make sure that our
families, those that are needingemployment, they become
employed.
We were able to link her to avoucher for her to be able to
obtain housing.
And one thing I can say when itcomes to these families, link is
a voluntary solution.
It's not a program.
People come to us for asolution, not a program.
So it's a voluntary solution.
(10:41):
So as long as that family iswilling and ready to participate
and know and understand what todo, we're able to assist them.
And with her, with thatindividual, she was elevated to
the next level.
She's currently now have had herwonderful baby boy.
She is now employed.
We were able to link her toresources for her child that's
on the spectrum because we haveour autism clinic under our
(11:03):
canopy umbrella.
We put her in contact withindividuals there, and her child
was able to receive services.
And so was she able to receiveABA therapy, ABA therapy support
for her child until that childwas actually enrolled into the
school.
Her gratefulness is justthankful to us.
It was just undescribable.
She continued to say, I thoughtthat there was nobody out there
(11:26):
to help me because I've beenhomeless for a while.
I've been struggling with these,and I kept on hidden block after
block after block until she metus.
SPEAKER_01 (11:35):
When you step back or when we step back from
programs and services or evensolutions to look at this web of
support, how do we begin tocreate support networks that
unite these component pieces asyou have at Canopy Children's
Solutions?
SPEAKER_00 (11:54):
So when we take a step back, it's all about
listening, Nathan.
Listening to the need of thecommunity.
It's about showing up to thosealready existed coalitions and
showing that, hey, I'm here.
We can offer this.
And in connection with you alland combining that, the number
(12:17):
of families that are will can beaffected just by us
collaborating to provide thatfor those families.
It's about listening,identifying what that core need
is.
And in return, you're going tobe building trust within the
community.
So they're going to call uponyou because they're going to see
that you're going to show,you're showing up.
You're going to be buildingunderstanding, more
(12:38):
partnerships, morerelationships, more support
groups.
So it's all about being a visualin the community, listening to
what the community wants becausewe have our own wants and needs
for the community.
It's not about us, it's aboutwhat the community needs.
What is that main core need?
And once you listen to them, youbecome involved, you're visible
(12:59):
within the community and youshow up, that's how you're
building those relationships.
And you're creating your own.
We've created our owncoalitions, like with the
juvenile justice system.
We're in court Mondays.
We're there every single Mondayshowing up.
And if that judge realizes,like, hey, this is a case for
Link, we're there.
She immediately sends them to usand we're able to assist them
(13:20):
and help them out.
So it's all about listening,identifying, showing up, and
coming with a solution in orderto build on to what you already
have in the community.
SPEAKER_01 (13:30):
Now it feels to me like hope isn't something just
for an individual.
It transcends thesocioecological model where it's
personal, interrelational,community level, society level,
that your judge that you justmentioned had to believe that
the solution was there and reachout to you.
SPEAKER_00 (13:50):
Absolutely.
And that's exactly whathappened, Nathan.
She was at a presentation and wewere showing what we were doing,
and she immediately reached outand said, Oh, I need you all.
Can you all be in court?
I have a number of families or anumber of children that can
benefit from the services, butof course, that core need comes
from what's going on at home.
So we can identify what's goingon at home, the behavior of that
(14:12):
child would change.
So it was like a marriage madein heaven when it came to us
connecting with the juvenilejustice system.
SPEAKER_01 (14:20):
Yeah.
Now, if you're like me andyou're hearing this, I'm
guessing that you're prettyfired up.
And you want to do somethinglike Link and Canopy Children's
Solutions in your community.
Do you have any advice for thosecommunity champions who want to
help support or maybe evenengineer their own ecosystems of
family support?
SPEAKER_00 (14:38):
Absolutely.
Like I mentioned earlier, itstarts off by listening.
The key is listening,relationships, listening,
partnerships, listening,collaboration.
Those are the main keys.
And if we do those things,they're going to show up.
And when I say show up, Nathan,I mean show up like boots on the
(15:01):
ground, ready to take action andto show.
And when you show up with asolution, when you listen to
your community, when youunderstand and remove self and
identify this is what thecommunity needs, this is that
core need for that community.
When you mix the relationships,the partnerships that you're
(15:23):
going to build, those supportgroups, when you help those
families identify that supportgroup.
