Link helped Buddy with school attendance and to improve his grades. He learned organizational skills and began to complete his homework and hand it in on time. His grades improved, and he was no longer failing. Link also helped Buddy improve his social skills. In Link's after school group program, Buddy participated in all kinds of fun activities while he learned how to get along with others, and how to make and be a friend. Link helped Buddy's mom let go a little, and provide her son with normal teen-age activities. After nine months in the Link program, Buddy graduated, succeeding in school, and with friends he'd made.

Buddy continues to come to the Alumni Program activities, and stays in touch with staff. Buddy and his mother were proud to invite his Link staff to Buddy's Eagle Scout ceremony, the highest honor a Boy Scout can attain. Once at risk of dropping out, Buddy not only graduated from high school, he now has positive friends, gets along with his mother and plans to continue his education by attending the local community college.

Sometimes Life Is A Dance
For Sissy, life was full of pain and anger. After a chaotic childhood torn between warring parents and grandparents, Sissy was bounced back and forth. She was hurt and rebellious. When her behavior was too out-of-control, she was placed in foster care. Sissy started in the Link program at 15 years old.

With the consistency and support of her foster parents and Link, Sissy began to heal. She found an outlet for her emotions in dance. She poured herself into dance classes, competitions, and performances. Link was able to engage Sissy and help her with the dance classes. She wanted to go to counseling but was reluctant to meet someone new or sit in an office with a stranger. Link helped her attend counseling consistently and use her newly learned skills in social situations at school and in activities such as dance.