WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Healthy Transitions lead to positive changes
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LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW)---Bekka Gnewikow wanted to make a name for herself. The oldest of six children, she recognized her parents inability to care for her early on.
Jordann Ojanpa asks, "Would it be accurate to say you felt the county could take better care of you than your parents?"
Gnewikow says, "Yes."
Her parents were rarely home...Bekka was often left to take care of her brothers and sisters. Finally, she made a difficult decision.
Gnewikow says, "They felt that I betrayed the family for turning myself into social services and trying to get out of home care."
At 16 years old, Bekka and her younger brother and sister left their home in Norwalk and entered the foster care system. Bekka lived with her foster family for three years and says it's one of the best decisions she's ever made.
Gnewikow says, "They are my parents. They are closer to me than my biological parents. I trust them, they trust me and I like it." Now a sophomore at Western Tenchical College, the Healthy Transitions program helped Bekka earn a scholarship for college...and she plans on putting her degree to good use.
Bekka says, "I have a job working with Independent Living Resources working with people with disabilities who need the support of home care to be able to make it on their own. I do great in school, I have a 'B' average and I'm going to get my certification in the disability support specialist program."
The Healthy Transitions program focuses on four basic principles...ending isolation , finding safe and affordable housing, establishing a job or enrolling in school. Bekka has achieved all these goals in just three years. Now, she hopes her journey can inspire her younger brothers and sisters.
Bekka says, "I had the drive because I wanted to show that someone in the family could graduate and do it on time and go to college and I wanted to show the younger ones that I can do it, so they can too."
---Jordann Ojanpa, Reporter
