Alissa had seen first-hand the effects violence and emotional disturbance can have on children and families. She worked at Catherine Cobb Domestic Violence Shelter for five years. But when it began to happen in her own family, she was facing a familiar situation from an unfamiliar position.

    Alissa had just moved into a new house with her young family and fiancé. They were happy - but her 10-year-old son, Jordan, wasn't. His father was in prison and the new house and family didn't sit well with him.

   "I wasn't going to school," Jordan said. "I was fighting with my mom and sister. I was yelling and breaking things."

   He went to counseling, spent a weekend at an out-of-home placement and was put on Prozac. But his violence continued to escalate. One day, Jordan held a knife to himself - and then to Alissa. Alissa went to Community Mental Health and was referred to Highfields' Family Preservation Program.