The program provides mothers a safe, supportive environment where they can focus on recovery while keeping their young children close.

The Pregnant and Parenting Women program, launched Monday, Sept. 1, offers a family-centered residential setting where children up to age 5 can live with their mothers while they receive comprehensive substance use disorder treatment and recovery support. The program includes a 32-day inpatient component, giving women a structured space to focus fully on recovery and build skills for long-term stability.

Chet Hower serves as executive director of Providence House Minot, Morgan Layne is the director of operations, and Jonathan Layne is the founder.

During the open house, Jonathan Layne encouraged the community to support recovery and reduce stigma surrounding addiction. “There’s no shame in addiction. The only shame should be staying out there. There’s a safe place, there’s help, and the more we can do this type of work, the more we can educate people about this disease,” he said.

Wendy Harper/MDN This is one of the new playrooms for the children who will be staying with their mothers at Providence House Minot.

Guest speaker Sienna Hayes shared her personal journey through addiction, homelessness and recovery. Hayes described periods of fear, isolation and instability as she struggled with substance use while raising her children.

“I was scared, alone and homeless,” Hayes said. “I wasn’t thinking about anything but getting high. Providence House helped me get my life back and be the mother I wanted to be.”

Hayes said the 32-day inpatient program provided more than just a place to stop using substances. It offered structure, guidance and support as she learned to manage daily routines, cope with challenges and care for her children. She described the program as a turning point that helped her regain control of her life.

“The program gave me a safe place to learn how to take care of myself and my children,” Hayes said. “Recovery is hard work, but every day you keep going, things get better. I can now provide a stable home for my kids and a better future for our family.”

The program emphasizes the importance of keeping children with their mothers during treatment.

Sarah Lavelle, North Dakota Health and Human Services Behavioral Health administrator, said the program aligns with the agency’s priorities to strengthen families and communities by expanding access to high-quality services. “Residential treatment that keeps mothers and young children together can be a turning point for a family,” she said. “By combining recovery services with parenting support, we give families the best chance for long-term stability and well-being.”

The open house at 423 Main St. S. included tours of the facility and provided the community with information about the services available to pregnant and parenting women across North Dakota.

Providence House Minot’s program is part of a broader effort to address the needs of women with substance use disorders in N.D. By providing residential treatment that allows mothers to stay with their children, the program helps break the cycle of addiction and foster healthier families, according to HHS information.

For Hayes, the program was not just treatment — it was a lifeline. “Recovery is hard, but it’s worth it,” she said. “Every day you keep going, things get better. I finally feel like I can provide a safe, stable home for my kids and build a better future for our family.”

The program is available to eligible pregnant and parenting women statewide.