Homeward House Update for 2025 Print Version - FINAL-2 - Flipbook - Page 7
From Stigma to Support
Changing the narrative for parents in recovery and their children
Seeking help for addiction is hard enough 4 it¾s even harder when children are involved. Many parents
face judgment and isolation due to persistent misconceptions about substance use disorders. This
stigma is closely tied to misconceptions about mental health, which are often viewed through the lens
of problems or disorders. In reality, mental health 4 like physical health 4 is affected by many factors
and requires understanding and care.
Homeward House staff and partners work every day to break down these interconnected stigmas. More
than providing guidance and support, Parent Ally Mentors actively advocate for parents in systems
where they have long been marginalized, helping to replace outdated biases with a deeper
understanding of recovery and resilience.
Changing the narrative fosters an environment of understanding where parents can learn, grow, and
form strong bonds with their children 4 free from judgment and full of possibility.
Infant Mental Health
Infant mental health services are essential in supporting
families engaged with Homeward House. Focusing on
brain development during this critical time, experts from
ChildStrive and Wonderland Child & Family Services
provide a range of services to promote emotional wellbeing, a secure parent-child attachment, and early
experiences that shape a child9s long-term development.
Parents learn to read cues, understand their child9s emotional needs, and respond
with sensitivity. The education and tools provided are
flexible and individualized, tailored to address
specific concerns, challenges, and strengths
within each family9s unique cultural,
social, and economic background.
