“I took my car in for an oil change and the manager on duty said he recognized me.  He asked about some of the teachers, and former teachers in the day treatment program. He asked how my children were doing and recalled that I was nine months pregnant when he last saw me.  He told me about his girlfriend and helping her through nursing school and hoping to go to school himself once she was finished with her degree.

He also talked about the difference the people in the then day treatment program made in his life.  He said, “Those are some pretty influential people, changing people’s lives”.  He didn’t say what a difference the program made in his life.

He didn’t say that our token economy or positive peer culture really affected him.

He said “Those are powerful people.  That is important work”.  Seriously, that is what he said to me. He cashed me out with plenty of maams and thank yous, and as I started to pull forward after saying goodbye and shaking his hand, he said 'Keep making a difference.'"

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