Mother arrives at sister's home on Feb. 1 and texts to tell me that Feb. 2 she already has a job. She texts during the week about the cultural changes.

Feb. 11, 2009 the mother’s sister throws her out of the house and mother drives around with Cookie trying to figure out where to go. She has an appointment with social services and I advise her to tell them that her living situation is serious and she needs housing; and to ask about a woman-child shelter. Mother later texts that social services says she will not qualify for any kind of assistance. I ask if it is a residency issue because she has just moved and mother responds that she doesn’t know.

Mother notes her desire to get off of methadone. When asked if she has asked the new clinic doctor about getting off methadone she says she hasn’t asked because the doctor here said she was too unstable to reduce the dosage. She is easily calmed when I point out to her that given the level of instability in her life right now, she would be better served staying on the methadone until things are stable. She agrees noting her desire not to wind up in a position of doing unsavory things to get drugs and lose her daughter again. She also decides not to address the “eviction” with her sister at her sister’s place of business because the mother thinks that given her sister’s mental state, the sister may call the police.

Later in the day, the mother returns to her sister’s home and the sister has calmed down and doesn’t throw them out again.

Feb. 14, 2009 the mother contacts me to make a plan for her and Cookie’s stability as she is nervous from the previous “eviction”. We discuss potential cost of housing arrangements and getting Cookie into daycare instead of being babysat by her nephew. The mother’s conversations are choppy and she cuts off/hangs up but reconnects. Mother texts contemplating a move to her mother's home state and notes that her sister there will only allow her to stay with her briefly.

Sometime in the next week, the mother contacts me for advice about a licensed in-home daycare vs. a “school” environment. I offer to check that the in-home provider is licensed (it is) and advise her that the licensing is the more important issue at the moment. She seems pleased to know they are in fact licensed.

During February we are in regular contact. Mother sends photos of Cookie. There is a lull in contact during the last week and a half of February and first week of March.