Chris came from a family that put very negative pressures on him. He was very low functioning and was very dependent on the people around him. From the combined effect of being wrapped up in drugs and the having negative family pressures, he has come as far as to be living on his own in the Pathways Program.

Chris started in a residential dorm unit on the Ozanam campus but was quickly transitioned into the group home in order to prepare him for independent living. Moving back into his destructive family was not an option, and therefore, he not only needed learn to control his behavior, but important life skills as well. During his time in the group home, Chris learned independence. Learning how to cook for himself, clean up after himself, maintain positive social relationships, and control his behavior internally, Chris was transferred into the Pathways Transitional Living Program in midtown Kansas City where he is excelling in his forward steps.

Chris now lives by himself, maintains employment and will graduate from high school. At Pathways, adolescents learn how to navigate the bus system, get and maintain employment, and live on their own. Participants in this program, kids like Chris who have been in "the system" their whole lives, learn the things that most kids learn from their parents. Not growing up with a functioning family, Chris missed out on many of the things that kids learn from their parents.

While other kids were learning to drive, Chris was learning to deal with his behavior problems and to deal with the negative impact his family had on him. Ozanam has enabled Chris to become independent, hold down a good job and finish school.