Kim Fraser, Executive Director
Lake County ADAMHS Board
From Grief to Opportunity: Lake County Woman Credits Families of Promise for Helping Her Family Heal
Painesville Twp., Ohio — For Lake County resident Dolly Ratcliffe, the path to a professional acting career was shaped not only by talent and determination, but also by the support her family received during some of its darkest moments. Through Families of Promise, a program funded by the Lake County ADAMHS Board and operated by Catholic Charities Lake County, her family found hope, guidance, and stability amid loss, incarceration, and financial hardship.
As a junior at Riverside High School, Dolly Ratcliffe was navigating challenges that many adults would struggle to manage. Her family was coping with the incarceration of a loved one, the loss of her sister, financial hardship, and overwhelming grief.
“Families of Promise helped my family and me when a family member was incarcerated. It created financial and emotional challenges for all of us,” Dolly recalled. “We were dealing with depression, stress, and uncertainty about the future.”
Through Families of Promise, the family found support, guidance, and connections to critical community resources. The program helped the family access services throughout Lake County and provided education and support related to grief, mental health, and family stability.
“The guidance through the stages of grief really helped my mom and all of my siblings,” said Dolly. “As my mom healed and grew stronger, she was able to be there for me more. Families of Promise connected us to multiple services in the county and helped us navigate resources we didn’t even know existed.”
Dolly attended schools in the Riverside Local School District, including Hadden Elementary, LaMuth Middle School, and Riverside High School. Her love for theater began in middle school, where she participated in drama programs while her mother volunteered by helping create costumes.
Yet after multiple family losses and incarcerations, her future seemed uncertain.
“Through high school, life took a rough and dark turn,” she said. “I don’t think I would have pursued my career in acting if it wasn’t for Families of Promise. They became like extended family.”
Today, she is pursuing a professional acting career with agency representation and has appeared in film productions, including the 2025 film Superman, which was filmed in Cleveland.
“As I pursue my acting career, I draw on the struggles and emotions that were part of my life growing up,” she said. “I’ve experienced loss, grief, incarceration within my family, but I’ve also experienced thejoy of family and the strength that comes from overcoming darkness. Those experiences help me connect with the characters I portray.”
One of her fondest memories of Families of Promise was participating in the annual Angel Tree program.
“I still remember receiving a Barbie Dream House for Christmas,” she said. “It made me feel like a normal kid. Looking back, I realize how much those acts of kindness meant. They reminded me that people cared and gave me hope when my family needed it most.”
She credits the program with helping her family believe in a brighter future despite tremendous adversity.
“My turning point came after my dad passed away,” she said. “I was a daddy’s girl. I talked with Senta (Senta Kline, Program Coordinator for Families of Promise) a lot more during that time, and she encouraged me to keep pursuing acting. I remember thinking, ‘Why should I stop doing what I love because of all the things in my life trying to take me away from it?’ I feel like my dad would have wanted this to be my journey.”
After experiencing multiple deaths and incarcerations within her family over a relatively short period, she said the support Families of Promise provided was invaluable.
“Life is hard, and nobody teaches you how to deal with everything that comes with it,” she said. “Having someone to guide you made it easier to become healthier, happier, and eventually thrive.”
Families of Promise has served Lake County families for 18 years, helping children and families impacted by incarceration, trauma, grief, and other life challenges. The program’s individualized approach allows staff to meet families where they are and provide support tailored to their unique needs.
“Families of Promise is a free program because of the support of the Lake County ADAMHS Board,” Senta said. “It isn’t a cookie-cutter program. It adapts to what each family needs. Seeing Dolly’s success, Senta hopes her story encourages continued investment in mental health and family support services.
“I think it’s so important to support mental health services,” Dolly said. “There was so much death and loss in my family, and having someone there to help guide us made all the difference. Families of Promise helped us move beyond our struggles and believe in a brighter future. For that, I will always be grateful.”
Caption: Dolly Ratcliffe credits Families of Promise with helping her family navigate grief, loss, and incarceration-related challenges while she pursued her dream of becoming an actress.
About Families of Promise
Families of Promise, operated by Catholic Charities Community Services of Lake County and funded by the Lake County ADAMHS Board, provides support, education, advocacy, and connections to resources for children and families impacted by incarceration and other significant life challenges. The program
works to strengthen families, build resilience, and create pathways toward hope and success.
About the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board
The Lake County ADAMHS Board plans, funds, monitors, and evaluates services available to residents who are living with mental illness and substance use disorders. For more information, please visit www.HelpThatWorks.us.
Categories: ADAMHS Board, Lake County - General, Uncategorized