Bridget Culkins experienced dramatic darkness in 2005 when she became addicted to meth, lost her home, her job, her car.

Then the state took her two young sons and toddler daughter.

She had failed to pick up her children at her day-care provider's house, and the provider called the police to check on her.

The kids went into emergency foster care and then to a couple of different foster homes.

Culkins spiraled downward and ended up in prison, sentenced to up to two years for theft.

She and her husband divorced.

The state moved to take her kids from her - permanently.

"I never wanted my kids taken out of my home, but I understood it," she said.

It was hardest on her older son, now 9. They had to pull him from the stair railing when visits with his mother ended. When asked what he wanted for his birthday or Christmas, the answer was: I want to go home.

When Culkins was released after nearly 11 months, she began a process to reclaim her children.

That's when she got the kind of real help she needed, the kind she hopes other parents and children will get under the reformed child welfare system.

The Healthy Families Project, a family-to-family service and support program, partnered her with a volunteer to help guide her, take her to Narcotics Anonymous meetings, job interviews, apartment hunting and furniture shopping.

Her caseworker was there for her, too.

Even though she had stopped using meth in September 2006, she still was behaving in toxic ways.

With help, she learned to live her life differently, to be a good parent, to focus on her strengths and her family's strengths.

They would come to her house and praise the good things she was doing.

She got her kids back a year ago.

"They've saved my lives and my kids' lives," Culkins said.

Even though she no longer needs the day-to-day help, when Culkins' mother died in April, the first person to call and check on her was her Healthy Families partner. Her caseworker also called to offer help.

Culkins works for the Healthy Families Project now, as a parent partner for 17 families.

"It's a job I've dreamed about," she said.

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.