Mother finds renewed purpose and perspective in recovery at Avivo

“I have her now,” Danielle shares, as she looks at her five-month-old daughter and describes the purpose she has now after entering family treatment at Avivo. She shares that a lost sense of purpose is what pushed her into an addiction.

Danielle has a career of 12 years working in restaurant and bar management. When COVID-19 hit, she was working as a server and her employer closed the business. She was able to secure unemployment benefits.

“I have her now,” Danielle shares, as she looks at her five-month-old daughter and describes the purpose she has now after entering family treatment at Avivo.

“I had so much money and nothing to do,” she says. “I lost my sense of purpose. It pushed me into recreational drug use.”

She lost the place where she was living when the house was sold. She lived in her car and then her car was stolen. She shared that she was in jail a few times, and she was homeless for about three years before being pregnant.

She researched family programs in the Twin Cities and found Avivo.

“I was six-months pregnant when I came [to Avivo] … I was skeptical. Not sure I needed it and unsure of myself. Still in denial about being an addict.”

At Avivo, she found the support of recovery counselors, housing and stability. She talks about how she began to change her perspective of the world.

“It was hard at first,” she shares, “Now I know what I don’t want. I see the consequences when others choose [bad] alternatives. When you make bad decisions, bad things happen.”

“[The counselors] supported me and my daughter,” shares Danielle. “They helped prepare me for having a baby. They help with parenting. They helped connect me to programs and health care I didn’t even know existed. They ensure that we are safe and happy.”

“[The counselors] supported me and my daughter,” shares Danielle. “They helped prepare me for having a baby. They help with parenting. They helped connect me to programs and health care I didn’t even know existed. They ensure that we are safe and happy.”

She’s learned all sorts of tools and how to use them… practicing, to help form habits for recovery. Her next steps are to find permanent housing in the community and keep up with her therapy and supports. She hopes to enter cosmetology school.

According to Danielle, one of the other benefits of recovery is reconnecting with her family and friends. Her mom is her strongest supporter. “She’s my best friend now. Rebuilding my relationship with her is a big part of my recovery.”

Soon to enter the final phase of the family program, Danielle estimates she’ll have been at Avivo about a full year. She needs as much time as possible to find permanent housing and a good plan to take her next steps. “I have a family that is dependent on me. I would also like to live close to my family.”

You can help more individuals like Danielle find safe housing and achieve recovery through the continuum of services Avivo provides. To support Avivo, click here to make a gift today.