Managing Substance Use and Seeking Healing? REACH for Help
The Women’s REACH Program, funded by CT DMHAS, offers vital support to individuals and families navigating substance use and related mental health challenges, with services prioritized for individuals who are the pregnant and parenting. As part of Liberation Programs’ continuum of care, REACH plays a critical role in prevention and treatment efforts for some of Connecticut’s most underserved communities. Liberation Programs has been proud to serve Region 1 with REACH program services, providing compassionate behavioral health services across Fairfield County since 1971. Region 1 serves the towns of Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbell, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.
“REACH services are incredibly inclusive,” says Jamiya Richardson, a REACH Recovery Navigator who helps people in recovery along in their journey. “Supporting someone through substance use and growing up without support myself made me passionate about helping families today.”
As a REACH Recovery Navigator, Jamiya supports moms, dads, grandparents, and LGBTQIA families affected by substance use. “That’s what makes Liberation so unique,” Jamiya explains. “We support anyone in a parenting role affected by substance use.”
If you’re pregnant or a parent and experiencing challenges related to substance use or co-occuring mental health needs, the world can feel like a very lonely place. Knowing you need support, wanting to care for your baby, or needing help accessing resources—but not knowing where to turn—can be incredibly isolating. You are not alone. REACH can help.
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Elizabeth’s Journey
When managing a substance use condition, recovery can seem out of reach. And yet, every day, REACH helps women and other members of families affected by substance use and co-occuring mental health challenges.
Elizabeth was in active addiction when she first came to Liberation Programs. She’d heard from a friend that Liberation was a judgement-free space that helped people like her.
“Because of my prior experience about clinics I was nervous about going,” recalls Elizabeth, who’d been using since she was 13. “I knew help was something that I needed but it wasn’t something I wanted, there was a lot of reluctancy and fear of the unknown.”
After a “positive experience” beginning her recovery in Liberation Programs Bridgeport Outpatient Services, Elizabeth connected with Jamiya at REACH.
“Elizabeth was nine months pregnant when I met her,” Jamiya remembers. “She had the nursery already set up for her baby, Phoenix, and just needed a car seat. That showed how determined she was to provide for her baby.”
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By Monica Vanover on September 17, 2025.
Jamiya helped Elizabeth secure a car seat for Phoenix plus access resources for new moms like diapers, a stroller and a crib. Once a week, Jamiya would text and check in with Elizabeth about her recovery journey and parenting needs, including pregnancy goals, birth and family planning, and how to get connected with the right pre-natal care through an OBGYN.
“It was a really cool resource to have to be able to feel like I could always call on her,” Elizabeth remembers. “Jamiya helped me hold myself accountable during my pregnancy.”
The experience was rewarding not only for Elizabeth and her baby, Phoenix, but for Jamiya as well.
“Being in the hospital after Phoenix was born and seeing Elizabeth bring her baby home safely—that moment captured the heart of why I do this work,” says Jamiya.
“REACH meant a second chance at life,” says Elizabeth, who’s now 19 months into recovery. “It means being able to appreciate everything that I once took for granted and live a really rich life. When it comes to family and emotions and memories, sobriety is a whole new chance at bettering myself. It’s a whole new way of life.”
Participation in REACH is completely voluntary. Anyone can refer themselves or a patient to REACH. Contact REACH REGION I at 203-479-2616 to get started today portal.ct.gov/DMHAS-REACH.
Liberation Programs: Making an Impact in Connecticut Since 1971
There’s no denying drug misuse has impacted our community. Each of us knows someone who’s lived with the realities of addiction. In fact, the person affected might be you. When the weight of substance use can feel crushing, Liberation Programs offers hope.
Through inpatient programs, outpatient and intensive outpatient services, education and prevention efforts, community outreach services, mobile outreach, and supportive housing, Liberation Programs provide services to over 1,200 individuals a week.
Since 1971, Liberation Programs has been serving adolescents, men, women, and families who suffer from substance misuse and mental health disorders from locations in Bridgeport, Greenwich, Norwalk, Stamford, and Westport.
If you or someone you know is managing substance use and seeking healing – there’s help. Call 855.LIB.PROG (855.542.7764)
REACH meant a second chance at life. It means being able to appreciate everything that I once took for granted and live a really rich life. When it comes to family and emotions and memories, sobriety is a whole new chance at bettering myself. It’s a whole new way of life.
Women’s REACH—Recovery, Engagement, Access, Coaching and Healing—provides outreach resources to women and individuals living with substance use and co-occuring mental health challenges, with services prioritized to pregnant and parenting individuals. Through engagement, short term case management, recovery coaching, connections to community and recovery support resources, REACH offers real hope when it seems like hope is so far away.
“Recovery isn’t linear,” Jamiya insists, “but showing up gives people a chance at their breakthrough moment.”
This completely voluntary program works because REACH Navigators like Jamiya use their experience, community connections, and specialized training as REACH navigators to support persons managing substance use and their families, whatever that might look like for each individual client. Available across the state, a REACH Recovery Navigator meets patients in their communities and works with them to create a recovery plan, offering the support they need to make successful connections.
If you’re pregnant or parenting and facing the realities of addiction, developing a family care plan is essential. A REACH Navigator like Jamiya can help with that, too. Whatever support you need, REACH is designed to help and is widely accessible.
“A big part of our job is finding and connecting with families who might not otherwise know these supports exist,” Jamiya says. “Most people who think they might not be eligible actually are. Sometimes it’s just about making that first call.”
