Shanita seemed to lead a normal life. She attended community college and held a job. But inside her family, all was not well. As a teenager, Shanita began drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. Then, she began using methamphetamine, sometimes even daily.

Soon school and work fell by the wayside, victims of her addiction. Shanita lived with her parents, but that solid relationship suffered as her drug use increased and she began selling drugs to support her habit. They lost trust in their daughter.

Then rock bottom came: Shanita sold drugs to an undercover police officer. Police raided her parents’ home and took her Mom away in handcuffs. Shanita was sentenced and placed on probation. She soon relapsed and found herself in a county court program where she was jailed at night but was allowed to attend appointments during the day.

In her early 20s, Shanita was facing life with two felony drug charges-and she was pregnant.

She opted to face the music in adult drug court. If she met the requirements of the court, charges would be dropped. The court ordered Shanita to attend an inpatient substance abuse treatment program.

Because of Shanita’s pregnancy, Family Works was the only option in the Omaha metro available that allowed her to receive residential treatment and not be separated during the important first weeks of mother-infant bonding, said Family Works Director Heather Bird. She entered the program in October 2007.

“Shanita was 23 years old, pregnant for the first time and scared about how to parent,” Bird said. “She spent the first few days here just crying and adjusting to the program.”

Over the next four months at Family Works, Shanita learned about her addiction. She learned how to successfully recover from her drug use. She learned parenting skills.

Then, while at Family Works, Shanita was blessed by the drug-free birth of her daughter, Tanya. Family Works’ compassionate staff members helped her, teaching Shanita how to care for a newborn.

Shanita and Tanya continued to bond as mother and daughter. She learned to care for her child, receiving training in life skills such as health care, personal finance and nutrition. “She received strength as she learned new skills in parenting and independent living,” said Bird.

With her life turning around, Shanita began to receive another reward: her relationship with her parents healed. “Shanita’s likelihood of long-term sobriety increased when her own family relationships were repaired,” Bird explained.

February was Shanita’s last month at Family Works. Life had improved as she continued to replace old, destructive ways of living with new, life-fulfilling habits. She had a new job before her and an improved relationship with her parents, who accepted her and their new granddaughter back into their home.

“Family Works got me back on track,” Shanita told us. “I got sober here, and my baby was born healthy. The staff helped me realize what is important in life. I learned not to take the little things for granted, because drugs can take everything away.”