AnnouncementMAY 13 PERSPECTIVES 2025 CONFERENCE INFORMATION: The conference is sold out and registration will not be available on-site at the DoubleTree by Hilton in South Burlington. VIRTUAL LOGIN TROUBLESHOOTING: If you are having difficulty accessing your conference link, please first check your spam folder and then reach out to: conference@howardcenter.org.
I first became familiar with Howard Center through the support our son received when he was six and struggling with severe anxiety—at a level professionals said they’d never seen. My husband and I were trying to understand how his anxiety affected him physically and emotionally, while he was struggling at school and at home.
After many difficult conversations, someone mentioned Howard Center, and a school clinician joined one of our meetings. The moment she walked in, it felt like we finally had someone on our side. At the same time our son was officially diagnosed with severe anxiety.
Even simple things—getting him ready for the bus, making it through the school day—were trials. I was often called to school several times a week. At the end of third grade, Howard Center convened a meeting with key providers to plan for his transition to a new school, where he was supported by a one-on-one aide. The guidance counselor recommended First Call for Chittenden County, Howard Center’s crisis response service. From the first call, I felt heard and supported.
After years of avoiding medication,
we finally agreed to try it. When he had an extreme reaction at school, First Call staff were there immediately, helping us through the crisis. My son didn’t want to go to the emergency room by an ambulance, which was being recommended, so the guidance counselor drove with me and my son in the back seat. First Call helped us transition to new supports, and we later began working with Intensive Family Based Services and Community Based Services, whose staff helped us understand that our son’s condition was an illness—not a behavior problem. It was at this time we met the clinician we would have the longest relationship with at Howard Center. This person helped our whole family.
As he grew older and his struggles became more intense, he attended Howard Center’s Baird School. Part of his care included short stays at Jarrett House, which helped him and our family reset. Later, he attended Jean Garvin School and then moved through several Howard Center residential programs, including ASSIST and T-House, to support his transition to adulthood.
Today, at 25, our son lives independently, drives, works a full-time job, and has a girlfriend. He’s lost weight that he had gained during COVID and from being on intense medications with weight gain as a side effect. As an adult he was diagnosed with autism by a private psychiatrist—after taking the initiative to gather all his past records himself.
Throughout our journey, I began sharing our story online with the hashtag #deforgeswinning. Other families reached out to share their own challenges and victories. My son and I have since spoken to educators, at staff retirements, and even to the Vermont legislature.
When I was invited to join Howard Center’s Family Advisory Council and later the Board of Trustees, I didn’t hesitate. After all the ways Howard Center supported us, I wanted to give back.
The bottom line is simple: Howard Center saved us. There were so many people who saw the real kid inside—and that’s why I do this work.
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Community Perspective: Kelly DeForge
I first became familiar with Howard Center through the support our son received when he was six and struggling with severe anxiety—at a level professionals said they’d never seen. My husband and I were trying to understand how his anxiety affected him physically and emotionally, while he was struggling at school and at home.
After many difficult conversations, someone mentioned Howard Center, and a school clinician joined one of our meetings. The moment she walked in, it felt like we finally had someone on our side. At the same time our son was officially diagnosed with severe anxiety.
Even simple things—getting him ready for the bus, making it through the school day—were trials. I was often called to school several times a week. At the end of third grade, Howard Center convened a meeting with key providers to plan for his transition to a new school, where he was supported by a one-on-one aide. The guidance counselor recommended First Call for Chittenden County, Howard Center’s crisis response service. From the first call, I felt heard and supported.
After years of avoiding medication,
we finally agreed to try it. When he had an extreme reaction at school, First Call staff were there immediately, helping us through the crisis. My son didn’t want to go to the emergency room by an ambulance, which was being recommended, so the guidance counselor drove with me and my son in the back seat. First Call helped us transition to new supports, and we later began working with Intensive Family Based Services and Community Based Services, whose staff helped us understand that our son’s condition was an illness—not a behavior problem. It was at this time we met the clinician we would have the longest relationship with at Howard Center. This person helped our whole family.
As he grew older and his struggles became more intense, he attended Howard Center’s Baird School. Part of his care included short stays at Jarrett House, which helped him and our family reset. Later, he attended Jean Garvin School and then moved through several Howard Center residential programs, including ASSIST and T-House, to support his transition to adulthood.
Today, at 25, our son lives independently, drives, works a full-time job, and has a girlfriend. He’s lost weight that he had gained during COVID and from being on intense medications with weight gain as a side effect. As an adult he was diagnosed with autism by a private psychiatrist—after taking the initiative to gather all his past records himself.
Throughout our journey, I began sharing our story online with the hashtag #deforgeswinning. Other families reached out to share their own challenges and victories. My son and I have since spoken to educators, at staff retirements, and even to the Vermont legislature.
When I was invited to join Howard Center’s Family Advisory Council and later the Board of Trustees, I didn’t hesitate. After all the ways Howard Center supported us, I wanted to give back.
The bottom line is simple: Howard Center saved us. There were so many people who saw the real kid inside—and that’s why I do this work.
Watch Kelly’s story here: