Volunteers of America’s Freedom House has acquired $100,000 that will go toward starting an Owensboro location to help women recover from drug addiction and protect their children. Jennifer Hancock, Mid-States CEO, said she was looking for community involvement with the program should they move to the Owensboro/Green River region.
The residential program uses a holistic and family-centric style. They are able to approach not only the woman but also help break the cycle of addiction with her children. The program offers individual, group and family counseling, drug and alcohol dependency education, child care services, and more.
Hancock said the organization has been working within Kentucky for 125 years. The organization built a location serving eight counties in Southeastern Kentucky. After work there and in West Virginia, Hancock said she believes she can see the change throughout the commonwealth.
“When you think about West Virginia and Kentucky and what we share in common, one thing is that we have been ground zero for the opioid crisis,” Hancock said.
Hancock opened the Southeastern Kentucky location in March of 2020. While they have been able to progress well during the pandemic, she noted that data showed the pandemic made the numbers worse for people throughout the state — and specifically for the Green River region.
One of the clients they serve said that she was fearful of asking for any services because she thought her children would be taken to child protective services. The organization doesn’t plan to separate families as they help those in need.
A checklist that Freedom House has that lists different priorities led them to be one of seven organizations in the nation recognized by the American Society of Addiction Medications, and the only one in the state of Kentucky, that does not limit the number of children brought with the mother.
Their program can be completed in 12 months to three years based on the family’s needs. As a result of going through the program, Hancock said they have seen 260 healthy babies born without having to go to the NICU.
If Freedom House comes to the area, Hancock said with involvement, they will be able to leverage various funds and sources and be in a unique position to build the community to serve the people who need help.
For example, she said by working with the Daniel Pitino Shelter, there could be a handoff process between the two where the clients know how to better themselves using both resources.
“It’s important because we’re not a fly-by-night that’s just going to be here one day and gone the next,” Hancock said. “When we make a commitment it’s a long term commitment to partner in communities.”
