Kentucky First Lady tours local treatment facility
Times-TribuneSep 14, 2018
On Wednesday, Bevin toured one of
"We started out here about 30 years ago as a female treatment center for substance use disorders," said
Bevin was given the opportunity to tour the facility, meet with the current 13 residents of the facility, including four babies, and learn more about what the facility is doing to help women, babies and their families throughout the state.
The program is not only for pregnant women, as any woman suffering from substance abuse from across the state can be admitted into the program for a minimum of 40 days.
The 15-bed facility, located in
Over 100 females go through the program annually where they attend groups that focus on domestic violence, guilt/shame, parenting, grief, anger management, stress reduction and relapse prevention.
"We treat the whole woman -- it's not just substance abuse," said
The program works in collaboration with many community resources to provide clients with multifaceted services and support. Some of those organizations include the
Since 2008, Sowders said Independence House has seen close to 400 babies born drug-free.
"To see these babies born drug-free, mothers getting other children back they've had to give up prior to their treatment here, it's been a wonderful thing," said Jones.
The hope of the program is to not only treat these women for their substance use disorders but to also help them to become productive members of society once they have completed the program.
Sowders believes Independence House is allowing women struggling with substance abuse, including their babies and their families, a chance at a new life.
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