When Jenny Harbin stepped into her child’s elementary school last October, she didn’t know she was walking into a moment that would redefine her as a mother and as a human being. Her child, just 8 years old, was in crisis. The school was on lockdown. Paramedics and police were already there. And Jenny, heart pounding and lungs tight with panic, was suddenly the only person expected to decide for her child in a hallway full of chaos.
There is no manual for this. No guidebook that tells you how to respond when your child is barricaded in a room, attended to by paramedics, while a sea of professionals waits for you to know what to do next. And Jenny? She couldn’t even reach her husband. She was completely alone until a CMPD officer pulled her aside, looked her in the eyes, and said gently, “You’re okay, just breathe. You’re okay.”
That day wasn’t an isolated event. By that point, the school had called the police for her child three times. They had run off campus twice. They had already been suspended five times. Jenny and her family were navigating daily mental health emergencies with no roadmap, no rest, and often no support. But something changed when her child was enrolled in Alexander Youth Network’s Day Treatment Program. And not just for them, but for Jenny, her husband, and their entire family.
More Than a Program. A Partnership.
At Alexander, her child wasn’t just another case number or behavioral concern. They were seen. Valued. Uplifted. They gained a consistent support team. Developed coping tools. And connected deeply with Harry, a shuttle driver and, unexpectedly, a daily dose of wisdom and calm. On the hardest days, Harry meets them with simple, grounding words: “It’s okay, man. We will try again tomorrow.”
That is the heartbeat of Alexander’s approach. It is not just about clinical progress. It is about giving a family room to breathe. And that is exactly what the Harbins needed.
A Kid Worth Fighting For
“My child is amazing,” Jenny says. “So, so smart and charming. But unlike other kids, life has given them a heavy load from day one.”
She doesn’t sugarcoat their reality. There are still tough days. But now, there is also light. Structure. Compassion. And above all, hope. Jenny’s gratitude is fierce and emotional. She’s thankful for the team who kept saying yes when others said no. For the staff who never made her family feel ashamed. For those who chose to see her child not for their crises, but for their courage.
What Jenny Wants You to Know
There are hundreds of families like the Harbins. Parents doing their best with what they have, showing up exhausted but determined. Children whose behaviors are often misunderstood instead of supported. Alexander Youth Network stands in the gap. Not just with therapy, but with patience. Not just with services, but with soul.
“If we hadn’t found Alexander,” Jenny says, “I don’t know where we’d be. They gave us a chance to breathe. And with a little breathing room, we’ve been able to grow.”
Let her story be a reminder: behind every challenging behavior is a child fighting to be understood. And behind that child is often a parent, just like Jenny, praying for someone to say, “You’re okay, just breathe. You’re okay.”
To learn more about how Alexander Youth Network’s Day Treatment program can provide support for children who are facing challenges in the classroom due to mental or behavioral health diagnoses, click here.
Written by Shay Woodard
