Kentucky Program Lets Moms Keep Kids During Addiction Care

When Tanith Wilson relapsed after 20 years of sobriety, she refused to leave behind the 2-year-old girl she'd adopted. Freedom House in Louisville made sure she didn't have to.

Wilson first met Milani's mother through her work as vice president of an addiction treatment program in central Kentucky. The young mother was struggling with addiction and homelessness, so Wilson and her husband stepped in to care for her baby daughter.

When Milani's mother died of an overdose at just 8 months old, Wilson adopted her without hesitation. But juggling a toddler while leading addiction programs eventually overwhelmed her, and Wilson relapsed despite her two decades of sobriety and two degrees in the field.

"For some reason I felt like a drink was the best way to fix all that," Wilson said. "It's the worst thing I've ever been through."

Freedom House, run by Volunteers of America, became her lifeline. The residential program is Kentucky's only facility where mothers can live with their children while receiving comprehensive addiction treatment.

"I needed a safe place I could go with my child where I could take a break from my life," Wilson explained. The center provides family therapy, individual counseling, parenting classes, job training, and help finding long-term housing and education.

Wilson was clear about her priorities. "I was not going to be separated from Milani. She's already been through so much in her life."

Sunny's Take

What makes this story special isn't just that Wilson adopted a baby whose mother died from the disease she once battled herself. It's her courage to admit she needed help again, and her determination to heal alongside the little girl counting on her.

Treatment is challenging enough. Doing it while caring for a toddler requires exceptional strength. But Wilson believes having Milani with her makes recovery more meaningful, not harder.

Kentucky has seen overdose deaths drop 50% since 2021, and experts point to programs like Freedom House as part of what's working. By keeping families together during treatment, these centers address both addiction and the relationships that make recovery worthwhile.

"We pour so much into other people and we forget to fill our own cup," Wilson reflected. Now she's focusing on filling hers so she can continue being the mom Milani needs.

Wilson's message to others struggling is simple: asking for help isn't failure, and recovery looks different for everyone. Sometimes it looks like a woman with an infectious laugh and a 2-year-old by her side, rebuilding their future together one day at a time.