“I could have given up on life”: Overcoming chronic and complex issues of debt, marital and parenting woes

To clear their debt more quickly, the MWS social worker not only helped Sheryl’s family apply for various financial schemes, but also placed them on a debt clearance and savings matching programme designed to lift families out of poverty. Under the MWS Family Development Programme (FDP), every $1 of debt cleared by Sheryl was matched with $2 by MWS. Through sheer determination and close guidance from the MWS social worker, Sheryl cleared the debts after two years and transited to savings matching.

Taking a holistic approach to casework management, the MWS social worker also worked with Sheryl to mend her marriage. Sheryl’s husband’s initial resistance towards marriage counselling waned after benefitting from MWS FDP’s support.

“Through couples’ therapy, my husband and I learnt how to empathise with each other and adapt to each other’s communication style. My husband also became more involved in our family issues,” said Sheryl.

Improving their communication led to fewer fights between them and more stability at home, giving their children a more peaceful, healthier environment.

The couple was also referred to the evidence-based Positive Parenting Programme (also known as Triple P) run by MWS Family Support Programme. Triple P equipped them with effective parenting strategies for a better parent- child relationship.

“We agreed that it was important to control our emotions when arguments escalate and not fight in front of our children,” said Sheryl. “We also learnt to change the way we discipline our children, to reason with and affirm them, instead of resorting to shouting and physical punishment.”

Today, Sheryl feels hopeful about the future and better resourced to face life’s challenges. “MWS not only helped me, but saved my family. I could have given up on life or we could have remained a broken family. Instead, MWS brought us from the brink of helplessness to having hope for the future,” she said. “I am thankful. I have more confidence to face what lies ahead and hope to be able to help others too.”