Effingham, Ill. (July 21, 2026) Rebecca was born into addiction. Having watched her mother suffer from it, Rebecca did not know anything other than the environment she grew up in. Eventually succumbing to the same addiction, Rebecca’s three kids were taken away from her and placed into foster care.
That’s when she knew she needed help. With the support and guidance from Caritas Family Solutions, Rebecca has turned over a new leaf.
“I knew how to be an addict, not a mom,” Rebecca said. “My life has transformed since I went to rehab. Getting clean is the easiest thing in the world to do, but maintaining that is the hardest thing I have ever done.”
Rebecca spent over a year in rehab and graduated in November 2025. She has remained clean for nearly two years and after a successful court hearing, two of her children transitioned back to her home.
Throughout the process, Rebecca said LaTrenda Meyer, Caritas Family Solutions Specialized Foster Care Supervisor, has been one of her biggest advocates and supporters.
“LaTrenda has been amazing and she always gives it to me straight,” Rebecca said. “I am learning every day how to do better and I am so thankful for the support I have gotten from Caritas. Everybody I have worked with has had empathy and compassion and they answer all my questions.”
Meyer said she was very honest with Rebecca, often not sugar coating the reality of her situation. Even with the hard truths, LaTrenda made it clear it was a no-judgement zone.
“I wanted to make sure that Rebecca understood that my job wasn’t to judge her, it was to help her work on the things she needed to do in order to get her kids back,” said Meyer. “At Caritas, we believe in giving people a chance to change and helping them through that process and Rebecca deserved that chance. When all odds were against her, she was willing to fight through it. I’m so proud of how hard she’s worked to create this change for herself and her kids.”
Meyer said Rebecca’s story is an example they hope to share with other parents working to overcome addiction and reunite their families.
“In so many cases, we’ve seen that when people are given a chance and have the right support system around them, they are capable of making tremendous change that can benefit their entire family,” said Meyer. “We love being a part of stories like Rebecca’s because it’s a reminder for anyone facing addiction that change is hard, but it is possible.”
