A New Model for Healing Families in Ohio
Across Ohio, communities are embracing a more compassionate and effective response to addiction. One shining example is Lucas County Children Services (LCCS), recently recognized nationally for its innovative approach to helping families overcome substance use while staying together.
This community-based initiative, highlighted by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), redefines what recovery can look like for parents battling addiction. Instead of punishment or automatic separation, the focus is now on healing, family unity, and recovery support.
At Serenity Street Foundation, we see the same power of compassion and structure every day. Recovery doesn’t just restore the individual — it restores the family. Lucas County’s success is living proof that when treatment replaces stigma, lives can be rebuilt one family at a time.
A Compassionate Approach to Family Recovery
Traditionally, addiction within families often meant immediate removal of children and little opportunity for parents to get the help they needed. Lucas County took a different path.
Through a collaborative network of child welfare professionals, addiction counselors, and court systems, parents are now encouraged to seek treatment without the fear of losing their children.
The focus?
- Treat addiction as a disease, not a disqualifier for parenthood.
- Keep families intact whenever safely possible.
- Offer real, community-based recovery options.
By addressing substance use disorders in the context of family preservation, LCCS helps parents begin recovery while maintaining relationships that motivate them to stay on track.
Breaking the Cycle: From Trauma to Transformation
Many families in Lucas County face generational patterns of addiction. These are deep, painful cycles — but they can be broken with early intervention and trauma-informed care.
LCCS works to identify risk factors early, offering recovery-focused support before crises occur. Parents entering the program are connected with peer mentors — individuals who have lived experience with addiction and recovery.
These mentors bring hope and empathy, bridging the gap between clinical treatment and real-world understanding. This peer support model has been shown to:
- Improve engagement with treatment
- Reduce relapse rates
- Foster long-term accountability
At Serenity Street Foundation, we share that same belief: people in recovery make the best messengers of hope. Many of our staff and volunteers have walked similar paths — proof that redemption and restoration are possible.
Treatment That Starts in the Community
One of the most innovative elements of Lucas County’s model is its emphasis on community-based treatment.
Rather than sending parents to far-away rehab centers or isolating them from their families, LCCS connects them to local care providers. Services often include:
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Counseling and behavioral therapy
- Wraparound support services such as housing, job training, and transportation
By bringing treatment to the community, the program reduces stigma and makes recovery accessible to more people — especially those who might otherwise fall through the cracks.
At Serenity Street Foundation in Columbus, we’ve witnessed how critical this accessibility is. A safe, structured environment close to home allows men in recovery to rebuild relationships and reconnect with their support systems while staying rooted in community.
Real Results and National Recognition
Since implementing its family-focused model, Lucas County has seen measurable progress:
- Fewer children removed due to parental substance use
- More family reunifications
- Higher rates of successful long-term recovery
These outcomes have drawn national attention. Lucas County’s program has been featured in policy roundtables, webinars, and national case studies as a model for other regions.
For organizations like Serenity Street Foundation, these results are more than statistics — they’re confirmation that compassion and structure can work hand-in-hand. When families are given support, accountability, and access to treatment, healing becomes contagious.
The Power of Peer Recovery and Cultural Competence
A standout aspect of the Lucas County model is its integration of certified peer recovery supporters — individuals who have walked the journey of addiction themselves and now guide others through it.
These peer supporters provide:
- Nonjudgmental encouragement
- Practical guidance
- A sense of belonging during a time of deep vulnerability
This peer-to-peer approach strengthens trust and engagement, especially in communities where traditional systems may have failed families in the past.
Additionally, the program emphasizes racial equity and cultural competence, ensuring that addiction treatment is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to diverse communities — a value Serenity Street Foundation also holds dear. True recovery must be equitable and empathetic, reaching every person where they are.
Prevention, Education, and Empowerment
LCCS’s prevention efforts begin before birth. By working with pregnant women and new parents struggling with addiction, the program helps prevent neonatal abstinence syndrome and promotes healthier starts for newborns.
Equipping parents early on with education, support, and access to resources dramatically reduces the need for foster care placement.
Meanwhile, staff receive ongoing training in:
- Trauma-informed care
- Addiction science
- Cultural humility
This creates a workforce that can respond to complex family needs with compassion rather than judgment — a principle that aligns with Serenity Street’s person-first philosophy.
Community Partnerships and Education
Lucas County’s success is also rooted in strong community partnerships. Local treatment centers provide recovery programs, parenting workshops, and vocational training — addressing both the physical and social aspects of recovery.
Public education campaigns have also helped reshape how addiction is viewed. By humanizing the stories of families in recovery, LCCS has reduced stigma and encouraged more people to reach out for help.
At Serenity Street, we believe this shift is essential. Addiction thrives in silence, but when the community understands, the door to healing opens wider for everyone.
A Statewide Ripple Effect
Lucas County’s achievement is now inspiring change across Ohio. The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services is exploring ways to replicate this model in other counties — especially those with high rates of addiction-related family separation.
This is systemic change in action — a movement from punishment to partnership. And at Serenity Street Foundation, we’re proud to be part of that same movement, providing men with the tools, accountability, and faith-based support to rebuild their lives and reconnect with their families.
Hope Restored: A Shared Mission
Lucas County’s model proves one powerful truth: addiction recovery and family unity can coexist. With compassion, collaboration, and the right support systems, families don’t have to break — they can heal together.
That’s exactly what we strive for every day at Serenity Street Foundation. Our mission is to offer men in recovery not just a place to live, but a place to start over — to find purpose, reconnect with loved ones, and thrive in sobriety.
Get Help or Get Involved
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. There is hope, and help is available.
Serenity Street Foundation
32 E. Woodrow Avenue, Columbus, OH 43207
(614) 738-0463
Your donations and involvement directly support sober living programs that help men rebuild their lives — one day, one step, one family at a time.
