Chantal Servidio
Director Grace365
Supervised Independent Living (SIL) Program
Chantal was born and raised in upstate NY and later moved to study at the University of South Florida where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She started working for Child Protection Service as a caseworker, but quickly discovered that she wanted to be in position to do more. Chantal became a foster parent to try to create a warm, supportive environment in the lives of youth who were trying to navigate their way through a hurricane. All of those kids found their way into her heart, no matter how short or long the stay. She was blessed that a little 3 year old boy was able to stay forever to help complete her then family of five.
Chantal continued her work as a social worker, finding herself drawn to helping support teenagers in crisis. She’s worked with teen moms, helping them to navigate multiple struggles while, in many cases, trying to become a better parent than the one they had growing up. She has worked with many teens aging out of foster care and saw all the struggles that they faced. Each with so much potential, but few with the kind of resources and support needed to really create the environment to “make it.” Chantal saw what a difference that makes, when she was working in a Transitional Living Program for youth aging out of foster care. One of the youth (a 17-year old) was kicked out of the program for reasons Chantal couldn’t understand. Chantal began to foster him, and it was amazing what he was able to accomplish in a short period of time! He was able to open a bank account, get his driver’s license, work and fully purchase a car and work through a lot of emotional and physical baggage while adjusting to becoming a permanent part of a family. He did this all while working on over 3 years of high school credits and was able to walk across the stage at his high school graduation…all after only NINE months!
Chantal believes so much can be done when youth have the proper support from those that truly care. This is what drew her to want to work with Central Texas Table of Grace and support the youth in the Grace365 program. She is very excited to be a part of the team that supports these youth in all the ways that can help lead them to achieve their own successes!
