Having a baby will bring about significant change in anyone’s world. They might be your first, they might be your fifth. Either way, life changes drastically for the better. Because now, it’s, “Table for three,” instead of two. It’s saying goodnight to six, instead of five. It’s 4 lives you constantly think about and dream for, not just three.
Now imagine this new life coming into the world as you begin your journey in both parenting and recovery, all while your baby is experiencing withdrawal in the NICU with plans to transfer to some facility called, “Maddie’s Place.” Now that’s a lot of change.
For some of the parents that stay at Maddie’s, life is chaotic. Many come from the streets of Spokane and beyond, their lives in a never-ending hamster wheel of hurt and addiction. But then, they come to Maddie’s Place, and life somehow simplifies.
For other parents, addiction is an issue of the past, and life changes unexpectedly when their newborn experiences heavy withdrawal from the parent’s prescribed suboxone or methadone.
Everyone’s stories are different; but one thing they have in common is Maddie’s Place.
So, how do a parent and their baby get settled into our facility?
It all begins with a phone call. We receive referrals through several different avenues, that being through hospital social workers, a community member, or a family member.
Once we receive the referral, our team jumps into action, collecting all the necessary information to see if our services would be a good fit for the parent and baby.
To be considered, the family must have a baby that has been exposed to any substance, such as illegal or prescription drugs, nicotine, or alcohol. If a parent would like to stay with their baby, they must provide a clean UA or a recent chemical dependency evaluation.
In addition to this, it must be evident that the parent is committed to their recovery and to parenting their newborn. We also encourage applicants to come tour the facility, so that they can witness exactly what we do.
Should the parent/baby dyad prove a good fit for Maddie’s Place, they will be informed of their acceptance into the program and can come after their baby’s discharge from the hospital, or whenever their circumstances would allow.
Typically, our Clinical Coordinator, Tricia, and our Director of Family Advocacy, Kim, will go to the hospital to pick up the parent and their baby. Maddie’s Place is a secure facility, so when they arrive, the receptionist will buzz them into the building and greet them in the lobby. From there, the Mom Team will begin to get the parent and their baby settled in. While some staff members will collect the parent’s belongings, bringing them to the laundry room to be washed, others will go through some paperwork with the parent to solidify the cares and services that would be provided.
Then, the Mom Team will give the parent another tour, specifically showing them their allotted spaces throughout the building in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. Should the parent need clothes, the team will bring them upstairs to our Mom Closet, where they could pick out some outfits donated to Maddie’s Place by the community.
And finally, they will show them to their own room in the nursery, equipped with a mattress, crib, rocking chair, and dresser. They will find that both their name and their baby’s name are on the wall, and that they have an allotted drawer and basket in the nursery for their baby’s needs.
From then on, they will have an entire team of people assisting them in their recovery and parenting. The nurse on shift will step in to perform an initial assessment on the baby. Infant care specialists will help teach the parent how to care for their baby with different feeding and consoling methods. Our pediatrician will come in to examine the baby and come up with a plan of care, followed by weekly checkups, an exam at least twice a month, and a determination as to any necessary follow-up medical care by outside providers. Truly, everyone in the building will jump to help make this transition as smooth as possible.
Regardless, settling into Maddie’s Place is certainly an adjustment. Unfortunately, many of our parents are accustomed to poor living conditions and harsh judgement from everyone around them. So, it might take some time to get used to the warm smiles from our staff. It might take some time to trust the offers of help and the verbal affirmations. It might take some time to feel safe. But when they do, it’s the most beautiful sight. Because then, we get to see these parents put down their walls and be themselves for the first time in a while. It is an absolute privilege, and we would do it again and again.
Welcome to Maddie’s Place.
Questions? Suggestions? Email me at emma.jones@maddiesplace.org.
This blog was posted on May 3, 2024.