Amanda, Arkansas

Building the Family I Didn’t Have

I am the sole parent of two daughters, and my goal is simple: to raise them in a healthy, loving, and safe home.

I didn’t grow up with that kind of stability, and it affected me for a long time. Before becoming a mother, I struggled with opioid addiction. During that period, I experienced two child welfare cases when my oldest daughter was just 16 months old, and my youngest was only one day old.

Recovery was hard, but I stayed committed. Today, I am reunited with my daughters, and our family is stronger for it.

When Support Makes the Difference

My two child welfare cases were handled very differently. One case closed, but I was left without the tools or confidence to ensure lasting stability.

During my second case, everything changed. I was connected to Safe Babies, an Infant-Toddler Court Teams program. Through Safe Babies, I received guidance, resources, and consistent support that helped me reunify with my daughters in a way that felt secure and sustainable.

When my youngest daughter, Henzlie, was born with an underdeveloped esophagus, that support mattered even more. With help from the Safe Babies team and access to Medicaid, I was able to get both my daughters the care they needed to grow healthy and strong.

I didn’t just want my children back. I wanted to be the parent they deserved.

Amanda

Why Believing in Babies Means Investing in Support

Today, I work as a legal assistant for a lawyer and guardian ad litem in family court. I also volunteer to support parents who are navigating addiction and child welfare involvement.

I see the difference every day. Families connected to Safe Babies show up more confident, more informed, and more hopeful. But only 4 of the 75 counties in Arkansas have access to this kind of support.

Believing in babies means making sure every family has access to programs that prioritize healing, reunification, and early support. It means investing in Infant-Toddler Court Teams so children aren’t defined by circumstances beyond their control.

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