There were days when her mental health challenges made it impossible for her to get out of bed. 

Brooke’s mental health made holding a job a challenge and she was working on a chemical dependency that exacerbated her mental health struggles. Enter Sans Souci, United Way of Bartholomew County, and a strong social services sector that helped Brooke leverage all the resources available so she could lift herself out of poverty. 

Cathy King, United Way of Bartholomew County’s Impact Director, was on a mission to work with Brooke to ensure she reached her self-sufficiency, enrolling her in United Way’s Avenues to Opportunity program, which offers quality individualized coaching on budgeting, education, and job skills. Brooke was also plugged into Sans Souci and will soon graduate from their Build You program. 

On days when Brooke couldn’t get out of bed, Cathy called her. Cathy drove her to appointments to secure health insurance and get needed medical treatment for her mental health struggles. Through Avenues, she was able to secure housing for herself and her children. Soon, Brooke found herself working toward self-sufficiency at Sans Souci, going from sorting jewelry to becoming the office coordinator. 

Now, she is self-sufficient and is looking to begin a career in the social services. Through it all, she is the example she needs to be for her kids. “I am happy that they saw me struggle mentally, in a way it shows them that life isn’t perfect and there will be struggles, but you can overcome them.”