When Heather Henson struggled with substance abuse to the point of temporarily losing custody of her children, it felt like she had truly hit rock bottom. She struggled to get her life back on track and felt it was impossible. But with a supportive community, the right resources, and belief in both herself and her faith, Heather is now living a life she only dreamed of a year ago.

Even the most heart-wrenching stories are not beyond redemption. This is Heather’s story: a story of how the right resources, including Medicaid and KVC Kentucky, supported a single mom in her journey of recovery, writing a new chapter of resilience and hope.

A Struggle with Addiction

Heather never imagined it would be her. The mother of three had been a foster parent to four other children before moving from Texas to Kentucky in 2020. “As a foster mom, it was hard for me to imagine. I would always say, ‘I don’t know how anyone could get addicted to meth to the point where they lose their children.’ I ended up eating those words.”

Having spent the majority of her adult life on medication for ADHD, Heather struggled when she lost access to that medication due to insurance complications. This was during a season of immense change for Heather too, which left her without her typical support system. Medication withdrawals were debilitating; she felt completely depleted and unable to function. “I was willing to try anything to bridge the gap,” she said. That’s when Heather started to self-medicate with methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and destructive substance, and Heather’s body quickly became dependent on it to function. “In my mind, I was functioning,” she recalls, “But really I was spiraling out of control, and just trying to keep it together. I felt like everyone I loved would reject me if they realized I was addicted to methamphetamine. I thought I could never be forgiven for something like that.” Trying to care for her three children while battling such an intense addiction eventually caught up with her. Heather found herself unemployed, in an abusive relationship, homeless, and without custody of her children.

Through relative kinship care, Heather’s children, Alexis, Layla and Wyatt, were in the care of Heather’s mother. Because they experienced a house fire and were temporarily residing in AirBnBs, it was difficult for Heather to have visitation or contact with them. “Every second I was away from them, I was trying to figure out how to get back to them,” Heather remembers. “It was horrible.”

Medicaid and Rehabilitation: A Turning Point in Addiction Recovery

When stuck in addiction, it can feel like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Help seems beyond reach, especially if you don’t have the support you need or if you are unaware of the resources available to you. “The longer I stayed away from them, not knowing how to get help or be reunified with them, the harder it was on them and me,” Heather shares. “It was driving a bigger wedge the longer it took.”

Heather’s turning point was when she accompanied a friend to the probation office. She hadn’t expected help for her own addiction, but someone at the office explained that Medicaid would cover her rehabilitation. The staff member at the probation office offered to make Heather an appointment, and her answer was an immediate yes.

“I only wish I would have known about this option sooner,” Heather remembers. “It felt like divine intervention for me to be at that place, at that time, to meet that person. I was ready, and when presented with this opportunity, I was so excited to go!”

Medicaid-funded rehabilitation helped Heather reprogram the thought patterns of addiction and function again in a sober state of mind. She developed skills in emotional regulation and corrected unhealthy behaviors while working through feelings of self-doubt and skepticism.

Three months after treatment, Heather suffered a stroke while managing other physical and financial challenges during her recovery and reunification. She attributes her strength to prayer and faith and has recovered fully with no lasting effects. With her physical health on the mend, Heather was finally able to focus on her family’s health and reunification.

Support Through KVC Kentucky for Family Reunification

Once safely reunified, Heather worked closely with her KVC Kentucky case worker, Victoria. The ongoing work with Victoria gave Heather the nonjudgmental support she needed to rebuild her family. Victoria offered Heather a space to be vulnerable about their trauma, providing praise, encouragement and resources to support the family.

“Victoria helped me realize that what I went through was just a minor setback. I’m not my mistakes, and I’m still a person,” shares Heather, who met with Victoria weekly to work on rebuilding her life, from fixing her credit to getting a license. They came up with a strong relapse prevention plan so Heather always knew what to do if she was struggling.

The other key piece of the Henson family’s reunification was Functional Family Therapy with KVC Kentucky. “This helped us to manage residual emotions that stemmed from the trauma of the situation,” shared Heather, who is so grateful for the tools their therapist equipped them with to improve communication and boundaries as a family.

Flexible Funds and a Helping Hand at the Right Time

Despite making great progress in her health and being joyfully reunified with her children, Heather still faced challenges. Recovering from her stroke, she couldn’t work and faced financial stress with Wyatt’s birthday and the new school year.

KVC was able to use flexible program funds, built into their model and contract, to provide $1,000 in assistance with meeting concrete needs, a critical component of family preservation programs. This helped Heather and her family restore a sense of normalcy and joy during a critical time. “Aside from getting all of the help reunifying with my children, they were also going to give me a thousand dollars!” Heather recalled. “I thought it was a dream.”

A Year of Transformation in Addiction Recovery and Family Reunification

Heather is so proud of her children and the resilience they have shown throughout the last few years. She becomes emotional remembering her children’s patience and forgiveness as she recovered, with her teenage daughters especially understanding her struggles. “They were in awe of my physical transformation,” says Heather, getting choked up, reflecting on reuniting with her children. “They constantly reminded me how beautiful and healthy I looked, and how incredibly proud of me they were.”

One year after reunifying, the Henson’s are diving into a new school year stronger than ever. Heather now attends Liberty University, pursuing a Bachelor’s in Psychology with a focus on Christian counseling. She hopes to combine her faith, personal experiences and education to help others facing similar struggles. Her future plans include writing books, becoming a homeowner and building a career as a community outreach program director.

“If someone were to tell me my future held those things a year ago, I wouldn’t have believed them,” said Heather. “I’m living a life that I desperately prayed for.”

Why Community Support Makes a Difference

Heather’s story shows that hope and a little support can create a ripple effect, leading to recovery for others. If you or someone you know needs help, don’t hesitate to reach out to KVC Kentucky. Heather cautions that “secrets keep you sick,” and that the best thing you can do if you’re struggling is talk to someone.

KVC Kentucky is one small step for many in their recovery process, but it could be the step that keeps them grounded, like it was for Heather after rehabilitation. If you’re interested in a career in social work or seeking opportunities to help others like Heather find hope and healing, consider joining the team at KVC Kentucky, or reach out to learn more about the services we offer.

Family First Preservation and Reunification Services are a collaboration between DCBS and KVC Kentucky. All referrals are made by DCBS. Family Preservation & Reunification Services are made possible through Kentucky state and federal funds.