Dawn, Oakwood Resident

My name is Dawn. I come from a very abusive background. I was adopted at the age of four after my biological parents were killed in a car crash. My adoptive father was the abusive one. I never had a healthy friendship or relationship with anyone. I needed to get away from it, so I joined the Army at the age of 15 with my adopted mom’s permission. I was in for four years and received an honorable discharge for mental illness.

I was in some very abusive relationships. I didn’t have the knowledge of what was healthy. I was almost killed. I have been held at gun point too many times. I was beat when I was pregnant. Now I am a survivor of abuse and I am in a healthy relationship.

Before I came to Oakwood, I was living in a homeless shelter. I was pregnant and had an open child protection case. Two of my children were in state custody. I was unable to control the symptoms of my mental illness. I didn’t take my meds because I didn’t feel like I needed them. I wasn’t seeing a therapist like I should have been. I was evicted from my apartment and lived at the shelter People Serving People for five months without my kids. I lost custody of four kids because of my mental illness. I was diagnosed with bipolar. I didn’t want to believe I have a mental illness.

When I was living in the shelter, the county gave me a flyer for Oakwood. It was a place to live and reunify with my kids. That was important to me, so I looked into Oakwood and was accepted. My whole life changed. While I was pregnant, I made the decision to terminate parental rights for two of my children. I knew the foster mom who adopted them would take very good care of them. At this time, the adoption is open and I am able to call and check on my kids and talk to the adoptive mom. We will set up a time when I can set up a day with them to visit, so my daughter can see her brother and sister. Since I terminated parental rights for my two children, the state allowed me to keep my newborn daughter and reunify.

I have been living at Oakwood for nearly three years. I have all the support anyone could need. I was sick a couple days ago and all my roommates chipped in to help take care of my daughter and my chores. They are also very good listeners. If I ever have a problem they are there to support me and so is staff.

I also got a job working light construction work. I have been able to hold my job down for over two years now. Before Tasks Unlimited, I couldn’t hold a job longer than a year. I have safe and sober housing. My mental health is under control. I feel better than ever, and if my mental health starts acting up someone like staff will let me know.

Most of all I have my daughter, Vonisha, living with me. She is getting services from Early Childhood Special Education and she is right on track developmentally.

My peers and staff at Oakwood are a big part of my family.