Five years ago, Allison Edwards heard the clock ticking – loudly. After years of struggling with substance use disorder and periods of homelessness, she was searching for a program that would let her build a sustainable recovery and a bright future for her newborn daughter. She’d tried treatment before, but 30-, 60-, and 90-day programs didn’t give her the stability she needed to make an enduring recovery.

“At the end of those programs, I never felt ready,” she said. “They didn’t offer enough of a plan or support once they were over.”

Edwards finally found what she needed at Northern Light Mercy Hospital’s McAuley Residence, a comprehensive program with housing that serves women and their children in Portland and Bangor.

Two-generation approach to substance use treatment

Maine continues to see significant demand for recovery support for women with children. About 7% of Maine babies are born with some exposure to substances – one of the highest rates in the nation. There are few recovery programs in Maine, however, that are structured to provide supports for mothers and their children simultaneously. These whole-family programs can significantly increase a mother’s chances of long-term recovery, give children the support they need and prevent the trauma of family separation.

McAuley Residence stands out as a model for this effective approach. Over the course of two years, the residential program offers participants counseling, parent coaching and support for family unification. With funding from the John T. Gorman Foundation, the program also offers on-site access to Southern Maine Community College classes and career development coaching. These supports help participants find stable jobs to provide for their families and sustain their recovery.

The program’s signature strength lies in its two-generation approach, which addresses the comprehensive needs of participants and their children so the family can thrive after completing the program.

“McAuley Residence really seeks to affect the whole family in order to interrupt cycles of generational addiction, poverty and the involvement of child protective services,” said Melissa Skahan, Vice President of Mission Integration at Northern Light Mercy Hospital. “We want to build environments that allow people to heal as a whole family unit, so they’re ready to successfully launch after they leave the program.”

The program currently serves 42 women, but plans are underway to develop four additional McAuley Residence sites across the state, which could serve another 40 to 60 families.

Building a foundation for long-term recovery

Members of the McAuley Residence team (left to right): manager Carmela Haggett, success coach Michelle Bartlett, parenting coach Jennifer Whitney and volunteer coordinator Lisa Silverman.

The program progresses in three phases. In the first phase, participants focus on intensive treatment 40 hours a week. The second phase is aspirational – participants can explore education and career options, and access college classes on-site. In the final phase, participants set themselves up for success after the program. That includes finding housing, childcare and other support services they’ll need.

Along the way, mothers who have lost custody or parental rights go through a highly structured, closely monitored process to reunify with their children. McAuley works with Maine’s Office of Child and Family Services to ensure that the mom is stable enough for reunification and that the kids are well cared for.

Once housed at McAuley Residence, young children receive access to high-quality childcare and early-learning opportunities. They also receive any healthcare services and counseling they may need, since many come to McAuley with previous trauma and limited access to pediatric care.

By several measures, McAuley is a success.

• Nearly 76% of women stay in recovery after completing the program – nationally, the relapse rate for drug and alcohol treatment programs is 40-60%.

• 96% reunify with their families.

• Every woman at the Portland residence who is eligible for college is enrolled in classes, with similar results in Bangor.

“Having access to safe housing, and college on site, has been so powerful,” Skahan said. “They talk about living a life they never dreamed of.”

‘It’s all because of McAuley’

Just ask Edwards. Grateful to find a low-barrier program where she could stay with her infant daughter, she moved into McAuley Residence to sustain her recovery after 10 months of sobriety. The first phase of the program was intense, with one or two group counseling sessions a day, 12-step meetings, individual counseling, and parenting classes where Edwards learned about supporting her daughter’s healthy development.

Edwards said the program’s rigorous nature helped her build accountability and confidence. “I saw that I was very capable and had more potential than I knew,” she said. “It was really empowering.”

Eventually, Edwards was able to resume her coursework in Behavioral Health and Human Services through Southern Maine Community College and earn her associate’s degree. Today, she is working full time as a case manager and pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Mental Health and Human Services at the University of Maine at Augusta.

“It’s a busy life, but I’m thriving, and my daughter is thriving,” she said. “It’s all because of McAuley. I’ll never stop being thankful for that.”