1. Q’s Story

The family had gathered to enjoy a cookout and 5 year old “Q” was gleefully playing with his cousins.  Without warning a car sped down the street; slowing to lower the windows with guns ablazing. It only took seconds to happen. Former laughter and jovial exchanges turned to screams as everyone realized “Q’s” aunt lay dead from the barrage of bullets. “Q’s” mom tried to shield him from the horror, but even as young as he was, “Q” knew life had changed forever. The adults comforted each other – ministers came to console the family – some of those involved went to therapy.  But the children just renewed playing – seemingly okay.  Research into the psyche of young trauma victims, however, paints a different picture.  The experience “Q” had set into motion a gradual building of anger that by age 10 could erupt at school with the slightest bump in the hall or unwelcomed comment.  School officials stated his violent outbursts could manifest from 0 to 100 in a matter of seconds. “Q” needed trauma-informed counseling.

A pilot program that later became known as C3 was started that summer. “Q’s” mom enrolled the family in a “wrap-around” community collaboration approach to address the violence of such young children. Dr. Andrew Farah, previously Chief of Psychiatry at High Point Regional Hospital, became involved along with four local agencies to provide support. Dr. Farrar provided the early intervention to help “Q” learn to recognize his trigger points and how to de-escalate his emotional responses. For the past 8 years, other individuals and agencies have worked with C3 to help this family.  It took a lot of hard work especially on “Q’s” and his mom’s part, but “Q” just graduated from high school with a 3.65 gpa. He lettered in sports, worked summers, and is enjoying his freshman year on scholarship at East Carolina University. Early intervention, and  C’s efforts to “walk the walk” with “Q” changed the trajectory of his life. will remain on the “walk and beyond” through college.

We are so very proud of him.