Legacy | A Publication of Lena Pope Legacy | Spring 2014 | Page 4

Journey to Success
A Father’s

By Ora Beth McMullen

I

magine living in a transient motel on Jacksboro

Johnny completed his in-patient treatment at VOA Riverside

Highway, dizzy, confused and paranoid from drug use

in October and was placed at the Union Gospel Mission’s

with little money, no hope, and three young children.

(UGM) Men’s Center Program, where he began a skills-building

This was Johnny’s life. As a teen, Johnny smoked

job in the UGM kitchen. He had worked in food service before

marijuana on occasion. After meeting his wife, he

but at UGM he learned new culinary skills, such as baking a

began a long descent into a dangerous place defined by

cake. “It actually tasted good,” Johnny said.

methamphetamine.

Johnny was required to attend at least five 12-step meetings

Johnny recalled wandering across a motel parking lot one night

each week and to call a 12-step sponsor daily. He was required

with his three children, Jessie (6), Chris (4), and Sophie (3). He

to attend intensive outpatient drug treatment five days per

didn’t know what to do or where to go. The next day, Child

week. As his case manager, I met with him throughout each

skills he was acquiring and fell in love with the three mentors

perfect attendance and awarded him a chef’s hat, chef’s coat

Protective Services (CPS) removed all three children, placing

week to ensure he met requirements and secured the help he

who administer this program. “These people are positive and

and professional knife set. Following his graduation, Johnny

them in foster care.

needed to move forward.

joyful,” he observed.

cooked for his family during a large celebration in his honor.

When Johnny and his wife attended the emergency court

Johnny’s UGM case manager referred him to the Texas

As April progressed, Johnny experienced some hard times. He

hearing, a CPS case worker told them about the Tarrant County

Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) for

had difficulty managing his money, his children, and passing

Family Drug Court, and they decided to join.

hearing aids. Johnny’s CPS case worker referred Johnny for

weekly exams at the Community Kitchen. Then, Johnny

parenting classes and for individual and family counseling

discovered that his sponsor, whom he depended upon for

through Opportunities Counseling in Fort Worth.

daily guidance, relapsed. “I didn’t realize that everything in my

Eight days following graduation, Johnny secured employment

Administered through Tarrant County Challenge, the