Women touched by addiction break the generational cycle at the Women and Children’s Center

Overcoming substance use takes a village, and the community at the Rosecrance Jackson Centers Women’s Center is just what some mothers need to start their healing with their families.

At the Women’s Center, an empowering environment is created for women to concentrate on their customized treatment plans while receiving the support they need to care for their soon-to-be-born or young children. Women who attend the program are given the opportunity to focus on their recovery from substance use while also learning healthy parenting skills that set the family up with a health foundation once they complete the program.

“We have a unique focus on parenting that sets us apart from other programs,” said Brianna Steffe, Women’s Center Administrator for Rosecrance Jackson Centers. “Parenting is a crucial aspect of our approach. A person cannot effectively parent while struggling with a substance use disorder. It simply does not work. We dedicate significant effort to teaching mothers how to be effective parents while maintaining sobriety.”

To ensure the families are given ample time to manage their newfound sobriety while caring for themselves and their families, most women can move into Sanctuary, a transitional living space that breaks down barriers to help women continue to receive outpatient therapy for their substance use and mental health, and development of skills that can continue to support families physically, emotionally, and financially.

The women who come to the center are breaking the cycle of addiction so their children can enjoy a childhood with a sober parent, Steffe said. Many of the moms at the center come from families that also have addiction issues. Being at the Center gives them a chance to maintain a life of recovery and provide their children with a better upbringing than they had.

“The children will come to know more about recovery instead of the consequences of addiction,” Steffe said.

And the Women’s Center has developed into a community of its own. Mothers who have attended the program still support women who are just starting their recovery, even decades after they sought treatment themselves. The community they have created continues to provide support when false beliefs and stereotypes about substance use being chosen over children serve as painful reminders of addiction.

“When families stay together and reintegrate into the community, it frees up local resources and time. It stabilizes them, enabling them to contribute to society and provide for their children in every way possible. Once back in the community, they also begin to give back and can serve as a resource and support for other mothers facing similar circumstances,” Steffe said.

The journey to recovery may be challenging, but the Women’s Center offers a place where women can start their healing from substance use while caring for their families. To find out more about how expectant or current mothers struggling with substance use can begin their recovery, call 888.928.5278.