Southwest Florida Mother Finds ADHD Support Through LSF

Alison's daughter Victoria struggled with ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, sensory processing disorder, and anxiety. At eight years old, Victoria lied, stole, had emotional outbursts, and ran away when overwhelmed. Twice, she was Baker Acted after running away. She became physically aggressive toward Alison and her grandfather.

"As her mom, I constantly worried about her safety, emotional well-being and how to best help her," Alison said. "I wanted Victoria to feel safe, heard, seen, loved and cared for. I knew I couldn't do it alone."

Alison enrolled in Lutheran Services Florida's SNAP program, an evidence-based intervention for children ages 6 to 11 with behavioral challenges. SNAP stands for Stop Now And Plan. The 13-week program teaches children and caregivers how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect, while building practical tools for emotional regulation, communication, and problem-solving.

LSF case manager Cooper Ford met with the family. Alison had taken parenting classes and attended counseling before but felt defeated. "The caregiver felt like she was out of options," Ford said. "She wanted tools for herself, but she also wanted Victoria to have support and skills of her own."

Within weeks, Victoria's behavior shifted. She applied SNAP skills at home, in the car, and at school. By week five or six, Victoria taught the techniques to friends and teachers.

By program's end, Victoria achieved 13 consecutive weeks of perfect school attendance, a significant change for a child who previously struggled with mornings. Her urge to run away decreased. She began asking her mother for help regulating emotions instead of escalating. "She said during our discharge meeting that she finally felt calm and confident," Ford noted.

Alison's mother participated in Wednesday night SNAP sessions, creating what Alison called "generational healing." "During the SNAP program, I felt supported instead of judged," Alison said. "For the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful about the future."