And sometimes the support groupis not within the family unit
because some people don't havefamily to support on.
But when you lean in and becomethat support and walk alongside
those individuals, when you mixit all up together, those are
(15:47):
the perfect ingredients forincreased hope.
And if you can do that and showthem that you're there to
support, you're there toeducate, and you're not linking
and leaving, but yet takingtheir hand and guiding them to
access those resources, you havewhat it takes to rally your
(16:09):
community for them to be able totrust and support you.
SPEAKER_01 (16:13):
Yolanda, where do you get your energy?
SPEAKER_00 (16:16):
Let me tell you just a little disclosure.
They call me sunshine.
When people are having a glimday, they come to my office,
Nathan.
This is me always.
I love one thing I can say aboutmy organization about Canopy is
I can be my authentic self.
This is me every single day.
I often say you never know whatthe next person is going
(16:38):
through.
So sometimes just my smile or mejust being this sunshine
throughout the office, itchanges.
It changes the outlook.
And people want people are drawnto you just because of that.
But this is me all day, Nathan.
Everybody has a story, but forme, this is this is me, and I
(16:59):
have to.
And it's not just about me, it'sabout how others see me.
SPEAKER_01 (17:02):
So Yolanda, thank you so much for coming on the
show and being part of such animportant conversation.
SPEAKER_00 (17:08):
Thank you so much and have a good one.
SPEAKER_01 (17:11):
And you can invite upstream solutions into your
feed by subscribing to The ShiftVoices of Prevention today.
Join us to create an ecosystemwhere children and families live
purposeful and happy lives withhope for the future.
This is the Shift Voices of Prevention, a podcast
from Prevent Child AbuseAmerica, where we explore bold
ideas, cultural change, and whatit truly means to support
children and families.
Join us to change the narrativeone conversation at a time.
Today's show was brought to youby PCA America's 2025 National
(00:30):
Conference.
Hosted in Portland, Oregon,August 12th through August 14th,
the transformative three-dayconference features three
keynote speakers and more than70 workshops that dive into the
key drivers of change.
From innovative programs andpractices to family-focused
policies, cutting-edge research,and public awareness and
engagement strategies, theconference is designed to push
(00:51):
the field toward upstreamprevention and creating a future
where every child and family canthrive.
To be in the room when changehappens, visit
preventchildabuse.org.
Hello and welcome to the ShiftVoices of Prevention, a podcast
by Prevent Child Abuse America.
I'm your host, Nathan Fink, andI'm thrilled to be joined by
(01:13):
Yolanda Braunerwooden, the StateLink Director at Canopy
Children's Solutions, whoconnects Mississippi families
with the supports and resourcesthat build stronger, healthier
relationships.
Yolanda, thank you so much forjoining the show.
SPEAKER_00 (01:26):
Good morning.
Thank you.
And I must say thank you for theinvitation.
SPEAKER_01 (01:30):
It's great to see you.
But I have to say, when I firstdove into Link, which of course
is under the awning of CanopyChildren's Solutions, I was
taken aback by the amount ofservices that you offer.
Can you give us a sense of whatthose services are?
SPEAKER_00 (01:46):
Sure.
So I want to start off by sayingthat Link is a preventative
solution.
So before there's like DHSsinvolved, true and C CPS, that's
where Link steps in.
Our ultimate goal is to providefamilies with support,
education, training, but mostimportantly, it's hope.
And we're linking families toresources, both local and
(02:09):
federal.
And we're doing this across theentire state of Mississippi, all
82 counties.
SPEAKER_01 (02:13):
Now you made a point of saying prevention,
prevention, prevention insteadof intervention.
Why is that such an importantdistinction?
SPEAKER_00 (02:22):
Because it's important because sometimes
people just need help.
They need help.
So once we step in and identifywhat their court need is, it's
not a case of CPS.
It's not a DHS case.
It's someone that they don'thave the support and they don't
know where to get that supportfrom.
So that's when we step in.
We want to prevent things fromhappening, prevent a child from
(02:43):
being removed from the home.
We want to prevent CPS frombeing involved if we can.
So that's why it's so importantfor us to go in and identify
what is the need, what is thatinitial need of yours.
