I can’t tell you how much Santa Maria has helped me. I was using meth every day completely lost in my addiction. My life was miserable I had no control. I couldn’t stop using when I got pregnant. When I had my son he tested positive for drugs and cps immediately stepped in. When it was time for us to discharge from the hospital, I was informed that although my son was healthy and ready to leave, He could not leave with me. I couldn’t even be around him unsupervised because at that point they were trying to protect him from me.. his own mother. That was the worst moment of my life and I knew then that I’d never be whole unless I had my son and that I wanted to be the mother he deserved. Santa Maria was the only program that would accept me and work with me to meet the requirements the court had mandated for me to be allowed to have my son. The judge initially would not let my son go to to treatment with me so I had to go to the Jacqueline location and begin my services and once I had been there for about 6 weeks my councilor and recovery coach saw how serious I was about wanting to change and they appeared at court with me to advocate on my behalf. It worked and the judge allowed my baby to be placed with me while still in cps custody. I transferred to the Bonita house where I spent my first night alone with my baby. It was scary but I had so much support from the staff and the other mothers and parenting coaches. The provide us with diapers, wipes, formula and everything needed to care for our babies. I got to focus on bonding with my baby in a safe and stress free environment. During the day I was able to focus solely on my growth as an individual, on my personal issues that I needed to heal. And in the evenings I was able to focus on learning to be a better mother. I completed the program successfully because I didn’t give up and I took every day seriously as a chance to grow. If you want help, you’ve got to take it seriously. Nobody can do the healing for you. You have to get uncomfortable and be honest and it’s gonna get emotional, but this is the perfect place to let it all out. I changed so much here, I learned to love myself I became a mother. And when it was time to leave I didn’t have any place that cps would approve of so they helped me with housing so my son could stay with me. I didn’t have a healthy support system before I came to Santa Maria but I found a family there and built strong relationships to last a life time. This place has done so much more than just save my life. I found freedom here. My life is worth living sober now. I even let go of my old toxic relationships that were dragging me down, and I mean really let go like I found peace within my SELF. If you want help and you’re willing to do what it takes, this is the answer.
