Henzly Smith rode her bicycle around the courtyard, streamers on her handlebars blowing in the wind. The 4-year-old seemed not to have a worry in the world until she sat down and began to talk, causing that picture-perfect image to disappear.

She had endured the pain of watching her parents hit rock bottom due to their crystal methamphetamine addiction and witnessed them both physically and verbally abusing each other.

“;I felt mad,”; Henzly said. “;I'm happy that they are better.”;

Where once the idea of family time was something to dread, she now enjoys spending time with her parents, Lehua Rowland and Henry Smith, reading and watching television with her father and helping her mother cook meals.

“;I love my mom every day. I give her lots of hugs and kisses. Now I feel supported,”; she said, using vocabulary well beyond her years.

These types of responses are the driving force behind the recovery of Rowland and Smith. The two are enrolled in the Voluntary Case Management program, designed to keep children and families out of the child welfare system. The goal is to keep kids with their biological families, so caseworkers spend a lot of time teaching families how to cope with a variety of life issues.

Both parents admit that cleaning up has been a struggle, but they are doing everything in their power to keep their daughter.

“;I'm so happy to have them in my life,”; Smith said. The caseworkers have helped keep her from involvement with Child Protective Services, he added. “;We've been doing pretty good lately.”;

Lehua and Henry are working on communicating more lovingly and effectively, minus the abusive put-downs. They live next door to the housing security monitor, which helps, Lehua explained.

“;My goal is to have a safe home. Henzly is very loving and deserves more than what we've been giving her.”;

Their family is a good example of the kind of family that the voluntary case management program serves, said Linda Santos, president and CEO of Family Programs Hawaii.

“;Most parents love their kids but some get sidetracked. They (Lehua and Henry) love their child and want to keep her.”;

The case management program is “;differential response”; set up by the state, Santos explained. The state Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Services, refers families to the program, as long as the safety of the child is not at risk. In Henzly's case her parents never abused her; it was more a case of neglect. Santos' agency works with families in Hilo and Leeward Oahu. Catholic Charities handles a voluntary case management program that serves the remaining communities on Oahu. People backslide, and the program helps them get back on track, she explained.

“;The program has contributed to the drop in the number of children in foster care, something like a 40 percent decrease,”; said Santos. “;It's a family-centered model. When the families are more involved with their treatment, their chances for success increases. It gives them another chance to raise their children to be happy, healthy and safe.”;

And she makes clear, “;It's not just poor, uneducated people that abuse their children,”; and success does not often come quickly.

Smith said he still has some anger management issues that he is working on. “;The drugs took a lot out of me. I'm doing the right thing, staying clean and sober,”; he said.

“;I've done a lot of bad things in my life, but I realize if I continue on the right path, life will be enjoyable.”;

Rowland added, “;I'm putting Henzly's needs before mine. I know that if I get high or drunk, I would lose her.”;

The couple continues to attend mandatory community meetings at their transitional housing, take parenting classes and submit to random drug tests to ensure that they are clean and sober.

“;We started eating healthier, cooking together. One of the things we enjoy is sitting and eating together,”; Rowland said.

The family's caseworker, Mindy Chung, confirms the family has made great strides after participating in the program for a year and a half and checking in with her every other week.

“;They are learning how their past influences the decisions that they make today. They never considered other options before. It's about re-educating people and adding support,”; Chung explained.

“;They admit when they are failing, which helps them to succeed,”; she said. “;The big difference for them is that they are trying to own their own (issues and failings) as opposed to blaming one another. We are empowering them to become better parents and become better people.”;

The journey of healing continues.

“;Quite a few times, I wanted to give up, but if I don't do what is right, I wouldn't be able to be with my family,”; Smith said.

“;We've come this far. We can't give up now,”; Rowland said.