today a california family has a lot to be thankful for after a >>> jessie johnson is thankful this year that she can be a parent to her daughter. her baby was taken away after she was caught using drugs. >> she's my one and only. it's amazing that i created something so cute. >> jessie johnson daughter chasity is turning 8. >> what are you hoping to get for your birthday? >> a puppy. >> she kicked a meth habit before getting pregnant but motherhood was stressful. >> i relapsed. >> she dodged investigators. >> i had three or four dcs cards on my front door. and i avoided each card or threw them away. >> when she did agree to meet with them caseworkers put 3- month-old chasity in foster care. >> i needed to fix that. >> jessie's only chance? the families first program. 8500 families get referred every year. >> it's a full-time job. >> it involves parent skills coaching and help finding houses and jobs. >> it's not a band aid fix. >> only 25% successfully complete the program that's because staff must feel confident vouching for parents in court in order to regain custody of their kids. ev

. >>> jessie johnson is thankful this year that she can be a parent to her daughters. her children were taken away after she was caught using drugs. it's amazing that i created something so cute. >> jessie johnson's daughter is turning 8. >> what are you hoping to get for your birth stay? >> a puppy. >> she kicked a meth habilitate before getting -- habit before getting pregnant. >> i relapsed. i had three or four dcs cards on my front door and i avoided each card. >> when she did agree to meet with dcs 3-month-old chastity was put in foster care. >> i needed to fix that. >> her only chance? the family's first program. 8500 families get referred every year. >> it's a full-time job. >> it involves intense group therapy, parent skills coaching, even help finding houses and jobs. >> it's to help them live a successful and stable life for >> only 25% successfully complete the program. that's because staff must feel confident vouching for those parents in court in order to regain custody of kids. even then. >> we can't guarantee what's going to happen a year down the road.

johnson. >> reporter: joy blodgett had daughter jessie dead in her own bed. jessie's father was at work. >> you had to call your husband. >> i wanted to let him know as soon as possible because i knew how much he loved his little girl. and i knew i had to get on the phone and tell him as soon as possible, but i didn't want to get him on the phone until i knew for sure. >> she said, "honey, honey, honey, it's jessie." then she busted out crying and i knew something was really, really wrong. i said, is she gone? and joy -- no more words came, just tears. so i raced home. >> reporter: but when buck arrived home, police cars and a crime scene truck were already in the driveway. >> i went in the door through the yellow tape. and when i saw joy's eyes in the living room, then i knew that jess was gone. >> did you quickly ask how -- how did this happen? >> no. i -- my whole first thing was i wanted to see her. i wanted to touch her. i wanted to tell her goodbye. but they wouldn't let me. in jessie's room because police were in there, trying to figure out what had ha