Dawn’s life has not been easy. Removed from her parents’ care at age four and abused by foster parents until age 15, she found herself in an abusive marriage. Fearing for their safety, Dawn escaped with her children and spent the next year living in motels and her car. The pain caused her to turn to drugs, and she lost custody of her boys – putting them into the same foster care system that she grew up in.
Dawn was determined to get clean, get her children back, and stabilize her family.
Dawn found Catholic Charities in Castle Rock and began moving forward. She received emergency services, a donated car, and weekly counseling and guidance in reaching her personal goals. As a result, Dawn has moved into a 3-bedroom apartment so each of her boys has a bedroom, maintained steady, full-time employment, and has met all the benchmarks set by Family Court. Dawn can now take her children on unsupervised visits and expects them to be back at home with her soon.
It is not just about finding a home or a job. It is about healing the whole person. Dawn found the support systems she needed in the staff at Catholic Charities. She said, “Catholic Charities provided the things I needed when I needed them, and that is what made the difference.”
At Catholic Charities, we respect everyone who comes to us for help. Many are working toward a fresh start in life. So while their stories are true, client names and images may have changed to protect their privacy.
