Resident Spotlight
This month we are spotlighting another one of our outstanding residents! Read below to learn more about our senior resident, Raegin. Raegin just celebrated one-year in our program and it has been an honor to work with her. She is bright, strong, and dedicated to changing her life.
Raegin’s Story
I was fifteen when I got pregnant with my oldest son and had him when I was 16. I got pregnant again at 17 and their dad was unfaithful, so I took care of them both by myself and worked full time and went to school. I was doing okay for a while, but then some of the people I hung out with introduced me to weed. I used that and alcohol to mask those feelings of being alone and the stress of school and work. That’s where my addiction started. It did not spiral out of control until my youngest daughter was 2. My first major charge was manufacturing methamphetamine and once I started selling drugs, my entire life revolved around that. Normal things I did before were no longer present and I didn’t hang out with people unless we were making drugs or selling drugs. I tried a lot of different programs and went to jail several times. I said to myself, “This is my life and this is how it’s going to be. I need to accept it.” I knew that was not how I wanted to live, so I started reading my bible and praying. I had heard of MSH and didn’t get accepted the first time, but another resident encouraged me to try again and now I’m here. I don’t know where I’d be if I weren’t here–probably getting high.
I chose to come to MSH because while I was locked up, my son made nationals for team roping, so not being part of my kids’ lives for 4 years hit me. I was tired of putting them through that and I realized they had grown up in the blink of an eye. I knew I needed to make a change. My biggest accomplishment since being at MSH is pushing through and not giving up no matter how hard things have gotten. Having the staff for support has helped me accomplish a lot–I’m not used to people helping me without a motive. I’ve also worked to get involved in my daughter’s life, thanks to the support of the staff. Everything that I have accomplished is because of the support here. Finally, after 34 years I have realized that taking others’ advice can be good and helpful, which I guess is another accomplishment. I have a good job and I am an Assistant Manager, which is crazy to me. The fact that I have a key to a running business is pretty crazy. I usually give up, but I haven’t. Another accomplishment I’ve made is being able to be involved with my family again and rebuilding my relationship with my aunt. Also, I have learned boundaries and have worked on knowing my worth.
The future is uncertain, so I go day by day. I plan on getting my girls back and just focusing on them and doing what’s best for them. I have thought about going back to school, but I also love my job, so I will look into it. I still want to be able to be part of MSH and give back and mentor other women. What I love most about MSH is all the support and all of the females here. We couldn’t have a better group of females here. If you are going through something hard, you always have someone to talk to here, which is critical. My advice to others in recovery is “people, places, things”. It is so cliché, but so true. If you don’t change that, it can be hard to stay sober.
-Raegin, Phase Three Resident
Program Achievements
- We have a full house and our residents continue to achieve their goals and move forward in their recovery. We have four residents in Phase Three of our program preparing to transition into the community next year!
- One of our residents celebrated ONE YEAR at MSH. We had a pizza party to honor her! Check out the celebration pictures below!
- One of our residents was promoted to Assistant Manager at work.
- We welcomed one new resident to MSH this month!
- Did you know that interested folks can download our application online? Folks can also apply for admission over the phone by calling 479-301-2326.
- A big THANK YOU to Generation’s Bank for providing funds for our resident’s Thanksgiving dinner this year. We are grateful for your continued support!
Peer Recovery Support @ MSH
Our Resident Support Specialist and first graduate, Sophia, has completed her training in Peer Recovery Support. Sophia meets with each resident weekly to help them achieve their goals. Here is what Sophia had to say about the benefits of incorporating peer support at MSH.
“Designating a time for individual peer support has helped me connect with the residents for some very intentional work. We have been working on connecting with resources, researching options and applying for benefits. I am so glad to be able to offer them this platform so they can work on reaching goals with one-on-one support. A lot of times, the resident comes in with a plan or a need and we work hard on it for an hour to either accomplish the task or set a firm foundation for them to build on. I let the residents choose what they would like to work on, based on their needs and treatment plan, so they come in motivated to work.”
-Sophia, Resident Support Specialist
Looking for Safe, Affordable Housing
We are seeking safe and affordable rental options for residents after they have completed the program. We have FOUR residents preparing to finish the program next year and are trying to get a jump start on identifying safe, affordable, second-chance housing. We would love to foster relationships with leasing companies in the area who are willing to work with our residents and learn more about our mission. Have any recommendations of companies or individuals to work with? Email april@lovehealsnwa.org with any recommendations.
Giving Back
Mark your calendars for Giving Tuesday on December 1, 2020. On this day of giving you can send support to the women at MSH through our donations tab on our website. Giving directly to the program will help women like Raegin continue to pursue family reunification, sustained sobriety, and upward mobility in their lives and in our community. Consider a gift today to boost their 2021, because to Raegin and our MSH community, your support truly matters.