And so we can identify that.
And once it's identified, we cango in to action and make sure
that they understand and knowthat we're here to help and
(03:04):
things can change.
SPEAKER_01 (03:06):
I love what you did there.
I love that you brought thedoorway to success closer to all
families by saying, hey, priorto having a crisis or a problem,
why don't we get you the supportwe know all families need?
SPEAKER_00 (03:22):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (03:22):
Now, the larger idea then is that you're stitching
together an ecosystem ofservices through existing
organizations, if I'm notmistaken, to meet families where
they're at.
SPEAKER_00 (03:33):
When we say meet families where they are, I don't
think people literallyunderstand what that means.
But for us, under the canopyumbrella, and especially in
Link, we're literally meetingfamilies where they are.
Whether that's in their carbecause they're homeless, we
will show up and assist you.
Whether or not it's a familythat is under a bridge.
We've been in those situations.
These are lived experience thatI've seen myself.
(03:54):
We're identified and we'remeeting those families where
they are.
We're providing them with hope.
And by us being able to do this,it's not just us standing alone,
it's the partnerships andrelationships that we've built
along within the community forus to be able to do those
things.
SPEAKER_01 (04:09):
Now, I want to talk briefly about the nature of
hope, if you don't mind, becausewhile the power of it, of hope,
certainly gets me out of bed inthe morning, at times it can
feel passive, like something wesay to others when the bottom
falls out.
But hope is much more active.
So let's redefine this together.
(04:30):
When you say hope, what do youmean exactly?
SPEAKER_00 (04:34):
We are helping families to see, create, and
understand that there arepathways to hope.
We're there for them to believeand understand that things are
going to happen.
Situations might look dark, butwe're there to step alongside
with them for them to accesswhatever they're needing.
(04:55):
We are increasing that abilityfor them, those families to stay
in the home, stay together, andwe're identified.
It's not just us talking totalk.
You know, people can talk thetalk all day, Nathan.
It's not that.
It's us showing up and toaction.
We can say a lot of things, butyet when once we show up with a
solution, they know that we arethere.
(05:16):
So with us having a solution totheir situation or their
problem, they understand thereis hope.
We're not saying it.
We're taking action to providethat.
SPEAKER_01 (05:26):
I love that you break it into these component
pieces because sometimes we talkabout it as the science of hope.
And I heard you say three thingsthat I want to dive into see,
believe, and then pathway.
So talk to me a little bit aboutsome of the things that you
might help a family see,believe, and then continue on
(05:48):
their path.
SPEAKER_00 (05:48):
Well, one thing that we're helping families to see
that there are resources outthere.
Nathan, I'm gonna be verytransparent.
Before moving into thisposition, I didn't know that
there was a number of resourcesout there for families, access,
local, federal, informal, andformal resources and support out
there.
So that's us helping them to seeand to show them this is what we
have, this is what we can do foryou.
(06:10):
This is the partnership that wehave.
And we bring that partnershipalongside with us to show them
like, hey, they are ready tostep in as long as you have that
willpower to move forward and dowhat needs to be done.
So we're helping them to seethat.
We want them to believe itbecause guess what?
They're gonna believe it becausewe're coming in with the action.
We're coming in and say, hey,here is a resource for food,
(06:31):
here is a resource fortransportation, here's a
resource for your child that'son the spectrum and you're in
need of a school for your child.
Here's a resource for our autismclinic.
So we're providing them with thematerials.
They see the materials, it'sright in front of them.
So they understand that we'rethere to support, they can
believe us, and they can trustus, that we're there to educate
(06:52):
them and help them on whateverthat need is.
SPEAKER_01 (06:55):
Do you have any examples of, say, cross-sector
partnerships that you havebrought to bear for Mississippi
families?
SPEAKER_00 (07:03):
Well, yeah, I can think of a number.
How much time do we have,Nathan?
Nathan, we build relationshipsacross the entire state, whereas
we can literally call them andsay, hey, can you do this for a
family?
I can think of one, our bridgebuilder relationship, and that's
a relationship with the facebase, whereas they provide free
after-school care, free summercare, as long as that individual
(07:24):
has transportation to make itthere, they're able to provide
that with them.
