It’s been just over two years since Maddie’s Place first opened its doors. When we came into existence, public knowledge regarding Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and its effects on infants and families was slim to none. Since then, our organization has sought to increase awareness and continue providing nurturing care to infants affected. Because we operate in such a distinct niche, there can be many questions or assumptions as to how we care for families impacted by NAS.
So, keep reading! Below you will find how we address some more common Maddie’s Place myths.
Myth #5 – We don’t provide medication to our babies
We may be holistic, but that does not mean we refrain from offering infants medicine to provide relief from their aches and pains.
For instance, hospitals will occasionally send infants actively relying on morphine to ease them through the painful symptoms of withdrawal (such as incessant screaming or irritability). But we’ve seen a trend of those infants being successfully weaned from morphine in our nursery faster than they typically would in the hospital, thanks to our low-stimulus environment, high caregiver-to-infant ratio, day to day baby-wearing, and other intentional care practices.
There are several other medications, such as Tylenol or reflux medication, that we also utilize. To help an infant experiencing gassiness and discomfort, we will offer them simethicone or gripe water. Or, if an infant is experiencing teething pains, our caregivers will give them oral pain tabs. Our heart in all of this is that an infant’s body and mind can remain regulated so that they can continue to develop and build attachments while working through their withdrawal. And if some basic medication can provide that relief, we will utilize it.
Myth #6 – We don’t value family unity/parents and do not stay at Maddie’s Place
We always desire parent involvement in an infant’s life. That said, if a parent is clearly committed to parenting and has gone to detox, they can stay with their baby at Maddie’s Place.
However, per our license, Maddie’s Place can only accommodate one parent for overnight stays with their infant. But this parameter does not indicate that family unity is not important to us.
Because we can only accommodate one parent overnight, we allow parents to switch off so that they can both spend time with their infant. We also allow visits Monday-Saturday so that parents not staying at Maddie’s Place can still be involved in their child’s life. Having at least one parent involved makes a significant difference in the life of their infant. But sometimes, there is no parent in the picture, in which case our infant care specialists step in to offer those babies the same level of care.
Regardless of whether a parent is staying at Maddie’s Place, our family advocacy team will provide wraparound support. They connect parents with various resources, offer invaluable peer support, and help families get back on their feet in the community. Most individuals struggling with substance abuse arrive at Maddie’s Place alone but leave with a new family.
Myth #7 – Parents must pay for their and their infant’s stay at Maddie’s Place.
This is false! Parents and infants can stay at Maddie’s Place FOR FREE! This is a gift we are thrilled to be able to provide for the community. However, while it is free to our clients, it costs about $10,000-$12,000 to operate every single day. When we first opened our doors, we believed our services would be covered under Medicaid. But when we discovered that the language of the legislation did not include our work, we looked for funding elsewhere.
Thanks to a $5.5 million state pilot project, some county funding, and charitable donations, Maddie’s Place has expanded and remained in operation, providing this critical care to this vulnerable population. But in June of 2025, the pilot project (the main funding for our operations) is coming to an end. In anticipation of this, we have been working tirelessly to ensure our services remain available to families affected by Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. While we continue our work to amend Washington State’s Medicaid plan, the financial support from our community and beyond is critical to our ability to keep our doors open and provide these life-saving services.
Questions? Suggestions? Email me emma.jones@maddiesplace.org.
This blog was posted on February 28, 2025.