Brianna, Indiana

Choosing a New Path

My partner and I are building a family that looks different from the one I grew up in.

Earlier in my life, I struggled with addiction. My first son was taken from me, and I didn’t get the support I needed to heal from trauma or to recover in a way that could bring him home. That loss will always be part of my story.

When I became pregnant with my son Jayce, I made a different choice. I committed to recovery, and I followed through. I worked hard to get healthy and prepare for my baby.

When Help Came Too Late

Jayce was born with a condition called stridor that went undiagnosed at first. When we went to the pediatrician, concerns were raised, and even though my tests came back clear, Jayce was removed from our care. I was devastated, but I didn’t give up.

When Jayce was two months old, he came home. He is funny, smart, and strong, just like the future I want for him.

I did everything the court asked. I studied, learned, and fought for my baby.

Brianna

Why Believing in Babies Means Investing in Support

I am incredibly proud that I won Jayce back, but I did it alone. An Infant-Toddler Court Team would have made a huge difference for us.

These teams understand babies. They look at what infants need developmentally and emotionally, not just what adults assume from paperwork. If I’d had an Infant-Toddler Court Team, someone would have known me earlier, understood Jayce’s medical needs, and helped connect us to services right away.

Addiction is a health issue, not a moral failure. Recovery is possible when families are supported instead of written off.

Believing in babies means investing in systems that keep families together when it’s safe to do so. It means fully funding Infant-Toddler Court Teams and protecting programs like Medicaid and Early Head Start that help babies grow, heal, and thrive.

Babies are impacted even when they are very young, and they need systems that understand that.

Brianna

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