Grant Received Wil Support Families in Recovery Program in Norwalk

Liberation Programs recently received a $20,000 grant from Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women and Girls to support the agency’s Families in Recovery Program in Norwalk. Families in Recovery (FIRP) is a long-term in-patient residential addiction treatment program for pregnant or parenting women. The program also provides special services for children and is unique to the State of Connecticut since it is the only program of its kind where mothers can bring two children up to the age of 10 to stay with them while they are in treatment.

According to Alan Mathis, Liberation’s President and CEO, “for many women, this is a critical tipping point because a mother would rather go without help – than be separated from her children. An estimated 20,000 women in Connecticut are in need of substance abuse help each year, but only 25% will receive the care they need. And because they fail to get help, two thirds of the more than 7,000 children placed in foster care each year are there due to a parent’s substance abuse problem. Working closely with the Department of Children and Families, Liberation Programs is able to help mothers regain custody of their children and prepare to be the moms that will nurture them and help them grow into productive adults.”

Daily activities for the women include individual and group counseling sessions. Women are also responsible for sharing chores such as meal preparation. For many women, cooking and a focus on nutrition are new skills to be learned. Women are also assisted in resolving any issues with the criminal justice system and connecting to housing and continued education and vocational training. Any health issues are also addressed, especially if a woman is pregnant, and mental health support is another facet of treatment. Help with positive parenting and daily living skills are also a big part of treatment as women prepare to establish themselves as substance-free, self-sufficient parents.

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation promotes philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County, focusing on innovative and collaborative solutions to critical issues impacting the community. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Community Foundation is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards, and has awarded $180 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. For more information, visit www.fccfoundation.org.

Liberation Programs is one of Fairfield County's leading behavioral organizations specializing in treatment for substance abuse. Liberation provides services for adults and families that include two residential treatment programs, outpatient and intensive outpatient services, special services for older adults and people living with HIV/AIDS, permanent supportive housing, and extensive  support services for youth ages 12 to 18 and their families that includes education and prevention efforts as well as professional counseling.  The agency has multiple service sites located in Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport. Our mission is to empower people and their families to be free of the disease of addiction by providing targeted solutions that restore lives and strengthen our community.

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Submitted by Norwalk, CT

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