Voices From the Community: A Journey of Hope

When I first met this couple, they were in their twenties, homeless, and expecting another baby. Their firstborn child, medically fragile due to substance exposure at birth, could not walk or speak and required around-the-clock care. Child welfare became involved when they missed numerous critical medical appointments. With no foster home able to meet the baby’s complex needs, the baby remained in a medical facility. 

It was November, bitter cold, when I first sat with them in a garage because one parent wasn’t permitted inside the home of the family member where they were staying. One could hardly stay awake, and both appeared high. They seemed disengaged and hopeless. Yet in that moment, something in me knew that the MDFR program—and my role as their Specialist—could make a difference. 

Meeting Them Where They Were 

As an MDFR Specialist, my first responsibility was intensive engagement. That meant showing up, even when they didn’t. Sometimes it was picking them up on a corner, bringing them to their MAT program, and then sharing a meal at Dunkin’ Donuts or McDonald’s. Sometimes it was sitting in court hearings beside them to ensure they showed up. When they disappeared, I went out searching, because the alternative could have been devastating. 

MDFR emphasizes supporting the whole family system, and that was crucial here. I connected with staff at the MAT clinic, who were consistently supportive. By rallying this team around them, I built a circle of confidence and accountability that had never been present in their lives before. 

Facing the Odds 

The challenges were overwhelming: pregnancy, homelessness, addiction, and criminal charges. Housing seemed out of reach, as child welfare policy required three months of sobriety before even being placed on a waiting list. As I told their caseworker, “How do we expect clients to get sober without a home?” 

Recovery wasn’t just about treatment—it was about environment. I remember sitting in the driveway when they pointed to a car across the street. It was a drug dealer, right outside the family home. Addiction wasn’t only their battle; it was in their orbit. MDFR gave me the framework to name this reality, while still instilling hope. 

Turning Points 

Progress came slowly, but MDFR’s structure allowed me to keep them engaged without giving up. Each relapse became a conversation, not a punishment. Using MDFR’s Parent/Individual and Family domains, I reframed relapse as part of recovery, helping them identify triggers and build resilience. 

Their motivation deepened when one of their children—born during our work—was placed in relative foster care. That painful reality became their long-term goal: reunification. 

Later, when we prepared for inpatient treatment, I drove them hours to intake. At the door, the father panicked and refused to go in. Frustration gave way to understanding: MDFR taught me that engagement is a process. Forcing them into treatment would not work; they had to choose recovery. That day, the mother revealed she was pregnant again—an even stronger reason to move forward. 

From then on, something shifted. They began maintaining MAT, attending counseling, and engaging in IOP. This was MDFR in action: persistence, flexibility, and hope. 

The Outcome 

Today, they are sober—one year and three months strong. They have housing, a car, insurance, and jobs. Their youngest child was born substance-free, though placed in foster care as a precaution. They are now working with attorneys toward reunification. 

Their journey was not without loss—their firstborn passed away due to complex medical needs. Through grief, they remained sober. The resilience they showed in that moment demonstrated just how far they had come. 

Why MDFR Matters 

This case reminds me why MDFR is so impactful. By engaging across the six domains—Parent/Individual, Parenting/Co-Parent, Family, Children, Intimate Partner, and Basic Needs/Community—I was able to wrap supports around them, ensuring they weren’t alone in their recovery

Learn more about MDFR: https://www.mdft.org/mdfr