Published June 15, 2009 @ 08:48AM PT

After 20 years of hoping, Daralyn thought her dream of raising children may never come true. So, she used her passion for youth to volunteer at a local drug and alcohol treatment center for adolescents; there, she found sisters Jessica and Ashley – young teens struggling without stability, without love. Once Daralyn learned they were available for adoption, she immediately welcomed them into her family, relying on training and resources provided by CHS.  She learned valuable techniques to prepare her to care for children with frightening pasts and uncertain futures, and her natural gift for motherhood shone. But that was just the beginning. Daralyn soon received a call she’d long hoped for – two precious toddlers needed a family. Without hesitation, she brou... Read More

Published June 15, 2009 @ 08:42AM PT

Christine grew up watching her mom get high. She witnessed brutal beatings from boyfriends. And she watched as, time and time again, her mother returned to abusive relationships and a drug-addicted lifestyle. It didn’t take long to begin following in her mother’s footsteps … Christine dropped out of school in seventh grade and, shortly after, turned to drugs. At 19, she became pregnant by her drug-addicted boyfriend.  Though six months clean by then, Christine had serious doubts about the life her baby would have. She soon realized she was on her own; her entire household was high, and she needed help. She found it at CHS’ Transitions Home, a residential program serving teen mothers and their babies. For the first time in her life, Christine f... Read More

Published June 15, 2009 @ 08:37AM PT

After enduring the emotional agony of two miscarriages, Laura cried tears of sorrow when she found out she was pregnant again. She was terrified – terrified she’d miscarry, terrified she’d somehow hurt her unborn baby. And more than that, as a recovering drug addict, she was terrified that the stress of her pregnancy would tempt her to use again. But then she learned about Healthy Start, a program provided by CHS to educate, counsel and help women throughout their pregnancy and first few years of motherhood. Through her involvement, Laura learned how to manage her stress, focus on her health and discover new outlets for releasing anxiety. “If I wasn’t in Healthy Start, I don’t know what my stress could’ve caused,” Laura admits. &ldqu... Read More