That's a relationship that wehave built, whereas I can call
them and say, Hey, I have afamily that we just enrolled,
they're looking for child care,they cannot afford it.
Is there a way for you to fitthem in?
And they will do that for us.
The bed ministry, like I toldyou, Nathan, do we have time?
I'm gonna go down the list ofthem now.
(07:44):
The um the bed ministry, whereasif there's a family that is in
need of beds, and I we found outthere is a number of families in
Mississippi that have never,never had a bed, let alone a
mattress.
They've been sleeping on thefloor on the couch.
But with our partnership withthe bed ministry, we're able to
contact them, let them know theneeds, how many they build those
(08:05):
beds, they deliver the beds, andit comes with all of the bells
and whistles.
It comes with the comforter, itcomes with um carrots, whatever.
If it's for a little boy or alittle girl, we identify the age
and they are there to supportand give those resources.
Another one, Elijah's Closet.
Elijah's Closet is a clothingresource for families across the
(08:27):
state of Mississippi for theentire family.
Um, another one, the SalvationArmy.
We were able to partner withthem and give out 400
mattresses, 400 mattresses,Nathan.
It was the hottest day ever inMississippi.
We were out there breaking downboxes, open them up, helping
(08:47):
families tie them to the top oftheir cars.
By any means necessary, we weregoing to make sure that those
families walked away with theneed of a mattress that day.
So just by the partnerships andthe relationships that we've had
across the state of Mississippi,it has been, let me say,
priceless.
SPEAKER_01 (09:04):
We were started this conversation a bit with hope,
right?
Because what we're talking aboutnow is material goods, creating
environments where parents andfamilies have access to the
things that they need to besuccessful in their unit, which
then leads to belief, whichleads to stronger and maybe
deeper levels of hope.
(09:25):
Can you think of any examples offamilies or anecdotes from
families where this type ofservice or effort led to a new
horizon line for them as afamily?
SPEAKER_00 (09:37):
Well, Nathan, I can think of a number of families
that we've served, so manyfamilies that have benefited
from our services.
But I will say there is onefamily that sticks out in
particular.
And it was a young lady that umcame to us and she was expecting
she was in need of employment,she was in need of resources for
her son that was on thespectrum.
(09:57):
She was struggling with thepublic with her child being in
public school and just notgetting what he what she felt
like he was needing.
And then on top of that, she wasliving in a hotel and so she was
in need of housing.
With those relationships that Imentioned earlier, we were able
to link her to those resourcesfor her to be able to obtain
employment.
We've built relationships with anumber of businesses across the
(10:20):
state, and we're able to contactthem and make sure that our
families, those that are needingemployment, they become
employed.
We were able to link her to avoucher for her to be able to
obtain housing.
And one thing I can say when itcomes to these families, link is
a voluntary solution.
It's not a program.
People come to us for asolution, not a program.
So it's a voluntary solution.
(10:41):
So as long as that family iswilling and ready to participate
and know and understand what todo, we're able to assist them.
And with her, with thatindividual, she was elevated to
the next level.
She's currently now have had herwonderful baby boy.
She is now employed.
We were able to link her toresources for her child that's
on the spectrum because we haveour autism clinic under our
(11:03):
canopy umbrella.
We put her in contact withindividuals there, and her child
was able to receive services.
And so was she able to receiveABA therapy, ABA therapy support
for her child until that childwas actually enrolled into the
school.
Her gratefulness is justthankful to us.
It was just undescribable.
She continued to say, I thoughtthat there was nobody out there
(11:26):
to help me because I've beenhomeless for a while.
I've been struggling with these,and I kept on hidden block after
block after block until she metus.
SPEAKER_01 (11:35):
When you step back or when we step back from
programs and services or evensolutions to look at this web of
support, how do we begin tocreate support networks that
unite these component pieces asyou have at Canopy Children's
Solutions?
SPEAKER_00 (11:54):
So when we take a step back, it's all about
listening, Nathan.
Listening to the need of thecommunity.
It's about showing up to thosealready existed coalitions and
showing that, hey, I'm here.
We can offer this.
And in connection with you alland combining that, the number
(12:17):
of families that are will can beaffected just by us
collaborating to provide thatfor those families.
