Reunited After Six Years: Dion and Elijah’s Story

Dion Smith wraps her arms around her son Elijah and squeezes tight – stroking his hair and breathing him in. 

Incarcerated for a non-violent offense since her son was six months old, Dion knows that she has a lot of time to make up for now that she is a free woman.

Elijah lived with his grandparents during those six years and now that the family has been reunited, Dion regained custody and was looking forward to parenting her son once again.

However, Elijah was skittish around his mother – shy and reluctant to engage – and his teachers had begun to report some behavioral issues.

She reached out to Community Partners of South Florida (CPSFL) in the hopes of finding resources to help.

“Elijah is a brilliant kid,” said therapist Jennifer Downey. “If you tell him something once, he understands it. But he has a temper and was getting suspended once a month for fighting.”

Jennifer worked with Dion and CPSFL wraparound services case manager Anthony Sommer on a plan for the family.

Dion believed in her son and his potential to succeed. She knew that if Elijah was going to thrive academically, he needed a change of environment and she started researching local private schools. When Anthony found out about a scholarship, Dion immediately applied and submitted, texting Anthony frequently for advice and support.

Her diligence paid off and Elijah not only received the scholarship, but Anthony used his connections with The Giving Closet Project to get money for the required uniforms.

“Dion calls us The Dream Team,” Anthony said.

“Elijah’s new school is smaller than his old one and he will be getting much more one-on-one attention,” said Jennifer.

Committed to creating a brighter future for her family, Dion knew she had to find a good job to support her family, and she found a job working for the City of Boynton Beach. She took on a second job working for a doctor’s answering service after hours. She was soon promoted at her day job and the pay raise was enough for her to resign from her second job and dedicate herself to rebuilding her relationship with Elijah.

“Dion is an amazing parent to work with,” said Jennifer. “She is so open, doesn’t take things personally and is willing to learn.”

She is also working on building Elijah’s support system. From maintaining a strong relationship with his grandparents, to enrolling him in football to help him work out his frustrations and energy in a positive way, to even reconnecting with his father to ensure Elijah has a male influence who will take him to football practice and encourage him.

“Dion is Elijah’s number one advocate for getting services. She is really intent on him going down the right path and having options,” Jennifer said.  “She's really the best client you could ever have.”

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