What Being a Parent Partner Means to Me
My name is LaKesha Johnson. I am currently a Family Parent Youth Partner (FPYP) with Wraparound at Victor Community Support Services (VCSS). I have been a FPYP for a little over 12 years, and it is a passion of mine. I have never lost my own children to the system, but I am familiar with it because several of my siblings were put in the system. While I was an active FPYP, I watched my mother work hard to get one of my siblings back home. Years before becoming a FPYP, my son struggled with his anger and wanted to run the streets. He wanted to live life as so many of his male cousins and uncles have, which meant being active gang members who were in and out of jail. I worked to ensure my son was not just another statistic, and it was hard.
Moving to the high desert from Pomona was challenging for me because I had no support, and unfortunately my son was facing probation. In dealing with the probation department, I made it clear to them and my son that this was not going to be his future. I formed a connection with the probation department, as well as my son’s school, and I became more involved. I wanted to show my son I would not give up on him, but moreover, I did not want him to give up on himself. Eventually my son was off probation and completed high school.
A year after my son completed high school, I had the opportunity to interview at VCSS. I interviewed for the facilitator role, but the supervisor interviewing me said she had a role that she believed was a better fit: the parent partner role. Interestingly, I did not want it. Reluctantly, I took it because I needed a job, and I still had three daughters to raise. After serving in the role for 3 months I grew to understand why she picked me. Throughout the years I was able to excel at my role because I always provided the services and support that I would have wanted myself and that I would have wanted for my mom and for so many others in my family. I know eventually I will move on from this role as a parent partner, but I will always be a PP (parent partner) deep down inside. It is who I am, and I love it. I know a parent partner is not what you are; it is who you are, and my goal is to ensure that any new PPs coming into this role understand that. I don’t want them to assume that they are less important because they are a parent partner—I want them to understand that they are EVERYTHING because they are a parent partner.
There's So Much More on Wraparound
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