|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Fatherhood RegainedDrug use leads to trouble for the addict and chaos for the children just as recovery leads to reliability for the parent and security for the children. Rodney Mason came to Free at Last for outpatient treatment in December 1998. He kept visiting his kids who lived in Oakland with their mother who was using drugs. "My kids weren't being cared for and other kids gave them a hard time. They'd been through a lot-evictions, missing school, low self-esteem. I realized that if my life is getting better then my kids lives should be even better." With the help of Nadia Bishop, a Free at Last board member and attorney with the East Palo Alto Law Project at the time, Rodney was able to gain custody of his children.
"Their world has completely changed. Now we have a temporary apartment of our own. We spend most of our time together." As a single parent Rodney manages the daily routine of making sure his kids are groomed and on time for school and doing what they are supposed to do. "I stay actively involved and visit their schools regularly. I'm getting good feedback about them-no more acting out. The twins are both good in sports and all three are good in art." He's determined to give his kids the best options. "I check all the avenues-- connecting with every agency that can help us. I want a stable foundation, a place to live so we don't have to move from place to place. I want them to have the same address and phone number like I did as a kid." Rodney knows that education is the key. "My counselor told me if you're going to change, education comes with change." Now he's a part-time pre-treatment counselor at Free at Last. But to get ahead he's completing the GED so that he can go on to take the certification course at San Mateo college to become a drug counselor. |
|
Success Stories |
Free at Last
Contact Us
|
|
