"My journey from incarceration to Family Recovery"

I had just served 377 days in jail, possession being my top charge. Whilst incarcerated I was fighting with child safety for my 2 year old and I had also given birth in jail and had my newborn removed from me within 6 hours of giving birth. I had applied for supreme court bail, before I did that I wrote to Logan house, they replied promptly and informed me I could enter into LFR as soon as I was released from jail, completed the intake but I couldn't use their address as a bail address, luckily I had a home address to use. 

Upon arrival I was excited and keen to get the most I could out of the program, on arrival Krystin was extremely lovely and helpful. My 6 year old was able to stay with me for my first week, until they returned to school. 

The program itself I only got small bits and pieces from as I already knew a lot from the courses I completed in jail. The staff here including Tenelle, Henry, Krystin and Morgan I would like to applaud as I felt completely comfortable around them and they made me feel very welcome and understood. I did not like having my phone taken off of me at 6pm as I didn't have my children with me full time and it was very isolating. Communication between the staff is sometimes not very clear, as my parent would come every weekend Friday arvo, Saturday all day and Sunday all day every week, on my second last week my parent was told to leave even though every other weekend they had been permitted to visit for as long as they would like as my baby is breastfed and my children are under a reunification order with child safety and must be supervised while I visit. 

I do applaud Morgan for persisting in contacting my CSO to organize the start of unsupervised visits, I believe I had 3-4 unsupervised visits for 6 hours on Saturdays, I was thrilled with this outcome. 

I had approximately $1000 come off my sper, I'm hoping more will come off as I did just under 9 weeks. 

Due to my need, want and readiness I was aloud to complete the program successfully under 9 weeks, this would be due to my 15 months already clean and my drive to get home to set my house up for my kids to start to be reunified with me.

The food, lunches sometimes weren't that fresh, but just make yourself a cheese and ham sandwich, the dinners were always fresh and beautiful. 

I bonded very well with most of the women who were in other LFR units and would like to say I have made friends whilst being there. 

I also completed a circle of security parenting course while here which was great but I think maybe more courses for Mum's and Dad's would be great.