| Our journey with WWASP began August of 2001. At | | | | encouraged and guided through our journey. |
| the time we were in the middle of total family | | | | August 2002, Grant graduated from the Program and |
| breakdown and chaos. Our son, Grant, was on a path | | | | we continued the commitmentto the Support Group. |
| of complete self destruction. He had lost respect for | | | | By January 2003 I felt the need to give back to the |
| authority, his family and most of all himself. In | | | | Program in some way. |
| desperation I turned to the back of a Southern Living | | | | I knew there were other families in the Cincinnati area |
| Magazine and saw the ad for Teen Help. The main | | | | who were unable to commit to attending the Support |
| reason my husband and I chose the WWASP | | | | Group in Columbus and after a year and a half of the |
| Program, and Carolina Springs Academy, was that it | | | | monthly drive, I had to admit it was time for a change. |
| offered learning and growing for the entire family. On a | | | | So I called Dwan Serrano at WWASP and asked |
| complete leap of faith we enrolled Grant at CSA and | | | | how do I go about this? Despite my reservations she |
| had him escorted out of our home in the middle of the | | | | immediately put my name on her master Support |
| night. We did not talk to anyone at the School. We | | | | Group list. I wonʼt forget her coaching to me, "If |
| were not aware at that time of a parent referral list, | | | | you have the meeting they will come!" In March 2003 |
| so we did not talk to any parents and we did not visit | | | | we held our first Cincinnati Support Group meeting and |
| the School prior to having Grant taken there. That was | | | | had 25 people in attendance. |
| a period of time for me that included a lot of self doubt | | | | To date we have about a dozen families involved; two |
| and fears. | | | | new families in just the pasttwo months. We have |
| We signed up right away for Discovery. Another | | | | teens and families in all stages of their journeys. Most |
| source of help for me was the Parent | | | | of ourmembers are very committed to coming to the |
| BBS. Searching the BBS I came across a Support | | | | meetings. We give feedback and support and we |
| Group in Columbus, OH. We were blessed to join a | | | | laugh and cry with each other. I would have never |
| group with Britt Cummins at the helm. Along with our | | | | pictured the journeywe have taken as a family. |
| commitment of going to all the seminars, and Program | | | | Through WWASP and CSA we have a family who is |
| completion for our son, we committed to our monthly | | | | whole and healthy. I am blessed to be able to give |
| Support Group meetings. This entailed a two hour drive | | | | back and support the families in our group. To guess I |
| each way and sometimes a 4-5 hour meeting. | | | | would still be involved boggles my mind, however each |
| Through the support of the Columbus group we were | | | | meeting reaffirms why I am! |