Motherhood milestone

Program helps woman stay sober, reconnect

By Emily Fletcher, Special to My Life

Friday, May 28, 2010

Recently a woman who had spent most of her adult life broken and consumed by drugs celebrated two and a half years of sobriety and her restored life during her graduation from The Salvation Army's Renewal Place program, a two-year program for homeless, drug-addicted women and their children.

Kathleen Jones, 48, made the transition to being a stronger, more stable individual after 30 years of being homeless. Her story is a true testament to what a determined individual can accomplish with the help of others.

Kathleen's addiction to drugs created a seemingly endless cycle of drifting in and out of treatment centers, destroying relationships and losing all her material possessions. She was on the verge of losing her children and her life when she had a moment of clarity.

"It was Dec. 31, 2007, and I told my daughters we were going to church for the New Year's Eve service and to pray for me to be a better mother and person," Kathleen said. "My daughters and I prayed for me to have the strength to provide us a better life, and a week later, I got a room at Renewal Place."

Today, Kathleen is sober and understands the importance of responsibility, self-discipline and self-control, thanks to her participation in the program's parenting classes, drug and alcohol classes, and one-on-one counseling.

Sharon Cash, the director of Renewal Place, praised Kathleen for her intense work ethic, commending her for her positive character and determination throughout her time at Renewal Place.

Cash said, "Kathleen blossomed during her journey with us, and her character has truly shined. She transformed into a wonderful mother and mentor, and all the other women in the program feel safe when Kathleen is around."

Throughout the ceremony, Kathleen's case managers and counselors saluted her for her openness and willingness to change and for her dedication to achieving her goals.

Kathleen's constant drive to succeed resulted not only in an amazing recovery, but also led to Kathleen earning her GED and becoming involved with the Memphis Botanic Garden, where she volunteers in the youth education department.

Kathleen has been hired by Tinker Tots Learning Academy and will continue to volunteer at Memphis Botanic Garden. With a stable job, she will be able to live independently with her two daughters, Jasmine and Janissa.

"I'm so thankful for this program and the people involved for showing me another way," Kathleen said. "I'm so blessed to have found a place where believing that you can is the only option. I look forward to my future and to continue my involvement with The Salvation Army, the place where I was reborn."

To date, each participant of the last Renewal Place graduating class has remained employed, sober and an active member of the alumni program. Overall, the Renewal Place program has about an 80 percent rate of success with women who complete the program. Each year, Renewal Place houses about 65 women and their children. This program is part of The Salvation Army's outreach in Memphis.

For more information on the Renewal Place program or The Salvation Army, visit salvationarmymemphis.org.

Emily Fletcher is an account coordinator for Thompson & Berry public relations firm

By Joseph Russell
The Commercial Appeal
May 28, 2010