Freedom House Success Stories

Chance is six months old, and thanks to Freedom House he’s feeling all the love and care from his mother this Valentine’s Day. His mother, Jacalyn, struggled with substance use disorder for years until Freedom House, a recovery program for pregnant and parenting women run by Volunteers of America Mid-States, stepped in to offer support and help her take back her life. She brought Chance and her four-year-old son, Timmy, to Freedom House on October 9, 2025. Since then, VOA’s licensed clinical therapists have helped her understand the root cause of her addiction, and through parenting and life skills classes…

Growing up in Knott County, Kentucky, Dana was no stranger to addiction. Both of her parents struggled with substance use disorder, and she was raised by her grandmother. “My dad was in prison, and my mom was out with whoever and wherever,” Dana said. “She left me and my sister wondering where she was all the time.” From a young age, she was determined to go down a different path. But at 16 years old, she got into a car accident that left her with severe injuries to her leg and underwent 13 surgeries to save the limb. She was…

The holiday season is here, and a local nonprofit, Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA), is asking for the community’s support to ensure the families they serve can enjoy this time of year. In Clay County and throughout southeast Kentucky, VOA provides recovery support for individuals struggling with substance use disorder and works to reunite families broken apart by addiction.  Keshea, a 29-year-old mother of four, experienced first-hand how these services can change lives. When she was 12, Keshea was molested by a family member, and as a young teen she turned to substances to cope with her trauma. She spent…

In just a few short weeks Clay County families will start the new school year. As school shopping begins, a local nonprofit, Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA,) is asking the community to join their efforts and help the families they serve enter the classroom prepared.   VOA works to empower and uplift the communities they serve through a variety of comprehensive programs. In Clay County, the organization supports mothers struggling with substance use disorder at their Freedom House program and reunites families broken apart by addiction through their Family Recovery Court. They also welcome families into their Recovery Community Center and…

As a child, Samantha was raised by her grandmother and was known for her rebellious side. She suffered from intense migraines and was prescribed pain medications. At a young age, she became dependent on the medications. In her teens, the drug use escalated. For brief periods, she was able to find sobriety, but she was never able to maintain it. It wasn’t until her two boys, Connor and Caden, were removed from her care that she knew something needed to change. Samantha came to Freedom House and said she had a life-changing experience. Freedom House assisted Samantha with addressing childhood…

After finding recovery at VOA’s Freedom House in Clay County, KY, April continued her journey at VOA’s Family Recovery Court (FRC). With support from Judge Clint Harris, VOA and a team of social workers, April built a foundation for sustained sobriety, paving the way for a brighter future for herself and her son, Kyson. We congratulate FRC graduate, April! Looking for freedom from substance use disorder? VOA will support you every step of the way. Reach out now at (502) 636-4530 or complete our referral form HERE.

Four years of life-changing recovery services for Clay County mothers In March of 2020, a nationally recognized recovery program opened its doors in Burning Springs, Kentucky. Since then, more than 400 women have gone through the program and worked to break the cycle of addiction in their families and in their community. More than three decades ago, VOA Mid-States launched the Freedom House program in Louisville, Kentucky, to support pregnant and parenting women overcoming substance use disorder. Through an evidence-based clinical services model of recovery treatment, Freedom House helps women understand the root cause of their substance use disorder and…

On January 9, 33-year-old Betty Asher became a mother. The birth of her baby boy, Jeremiah, gave her a second chance at a future she didn’t think was possible. “All I’ve ever known is drugs and alcohol,” Betty said. Betty was born and raised in Cynthiana, Kentucky. Her father struggled with addiction, so from an early age, she was introduced to substance use. And as a teenager, she started to experiment with drugs. “I started with weed, then pills and drinking and then I got into heroin, and I just lost everything,” Betty said. Betty’s drug use escalated, and in…