Amber Portwood Progress Update!
Recently Amber not only got to see her Brother Shawn, but she got to see her ex boyfriend and father of her daughter, Gary Shirley, as well. Shawn says that she looks just as great as she did when she did her special with Dr. Drew, and Gary says that she’s “doing good” and “looking great”.
Amber has been taking part in the CLIFF program while in jail, which is a treatment for methamphetamine abusers. In the program, she spends 15 hours a day participating in “therapeutic recovery” and it also provides “recovery, psychological therapy, and substance abuse education, but it also prepares these offenders to return to society with valuable life-skills and positive behavioral adjustment.” according to this.
CLIFF members are completely separated from the general population and are only entered into the program after a screening and written statement from the inmate where they explain their desire to participate in the program.
The participants also have the freedom to leave the program at any time and Amber has chosen not to. According to her brother, she has one step left in the class and then she can move on to getting her GED, which she has been working towards and wanting since she dropped out of high school to have her daughter, Leah.
Gary and Shawn have seen nothing but progress in Amber since she asked the judge to send her to jail.
Gary has been coping with being a single parent as well as he can, saying that it’s easy being a father, the hard part is being a father and a mother at the same time. Amber still has some time left in Jail but it is rumored that she may be able to get out early, though that has yet to be confirmed.
Congrats to Amber and her continued work towards her sobriety. She’s extremely lucky to have the supportive backing she has in Gary and her brother.
If you would like to send Amber a letter of support please sent it to:
Amber Portwood
811 west 50 N
Rockville In 47872
@TheRealHeatherC
An update I am happy to hear about. Amber, although a train wreck, is not like Jenelle who just needs to be bitch slapped. This girl needed/needs help. Glad she is doing ok.
Amber will be out by the 2.5 year mark. If she is actively participating and completing these programs, plus doing stuff like getting her GED they will want to release her to make room for somebody else. It’s good to hear. I firmly believe that she can get her life back on track and in 10 years I’d like to hear that she is in some sort of mentoring program helping other people battle addiction and violent tendencies.
I am SO proud of her. She was headed down a terrible track and it really is incredible to me how well she seems to be doing. Leah will be proud of her someday too :)
People who battle addiction usually end up working as addiction counselors. I battle within alcohol issues and wanted to become an aoda counselor.
I’m happy for her.
I used to really dislike Amber back in the day. Now I am totally proud of her for turning her life around. No point in hating on someone when they are turning over a new leaf and becoming a better person. Jenelle should learn from this.
I just hope that once out of jail Gary won’t try to bring her down again.
I am so happy for Amber to be doing so well. I have to say though the fact that Gary hasn’t taken Leah to see her after he said he would makes me loath him even more then I already did. I hope that when she gets out she proves to the court what a great mother she is and that she gets custody rights to that little girl because to be honest I don’t think she is benefitting at all by being raised by Grandma while daddy goes out and parties but pretends to be father of the year.
Yay! You go Amber. I definitely have faith in her. Unlike Jenelle, Amber tries. And she was always a good mother, just made bad choices. Seriously wish her the best.
I agree, lizboo91! Amber seems like she really cares about her daughter, but she just makes a lot of bad choices! But this is one of the best choices she’s made — going to jail. She knows it’ll help her and Leah will be so proud of her! Jenelle on the other hand.. well.. even though she says she wants Jace back, a lot of her actions don’t show it… her life seems to revolve around men, instead of her son! Anyway, i’m so so so proud of Amber! If Gary and Amber DO end up back together when she is out, I hope they can work it out.. if they don’t end up back together, I hope they can get along with each other, for Leah’s sake!
I’ve always liked Amber more than a lot of the teen moms, and people would often look at me like I had 40 heads whenever I’d say that.
Amber knew she had problems, and even though she didn’t get her shit together sooner, she STILL got her shit together, and isn’t FINISHED getting her shit together. Amber gets shit done, and I respect that shit.
Not enough usage of the word shit, I know.
Glad to see she’s putting her best foot forward and doing what she needs to do for herself and her daughter.
I had no idea she was addicted to meth. I thought it was just pills. That’s unfortunate. But good for her to be doing this. I always thought she was a good mom too, when she got to see Leah. And it’s obvious Leah loved her.
I was always a fan of Amber just because I always saw the potential that was there. She reminded me of so many people I knew growing up that found themselves in a hole that they couldn’t get themselves out of. I always had hope that she would better herself for Leah and while it took a long time it is great to see that she is stepping up and doing it not only for Leah but for herself. She lived a not so great childhood and while that isn’t an excuse for her behavior I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Hopefully she continues to do so well and can help others in the same situation.
*loves.
I do hope Amber gets her act together for herself and for Leah. Of all the kids, Leah was always one of the hardest to watch- my heart really went out to her. Fortunately, kids do survive their environment and even though she has a lot to overcome, I wish her luck and success. She is a sweet and adorable little girl.
I used to compare Jenelle and Amber but I don’t think I can anymore. I don’t think jail would help Jenelle because she doesn’t want genuine help to change her life or situation. She only wants to be out of trouble and still do the same things with the same people without getting caught. You can tell Amber loves Leah and wants to better her life for her so she can be the best mom she can. She’s made that clear by telling the judge to send her to jail…major props to her for doing something so brave and courageous.
I don’t see Jenelle caring to get Jace back. Even seeing her with Jace on the show looks like she’s with her sibling…she doesn’t seem like a mom at all. Now all she’s doing is running laps around all these boys.
Anyways, so proud of Amber and her progress! It’s so refreshing to see someone that isn’t afraid to own up to their problems, take total responsibility, and do whatever it takes to turn their life around. Jenelle needs to take some damn notes.
I’m very proud of Amber now. I hope she comes out of all this as the changed person that she’s become so far, and seek support to continue to improve herself beyond her jail time. All else aside, she is a wonderful mother and you can tell how much she loves Leah. Major props to Gary as well.
I heard that Amber said that she didn’t want custody of her daughter even after she got out of jail. That she wants to start a new life? how does that make her any better than Janelle’s pathetic ass?