Family Guidance Center, Mosaic launches new program for mothers recovering from substance abuse disorders

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Family Guidance Center and Mosaic Life Care have launched a new program to help expecting or postpartum mothers recover from substance use disorders.

Strong Beginnings aims to assist mothers battling addiction with counseling, education, advocacy, transportation assistance and more.

Coordinator of the new, Ashley Grippando, has been there herself. She’s always had a passion to develop a program like this; however, it gained traction after searching to connect with an area mother in late 2024 who had overdosed.

After having the idea to work with mothers in recovery for some time, especially after bringing it to her workplace at Family Guidance, she’s thrilled the program has been developed and is taking off.

"I have been the mom who struggled with substance use, and I was fearful of going to the doctor, which kept me away from prenatal care. So a lot of it stemmed from that I've done a lot of, like, advocate work,” Grippando said. "One of the major barriers, or missing things, as far as treatment, is for pregnant moms to bridge the gap, help kind of in some of that fear, so that they do get the prenatal care and get them started on a fresh start to recovery."

Having Mosaic Life Care as a collaborator in this new endeavor is something dear to the hearts of Grippando and those who run Family Guidance.

Mosaic Outpatient Social Worker, Brittany Boggess, works in the Women’s Health Clinic and is set to assist Grippando in communicating with mothers in need. 

Boggess, like Grippando, has seen the work Strong Beginnings has already done and how mothers are already receiving the help they need to care for their child. 

“I always encourage my women who want to basically change their life and become that parent. I always let them know Don't let your past determine your future,” Boggess said. “I'm just there to give them that motivation, especially being the social worker, I'm always letting them know that I'm a phone call away, a shoulder to lean on, a shoulder to cry on.” 

Dealing with addiction can be a frightening issue, especially for a mother battling substance use disorders. However, both Grippando and Boggess run off of the saying, "fear is optional."

“The best day is today. In active addiction, sometimes days continue to run together, and we're six months in before we notice it, which is exactly what happened with me,” Grippando said. “You're still going to be pregnant. You're still going to deliver a baby, and so let's get you on the right track so that you can have a healthy delivery and a healthy family.”

“All they have to do is say, 'Hey, I'm pregnant, and I need a basically an appointment,' and from there, at that initial appointment, whatever they say, trust me, my nurses are going to get me that referral and let me do what I need to do,” Boggess said. “As far as my assessment, and take it from there to get this woman the help that she needs, like I said at my clinic, we want. We run like a well-oiled machine and are always in tandem when it comes to helping these women and providing them with the best care they need. “

For more information on Strong Beginnings and all other programs from Family Guidance Center, visit fgcnow.org.