Edited by Kathy Medved
"Life was a terrible struggle for me for years. I had no idea how to care for my three children and sometimes before I knew what was happening I lost control and hurt them more than I realized. Not knowing how to handle any of my problems, I turned to alcohol. It wasn’t until Child Protective Services placed me at Martha’s Village & Kitchen that I was diagnosed with a mental disorder. The Medical Clinic at Martha’s Village gave me the psychiatric help and medications to treat it so that I could start dealing with the other problems in my life.
"I was able to stay at Martha’s Village for a year while I became mentally stable. I took the Challenge to Change course, money management and job hunting classes and participated in programs to help me recover from my alcohol addiction. Child Protective Services had placed my three children in the care of a family quite a distance from Martha’s Village, but I still wanted to talk to them and see them on a regular basis. I learned how important my children are to me and set goals to get them back.
"After becoming stabilized and completing the Family Preservation and Drug Court requirements through CPS, my children were able to join me at Martha’s Village. I completed the MVK classes and was hired by a restaurant in Indio. After we left Martha’s Village to a place of our own, I faithfully checked in with my case manager for a year. I am determined to stay on the recovery path.
"I was taught the value of being present both physically and mentally not only for myself but also for the sake of my children. Life is still a struggle but one I feel I can manage now, thanks to Martha’s Village."
NOTE: As of 2010, Ricardo and his little family are living in Texas. With the help of his case manager at Martha's Village & Kitchen, he was able to qualify for low-income housing and keep his family together. He is still on the recovery path.
Kathy Medved is on the Charitable Giving Team at Martha's Village & Kitchen
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