Success Stories:

"CFI helped me to turn my life around. They were with me every step of the way...all the way through to finding and keeping my job. Who would believe I could do all of this?"

A Community Friendship Success Story

Steve was 18 years old when first diagnosed with a mental illness and 19 years old when his addiction began. He dropped out of high school, and had difficulty maintaining a job or a relationship. He was jailed for disorderly conduct stemming from behaviors related to his illness. He transferred from jail to a local hospital and then moved to another hospital. Steve knew little about schizophrenia and had difficulty accepting this diagnosis.

Steve started smoking marijuana to relieve the stress of his symptoms and escape from his disappointments. His behavior was erratic. He spent two months between different hospital psychiatric wards. He would spend the next 30 years in and out of hospitals, attempting to "self medicate" to deal with his loneliness, isolation, and thoughts and behaviors that he did not understand.

Steve sought relationships and opportunities, but his addiction and instability led to serious difficulties. At age 32, his 7-year marriage ended as a result of his alcoholism. He also experienced the loss of his brother to a drug overdose. Despite a desire to work, he was unable to maintain a job. He experienced ongoing career and relationship ups and downs throughout the years and finally hit bottom. In 1992, Steve was 32 years old and he moved to Atlanta. He started to attend Alcoholics Anonymous support groups, but life with schizophrenia remained challenging. Often struggling, he became homeless for the first time in 2003. He felt unsafe in a temporary shelter setting and relapsed. He did not want to be homeless, alone and sick. He wanted to work but was scared and unable to maintain his motivation.

Three years ago, Steve came to CFI to get his life back on track. CFI's continuum of services offered support and hands-on assistance through each stage of recovery. In the Day Services program, he developed a better understanding of his illness and learned strategies to manage his symptoms successfully. Steve's hard work and dedication helped him identify vocational goals and the steps needed to reach them. In the Work Opportunities Program, he focused on his sobriety, skill-building and increasing independence and has learned how to work with others to achieve his potential. He maintains a job at the Fox Theatre and resides in CFI's supported housing program. Steve has completely turned his life around and is a remarkable role model for others just beginning their work of recovery.

S.C. was a poorsingle mother of four girls. Being unemployed and coping with a severe and persistent mental illnessled to suicidal thoughts and a drug problem. S.C. asked to be referred to WORKTEC through her adult mental health day treatment provider. Although at this time SC had her thoughts and emotions better under control than in years past, the only job she could think about doing was her former position in a factory: One in which she used to envision her arm being cut off and going down the conveyor belt.The SE representative was able to work with SC and uncoverthe giftsshe hadin leadership, as well as considerable clerical skills.SC obtained a good job as a medical records clerk, and with support, she held the job for several years.Although she later lost the job due to a relapse of her substance abuse issues, she never gave up, andthe SE program never gave up on her. Currently, shehas been married for almost three years, her children are doing well, and she has a good job leading and directing other individuals with disabilities as a Lead Worker II through a NISH janitorial contract at Fort McPherson. SC made over $35,000 in 2008. "I need the support of people who know me and care about me" SC says. "It is all about relationships."

CS had been living in a supportive living arrangement for a few years, and his time was almost up, time to move and get out on his own. He was nervous and apprehensive because he didn't think he could support himself, and he was afraid to return to work.With support, CS was able to secure an entry-level job at Atlanta Area Tech.Eventually, he moved into a Billing Clerk position at a different site, a job which he has held for more than five years. He started out being the roommate ofa long-term friend; however, he currently lives in a small house he rents by himselfin Griffin.His job remains a very important part of his income,and the socialization and interactions with people he has gotten close to at work helped him to make the adjustment to living on his own for the first time in thirty years.A couple of close calls on the job due to lifestressors did not deter CS. Whenever there has been a problem, his job coach and supervisor have worked with him to get through the crisis."Everyone is so nice, they are helpful and have brought me things I needed for the house" CS states."I am so glad that SE has been here for me when I needed the support."