Photos: Mental health a difficult issue for social workers

Sondra Sykes, 44, rests for a moment after feeding her children dinner. In order to get her children back from foster care, Sykes had to get her bipolar disorder under control, persuade a judge of her stability and acquire a 4-bedroom home.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Ronnique reads to her mother before bed. Sykes is the first participant of L.A. County’s Women’s Reintegration Program to regain custody of her children. The program aims to help mentally ill female inmates to avoid recidivism and offers support groups and training classes for the many women who are trying to get their children back from foster care.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Doctors prescribed Lithium to help Sondra Sykes control her bipolar disorder, and Benadryl to help her sleep. She attends weekly substance-abuse and relationship classes, and learned parenting skills that helped ease tensions in the family when they were first reunited. “It’s almost like they never were taken away,” said Elizabeth Tesseo, the family’s social worker. “They’re very close with her.”  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)