Amanda's Story
Amanda is a 29 year old single mother. She had a long history of drug use (since age 12). Because of this her housekeeping and parenting skills were negligible. Consequently, Children’s Protective Services (CPS) ruled her an unfit mother and removed her nine-year old daughter from the home at the end of July 2012. Allison was eight months pregnant at the time and shortly thereafter went into a detoxification and rehabilitation program. Her sister moved into her home to take care of her daughter. After rehab Allison could be in her home only if her sister was present.
When a baby boy was born in early September, he was kept in the Chatham hospital. Because she lives in an outlying community, Allison needed a ride to see her newborn son. That’s when she called NeighbourLink (NL) and a church volunteer gave her a ride into Chatham to see her baby. Immediately upon returning home from the hospital, I just happened to call the volunteer to see if she knew anyone who needed WA! She eagerly suggested Allison and shortly thereafter, two capable facilitators were assigned to her and WA began in earnest.
With the support and assistance from the WA Team the family’s goals were all achieved within 8 months. The facilitators, along with one of their friends, cleaned the family’s apartment and made some minor repairs and improvements. A NL member church, a NL supporter, and a social service agency provided $1500 to cover Allison’s dental needs. (A life of drugs does considerable damage to the teeth.) The family was able to move from a 2 bedroom to a 3 bedroom apartment to provide separate bedrooms for the children as CPS required. Allison completed a parenting skills course. On March 1, 2013 she got full custody of her children and her sister was able to move back to her own apartment.
Over one year later tests continue to show Allison to be drug free and in two weeks CPS is going to close their file on her. In speaking with her this week, Allison told me that if it wasn’t for that call to NL and the subsequent work that was accomplished through WA, she wouldn’t have her children back today.
When a baby boy was born in early September, he was kept in the Chatham hospital. Because she lives in an outlying community, Allison needed a ride to see her newborn son. That’s when she called NeighbourLink (NL) and a church volunteer gave her a ride into Chatham to see her baby. Immediately upon returning home from the hospital, I just happened to call the volunteer to see if she knew anyone who needed WA! She eagerly suggested Allison and shortly thereafter, two capable facilitators were assigned to her and WA began in earnest.
With the support and assistance from the WA Team the family’s goals were all achieved within 8 months. The facilitators, along with one of their friends, cleaned the family’s apartment and made some minor repairs and improvements. A NL member church, a NL supporter, and a social service agency provided $1500 to cover Allison’s dental needs. (A life of drugs does considerable damage to the teeth.) The family was able to move from a 2 bedroom to a 3 bedroom apartment to provide separate bedrooms for the children as CPS required. Allison completed a parenting skills course. On March 1, 2013 she got full custody of her children and her sister was able to move back to her own apartment.
Over one year later tests continue to show Allison to be drug free and in two weeks CPS is going to close their file on her. In speaking with her this week, Allison told me that if it wasn’t for that call to NL and the subsequent work that was accomplished through WA, she wouldn’t have her children back today.