Wine Country Times

Women’s Recovery Services (WRS) is a beacon of hope, offering a state-licensed alcohol and drug treatment program for women who are pregnant, parenting, and seeking to heal their families. Since 1975, our integrated approach has helped hundreds of mothers and children break the cycle of addiction and foster care. Women enter the WRS program to address addiction issues, and their children participate in a program tailored just for them.

A dedicated team of WRS founders, along with compassionate staff members, developed the Children’s program beyond childcare. It provided an immediate lifeline for mothers and initiated the healing journey for their children, recognizing the need for nurturance, structure, and medical care.

It is a very daunting day for most children who arrive with wary eyes, unsure of what to expect in this new and unfamiliar place. Their faces and behavior tell stories of neglect, abuse, and exposure to drugs. They have experienced homelessness, food insecurity, truancy, and lack of regular medical/ dental care and well checks. This is tormenting for any mother in the grasp of addiction, not being able to stop or provide for her child. WRS acknowledges the uphill battle mothers face, marked by guilt, shame, and the fear of losing their children. WRS believes this multi-generational impact can be remedied by entering treatment together.  Priority admission is given to pregnant and parenting women with hope of reducing the impact to these young children and the developing fetus.

At WRS, a Unique Place marks the beginning of stability, safety, and change. Our Children's Program provides a nurturing environment, offering structured days filled with healthy activities, music, story time, crafts, play, and even crocheting. The WRS team, includes a dedicated Children’s Program Provider, works tirelessly to ensure children's needs are met. Mothers actively engage, learning healthy interactions and ways to support their children. The clinical team, Child Parent Institute (CPI) parent educator, case manager and mom, discuss her children’s needs and how to support her. Some children receive referrals for additional services, assessments, and community programs- such as North Bay Regional, Children’s Mental Health, Santa Rosa Behavioral Health, Santa Rosa Community Health Clinics, Sylvin, and ELI, Child Parent Institute and local schools with individualized education programs as needed to help children succeed.

This is not to say that it is easy for mothers or their children, but soon they can count on mom, staff and Ms. Elodia who has been the children’s program provider for more than 18 years while mother attends groups, meetings, and parenting.  Ample time is designated for “Mommy and Me” including naps, graham crackers and milk, and learning to trust and to build Positive Childhood Experiences. Children and Mom experience school functions, Forget Me Not farms, Pumpkin patches, and taking walks together. They eat meals together, enjoy snack times, play time and night time routines.

The journey is challenging, but with great possibility. Every day witnessing the gradual transformation of these children's lives, as they begin to find a sense of security, care, and structure they may have never known before unfolds a new adventure, experiencing a sober parent and a stable environment. Their smiles become a beacon filled with hope.

After completing 120 days, mothers continue in aftercare, sharing experiences, challenges, and the joy of having their children back. They support each other with resources, creating a network that goes beyond sobriety. The children return with their mothers to visit, with a smile and a hope to reconnect with Elodia, and staff.

The Children’s Program becomes a symbol of resilience, where children and mothers began to heal, and restore healthy parent and child relationships, one day at a time. It is a story of hope, second chances, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.

Diane Madrigal is the executive director of Women's Recovery Services.