Jennifer Barton came to the Devereux Center with her mother and two children seeking showers and food. She was using methamphetamine and living recklessly. Her mother, Sandy, was taking care of the kids and trying to keep the family together. Jenn was loud, feisty and pushy. Scott, one of our volunteers, connected with Jennifer and put her in touch with local services. Through a series of traumatic events, including a fire, Jennifer saw that her life was spiraling out of control. She began her journey towards sobriety, occasionally losing a step, but always moving another two steps forward.
In July 2016, Jennifer, Sandy, and the kids found stable housing: this was a huge step for the family. It was also a vital component of the final step for Jennifer’s sobriety. She no longer had to worry about where she would find safe shelter or if she would be safe while sleeping. With this newfound stability, Jennifer found several part-time jobs and worked hard to learn new skills to become more marketable. In 2017, Jenn started the GED program through Southwestern Oregon Community College. About the same time, Jennifer completed her recovery program through ADAPT and became passionate about a recovery counselor. We are pleased that Jennifer celebrated two years of sobriety from all drugs and alcohol in August 2018 and started her third term at SOCC in September of 2018. Her two beautiful children are now enrolled in school and thriving.
