When Elizabeth first entered the child welfare system in Washington state, she was in a dark place. “I have to be honest. I was pretty messed up,” she said. She was using fentanyl and felt like the entire system was stacked against her. “They said that I’d been in this position before and told me I couldn’t do it.”
But with the help of the Early Childhood Court (ECC), which uses the Safe Babies approach, she did do it. And more.
With the support of ECC, I proved them wrong.
Elizabeth credits her transformation to the relationship she built with her Safe Babies Court coordinator, Mindy. She wasn’t just a caseworker. She was an advocate, a guide, and sometimes, the only person in the courtroom who truly understood what Elizabeth was up against.
“I didn’t understand the court systems. I was trying to do the right thing, but it was hard. Mindy always had my back,” Elizabeth said.
That support extended beyond emotional encouragement. Mindy connected her to therapy with her baby to help strengthen their bond. She helped Elizabeth with essentials like a highchair and other caregiving supplies, so she could begin to rebuild her life.
Mindy’s support made it possible for me to be where I am today.
From Reunification to Advocacy
Elizabeth now works as a housing specialist, helping people experiencing homelessness. Many of the people she works with are parents themselves, still navigating the same systems she once faced. And at home, she’s a proud mother of five. Her youngest child’s former foster mother is now her best friend.
Safe Babies Court gives parents a real shot. Not just at getting their kids back, but at breaking cycles.”
Elizabeth shared her story in support of House Bill SSB 5149 to show what’s possible when parents get the right support early on. Programs like Safe Babies Court don’t just change outcomes; they change lives. More families deserve that chance.
Like Elizabeth, parents who’ve experienced substance use often report feeling judged by healthcare and child welfare systems. Our recent listening sessions with families like these across Washington state, show they deeply value peer support embedded early in services. Elizabeth’s journey echoes these findings: early, empathic intervention paired with peer-like advocacy can shift not just outcomes, but lives.
