Meet Jade – a former YWCA Helena Resident 

My family history is one of addiction and domestic violence. My parents chose relationships and alcohol before their kids. Looking back, I see just how dysfunctional every day was, but as a child, it all seemed very normal. I had children young and with every trial or triumph life threw at me I celebrated or self-medicated by drinking and using. I couldn’t hold a job, was in and out of jail, shoplifting, and sleeping with a bottle of booze under my pillow. In my mind, I was a good mother. I was functioning. I was present. Then things changed. I spent 2 months in jail and 30 days in an intensive in-patient treatment center. I had the opportunity to live at YWCA Helena and participate in the WINGS program. At first, I did not want to commit to the programs and people at the YWCA Helena. A week into my stay I began to see many of the women were living the life that I wanted. They were sober, living with their families, overcoming their past traumas, and happy. Seeing them made it feel possible for me. I am committed to all programming and loved what I learned during therapy sessions and parenting classes. The Caterpillars Parenting Center gave me the tools to reconnect with my son and offered guidance in navigating parenting challenges. I lived at the YWCA for one year and they helped me through every challenge I faced, big and small, giving me the tools to overcome and persevere. I am proud to say that I’ve been sober for 2 years, I have been living with my son in our apartment and have been working in our community serving others. 

The mission of YWCA Helena is to prevent homelessness, provide safe and supportive housing for women and children experiencing homelessness, and provide services that restore hope, self-sufficiency, and happy and healthy lives.  Jade’s journey is similar to many of the women we serve daily. 

YWCA Helena’s Programs:

WINGS – Women Initiating New Growth and Stability

YWCA Helena is licensed as both a Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program and a Mental Health Center. As such, the WINGS program is part of an integrated array of services designed to support women, parents, and whole family care.

We all know the adage “If nothing changes, nothing changes.” YWCA WINGS program works to support the positive change our residents are seeking for themselves and for their children if they are parenting. Single and parenting women with their children, begin their journey in our transitional housing where they can reside while they work towards recovery and stabilization. Our interdisciplinary treatment approach is focused on the unique treatment needs of women who have experienced significant trauma and who have co-occurring substance use and behavioral health disorders. The WINGS model incorporates a blend of individual mental health therapy and addiction counseling along with educational classes and group therapies focused on recovery from trauma and addiction. The program helps women master healthy self-care and life skills while they gain confidence and skills to live independently. We understand the parallel process of trauma in family systems and the need for the family and children to heal and change together. As parenting women stabilize and bring their children into their care, we include family and child therapies. When WINGS residents graduate into independent community living, they are welcome to continue their therapeutic services on an outpatient basis with YWCA Helena.

The WINGS Care Team is interdisciplinary and includes licensed therapists for both adults and children. Addiction counselors and Peer Support Specialists, along with the added support of our Child and Family Advocate through the Caterpillars Parenting Center round out the team. Meeting weekly to ensure that treatment services are coordinated and concurrent, the team supports our clients and children in their ability to consistently engage in their programming. Parenting women can work with the Child and Family Advocate to address parenting plans, enroll in any of the array of Caterpillars services, and utilize the liaison services with other entities such as CPS, Pureview, Helena Indian Alliance, and Early Headstart.

Caterpillars Parenting Center

YWCA’s Caterpillar Programs provide children with the very best care that strengthens their resiliency, celebrates milestones, addresses needs based on past trauma, and creates lasting family bonds.

Through the different facets of the Caterpillars Program, YWCA provides the tools needed for parents, caregivers, children, and family units to prepare for unique challenges that they face or that may come their way in the future. 

The Caterpillars Parenting Center focuses on giving tools to help moms and dads succeed in their role as parents. This portion of the program offers supervised parenting, safe exchanges, parenting classes, coaching, individual parent advocacy, and liaison services between clients and Child Protective Services.  While the Parenting Center supports moms and dads, Caterpillars Counseling works with the family unit. This ensures parents know how to support their children through their behaviors, troubles, and triumphs. We create a team between parents, providers, and staff to best serve each child’s needs. All YWCA Caterpillar services are provided to families participating in the WINGS program and members of our local community free of charge.

To learn more about YWCA Helena please visit www.ywcahelena.org or call 406.447.8774.