Erika Montaño
Erika Montaño knew there was something different about her daughter, Gabrielle (Gaby), even before Gaby turned three years old. And, while she was born with a myriad of medical problems, as Gaby got older, she demonstrated increasingly alarming negative behavioral problems that included acting out, uncontrolled agitation and restlessness, aggression, and isolating herself from others.
As a single mother raising Gaby, now 11, and another daughter, Destiny, 14, Montaño didn't know what to do or where to go to get the help she knew, she desperately needed for Gaby. The family lived in rural Coolidge, Arizona and there weren't many behavioral or medical resources there to access. Montaño moved her family to Phoenix in 2002 to find answers and help.
"She was diagnosed with Autism," Montaño said. "While I had a name for it, I still needed to learn about it and find services to help her."
Montaño added, "I've always been very independent, and considered myself very resourceful, but when you're dealing with the behaviors that Gaby displayed, I felt hopeless, helpless and lost. " Even though my family and friends have always been supportive, I knew we needed professional guidance when Gaby's condition started affecting my other daughter with schoolwork. I realized that we were expending so much energy on Gaby's issues. We were unable to live as a "normal" family; it was difficult to go out in public and to be around others."
After researching on her own, Montaño found help through several support service organizations in Maricopa County's behavioral health system through Magellan Health Services of Arizona, the county's regional behavioral health authority. She was paired with a family support partner whom she credits with offering a caring shoulder to lean on and assisting her in identifying programs and resources that were appropriate for Gaby. She also was referred to the Family Involvement Center, a non-profit family-run organization, which supports families of children with behavioral, mental or emotional health needs, and where Montaño is currently employed.
Montaño notes that Gaby is non-verbal and suffers Severe Mental Retardation and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in addition to her Autism, so the family is learning sign language together and Gaby utilizes an Augmentative Communication Device in order to communicate.
"She has made such great progress now that we've received services through the behavioral health system," Montaño said. "I'm not saying it's perfect by any means, but now we can manage and be a family. Our family has found help and hope. We couldn't have done this on our own."
Montaño says that if she could impart one important message to others about the behavioral health system and special needs children, it would be that having extended support services like she has had in dealing with these issues is invaluable, not only to her family, but to other families like hers who are struggling with feelings of helplessness and frustration.
"We as a family have learned that through our personal experiences, we can help others and make a difference," Montaño said. "Behavioral health issues are not just about the individual; they affect the entire family. Our family has had many barriers along our journey, but we've also found wonderful people along the way, and have had great successes. We need to educate others that these services and resources are absolutely vital in keeping families whole and healthy."
