A first-of-its-kind recovery program in Kentucky has expanded to Owensboro, giving mothers battling substance use disorder the opportunity to receive residential treatment without being separated from their children.
Volunteers of America Mid-States officially opened its new Freedom House on Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by state and local officials, community leaders, and partner organizations.
Located at 1201 Frederica Street, the facility will serve up to 30 families and includes five transitional apartments designed to help women gradually move toward independent living as they progress through treatment. The organization expects to begin admitting families by Aug. 1 and is continuing to hire staff.
Organization leaders said Freedom House is the only residential recovery program in Kentucky that allows pregnant and parenting women to bring all of their children into treatment with them, removing one of the biggest barriers many mothers face when seeking help.
The program uses a three-phase approach, beginning with high-intensity residential treatment, transitioning to lower-intensity residential care focused on community reintegration, and ending with intensive outpatient treatment while residents prepare for independent living. Unlike traditional treatment programs, the length of stay is based on progress rather than a predetermined number of days.
Residents receive a wide range of services, including prenatal care, nutrition counseling, medical and psychiatric treatment, trauma-focused therapy, parenting classes, peer support, case management, and medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders.
Mayor Tom Watson said the project addresses a critical need by allowing mothers to recover without losing valuable time with their children.
“This facility represents a significant investment in the health and well-being of our community and our families,” Watson said. “Freedom House provides something incredibly important — a place where moms can receive treatment and recovery services without being separated from their children.”
Watson said the program will strengthen not only individual families but the entire community.
“When families are strengthened, our entire community is strengthened, neighborhoods become stronger, and children have a greater opportunity to thrive,” he said.
House Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles praised the community effort behind the project.
“It’s beautiful to see the facility, but at the end of the day, the facility is just a building,” Miles said. “It’s the people that are working in this building, the people that built this building, and the people whose lives are going to be changed because of this building.”
Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen said addiction has affected families across every demographic and praised the organization for addressing generational cycles of substance abuse.
“Programs work,” Castlen said. “God bless you, and we are blessed to have you in our community.”
Jennifer Hancock, president and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States, said the project has been years in the making.
“We broke ground here two years ago, and today we are officially opening our doors here at Freedom House,” Hancock said. “Western Kentucky needs these services, and every woman and every family deserves access to family-focused, evidence-based treatment.”
Hancock credited retired Opportunity Center Executive Director Rosemary Conder, Kentucky Youth Advocates, the Hager Educational Foundation, Owensboro Health, the PNC Foundation, local elected officials, and numerous community partners for helping make the project possible.
Volunteers of America purchased two Owensboro properties in 2023 before breaking ground on the new facility in January 2024.
According to the organization, Freedom House has helped more than 368 healthy babies be born since the program began more than 30 years ago. National outcome data also show that 66% of participants are discharged to stable housing, while 65% experience increased visitation or reunification with their children.
