Francis' Story

Francis is a 42-year-old recovering cocaine addict with five children. She credits the Pathway Program with restoring her self-esteem and teaching her to be a responsible, functioning parent. After numerous failed attempts at rehab and unsuccessful court battles to get her children back from foster care, Francis all but gave up in her battle with drug abuse. The drug toxic birth of her youngest son, who was immediately taken from her custody, finally brought her to the Pathway Program. She was placed in parenting and spirituality classes in addition to her drug treatment program. Because her addiction problem was treated in connection with her low self-esteem, Francis finally gained the tools to overcome her drug use issues. She slowly integrated back into the lives of her children and recently had her three youngest, ages 1, 3 and 5, returned to her care. Francis has also re-established relationships with her older children: a 24-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son who live together in the Bronx. She is working to become a substance abuse counselor, and has been drug free for nearly two years. Because New York Foundling confronted all of Francis' problems, she finally learned to control her addiction problems and find alternative ways to deal with the stresses of raising a family.

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