Steve Pemberton An Overview - 1703 Words

Steve Pemberton: An Overview Steve Pemberton, born Steve Klakowicz, grew up in foster care in New Bedford, MA. Steve was removed from his mother’s care, due to neglect, when he was three years old. The Department of Social Services, the system that was supposed to protect him, placed Steve in a foster home where he was physically and mentally abused. A Chance in the World: An Orphan Boy, A Mysterious Past, and How He Found a Place Called Home recounts Steve’s horrific childhood, the search for his family and his journey into adulthood. Steve’s remarkable resilience, faith in God and search for personal identity is the catalyst which keeps Steve from giving up hope. After years of abuse, at the hands of the Robinson family, Steve finally†¦show more content†¦However, uncovering the identity of his parents only led Steve to question why no one from his family came for him after he was placed into foster care. During his journey to discover his past Steve learned that he had siblings, who were also removed from their mother’s care. Nevertheless finding his family only made Steve feel more alone, as his Mother and Father were both deceased, his siblings had vastly different lives from his and much of his extended family was unsure just how to accept him as one of their own. Resilience Theory One must wonder how a person with Steve’s shocking childhood could grow into a man who is successful, not only in his career but in his personal life as well. Resilience theory is a possible explanation as to why Steve survived, despite the odds that were stacked against him. Resilience theory is a strength based approach which provides a framework that focuses on positive outcomes and not just the negative ones. The idea is that it promotes what works best while de-emphasizing psychopathology. Resilience theory defines resilience and possesses several key terms, which include protective/risk factors. Research on resilience has been valuable in directing attention toward youth who succeed in spite of high levels of stress and economic instability, as it identifies factors that can serve as protective functions which foster competence. Resilience theory provides one