Recovery and Reunification: Patrick and Amanda’s Story

Addiction is often misunderstood, especially when it comes to parents who struggle with controlled substances. About 39% of cases when a child is placed in foster care are due to parental drug or alcohol abuse. Yet this doesn’t mean these parents don’t dearly love their children, and their story doesn’t have to end there! Recovery and reunification are achievable, and with hard work, children can safely return home.

Recovery from substance misuse is one of the 13 social determinants of health that indicate the well-being of a family. When one area of health enters a crisis, it causes a domino effect in multiple others. Patrick and Amanda both struggled with addiction, which led to financial and transportation crises. But once their children were placed in foster care, they resolved to do everything in their power to get them back. Now, their family is reunited, and they advocate for parents facing the same challenges. We sat down with them to hear their amazing story.

Vulnerable Circumstances

Patrick and Amanda met in their 20s while working at the same restaurant in their Kansas hometown. They hit it off right away and quickly became a couple. Soon, they moved to Colorado together with Patrick’s young son, where they fell in love with the mountains and added a newborn to their family. However, they wanted to be closer to Patrick’s dad, so they packed up once again and moved to Arkansas.

The transition to a new state took its toll. They knew almost no one and had little support. Missing Colorado left them feeling discouraged. In the midst of uncertainty and upheaval, a neighbor introduced the vulnerable couple to meth.

At first, the drug seemed to help. They felt happier, more energized, and more confident. As they kept using, however, the negative effects started to show. Amanda and Patrick were frequently ill. Their financial situation became more unstable. They couldn’t afford car insurance, which led to both parents losing their driver’s licenses. When they tried to pay the fine, the court required proof of insurance, something they still couldn’t afford. Getting to work became increasingly difficult.

“It kept piling up,” Patrick says. “I understand you need insurance on the road, but it came down to buying food or insurance.”

In other words, a crisis in substance abuse caused a crisis in their physical health, finances, and transportation.

Patrick and Amanda also fought much more often. During one of these fights, the police arrived due to a noise complaint. Once they discovered both parents were using meth, they were arrested. Their children were taken into state custody.

Recovery

After their children’s removal, Patrick and Amanda both experienced depressive episodes. Yet the removal also lit a fire in their hearts. Amanda and Patrick were willing to do anything to reunite with their kids. They put all their energy into contacting DCS about the next steps and acting on them as quickly as possible. Reunifying with their children wasn’t a want; it was a need far more important than anything else.

“We were miserable without them,” Amanda says.

Patrick and Amanda immediately got to work, signing up for a 12-step program and attending parenting classes. However, they still lacked assistance in other areas like finances and transportation. Then, they met a woman named Trudy who told them about 100 Families through our partner Restore Hope. The 100 Families program unites local services and resources to holistically help families thrive, addressing crises in all 13 social determinants of health. Trudy called Karen at Restore Hope, who invited them to meet right away.

“Trudy sent us over there,” Amanda recalls, “and I think we both broke down in Karen’s office.”

At first, it was difficult for the couple to open up. Feelings of embarrassment and fear lead to hesitation. But after meeting with Karen multiple times, they realized she truly wanted to help. Once they realized they were safe, they were all in and enrolled in 100 Families. Patrick and Amanda achieved sobriety, worked on creating a safe home for their kids, and officially tied the knot. They regained stability in their finances and transportation, and Karen walked with them the whole way.

“If we needed utility assistance or a crib for our daughter to come home, they were there,” Patrick says. “That’s why we love Restore Hope so much. It’s not just the essentials, it’s also the human side. It’s the whole picture.”

Reunification

Two months after beginning their journey to reunification, Amanda and Patrick were granted supervised home trials with their children. This is incredibly fast and a testament to their dedication to do right by their kids. They consistently passed their drug screens and met all obligations and requirements. In six months, their children returned home for good.

Patrick and Amanda credit the incredible support they found in Karen and Restore Hope. Karen had fostered in the past and had family members previously in the system. She understood foster care and the community resources available for the family.

“If we had to do this on our own out here in Arkansas, where we didn’t know anybody, I really don’t know that we would have had the same outcome,” Amanda says. “Our life is ten times better than it ever has been because of the people we have in our life now.”

Today, Patrick and Amanda work at Restore Hope advocating for other parents facing the same challenges. By being vulnerable and uniquely relating to their situation, their clients open up to them more easily.

“It’s really great to be able to work with families in the position that we were in and try to fill those shoes as great as they were filled for us,” Amanda says.

Patrick and Amanda are an incredible testament to hope and why addressing every social determinant of health is so important to families in need. Their story of recovery and reunification also shows the power of parental love. With a dedicated, holistic support network, families like theirs can experience a renewed and thriving life with their children. It’s also why we believe so strongly in the Well-Being Support Ecosystem, of which Restore Hope and many others are a part.

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