It's about listening,identifying what that core need
is.
And in return, you're going tobe building trust within the
community.
So they're going to call uponyou because they're going to see
that you're going to show,you're showing up.
You're going to be buildingunderstanding, more
(12:38):
partnerships, morerelationships, more support
groups.
So it's all about being a visualin the community, listening to
what the community wants becausewe have our own wants and needs
for the community.
It's not about us, it's aboutwhat the community needs.
What is that main core need?
And once you listen to them, youbecome involved, you're visible
(12:59):
within the community and youshow up, that's how you're
building those relationships.
And you're creating your own.
We've created our owncoalitions, like with the
juvenile justice system.
We're in court Mondays.
We're there every single Mondayshowing up.
And if that judge realizes,like, hey, this is a case for
Link, we're there.
She immediately sends them to usand we're able to assist them
(13:20):
and help them out.
So it's all about listening,identifying, showing up, and
coming with a solution in orderto build on to what you already
have in the community.
SPEAKER_01 (13:30):
Now it feels to me like hope isn't something just
for an individual.
It transcends thesocioecological model where it's
personal, interrelational,community level, society level,
that your judge that you justmentioned had to believe that
the solution was there and reachout to you.
SPEAKER_00 (13:50):
Absolutely.
And that's exactly whathappened, Nathan.
She was at a presentation and wewere showing what we were doing,
and she immediately reached outand said, Oh, I need you all.
Can you all be in court?
I have a number of families or anumber of children that can
benefit from the services, butof course, that core need comes
from what's going on at home.
So we can identify what's goingon at home, the behavior of that
(14:12):
child would change.
So it was like a marriage madein heaven when it came to us
connecting with the juvenilejustice system.
SPEAKER_01 (14:20):
Yeah.
Now, if you're like me andyou're hearing this, I'm
guessing that you're prettyfired up.
And you want to do somethinglike Link and Canopy Children's
Solutions in your community.
Do you have any advice for thosecommunity champions who want to
help support or maybe evenengineer their own ecosystems of
family support?
SPEAKER_00 (14:38):
Absolutely.
Like I mentioned earlier, itstarts off by listening.
The key is listening,relationships, listening,
partnerships, listening,collaboration.
Those are the main keys.
And if we do those things,they're going to show up.
And when I say show up, Nathan,I mean show up like boots on the
(15:01):
ground, ready to take action andto show.
And when you show up with asolution, when you listen to
your community, when youunderstand and remove self and
identify this is what thecommunity needs, this is that
core need for that community.
When you mix the relationships,the partnerships that you're
(15:23):
going to build, those supportgroups, when you help those
families identify that supportgroup.
And sometimes the support groupis not within the family unit
because some people don't havefamily to support on.
But when you lean in and becomethat support and walk alongside
those individuals, when you mixit all up together, those are
(15:47):
the perfect ingredients forincreased hope.
And if you can do that and showthem that you're there to
support, you're there toeducate, and you're not linking
and leaving, but yet takingtheir hand and guiding them to
access those resources, you havewhat it takes to rally your
(16:09):
community for them to be able totrust and support you.
SPEAKER_01 (16:13):
Yolanda, where do you get your energy?
SPEAKER_00 (16:16):
Let me tell you just a little disclosure.
They call me sunshine.
When people are having a glimday, they come to my office,
Nathan.
This is me always.
I love one thing I can say aboutmy organization about Canopy is
I can be my authentic self.
This is me every single day.
I often say you never know whatthe next person is going
(16:38):
through.
So sometimes just my smile or mejust being this sunshine
throughout the office, itchanges.
It changes the outlook.
And people want people are drawnto you just because of that.
But this is me all day, Nathan.
Everybody has a story, but forme, this is this is me, and I
(16:59):
have to.
And it's not just about me, it'sabout how others see me.
SPEAKER_01 (17:02):
So Yolanda, thank you so much for coming on the
show and being part of such animportant conversation.
SPEAKER_00 (17:08):
Thank you so much and have a good one.
SPEAKER_01 (17:11):
And you can invite upstream solutions into your
feed by subscribing to The ShiftVoices of Prevention today.
Join us to create an ecosystemwhere children and families live
purposeful and happy lives withhope for the future.
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