Hear from Alise Morrissey about the impacts of individuals—a volunteer, a judge, an attorney, and a program leader—who offered glimmers of hope by seeing her for who she was instead of her circumstances. Alise tells her story of going from straight-A student to giving birth amidst a prison sentence. She reveals how her faith, the people who showed her kindness, and the determination of being there for her child led to recovery from substance use disorder and reunification with her daughter.
Show Notes
00:00:55 | Meet Alise Morrissey and hear her story from formative years to young adulthood where Alise recalls how her mom was her biggest cheerleader.
00:02:55 | Alise shares how she started to feel angry and rebel in her preteen years.
00:09:00 | What supports are offered to young Alise when she finds out she is expecting while incarcerated in the short term?
00:12:30 | What happens when pregnant women with substance use disorder aren’t met with empathy and understanding over judgement?
00:15:30 | Hear from Alise on how one inspiring person had a profound impact on her spirituality and life.
00:21:02 | As an indigent inmate and while her daughter is a few months old, Alise describes writing 60-70 kites or messages requesting to learn more about her case and find out what’s happening with her child.
00:23:40 | Alise describes being met where she was, as one attorney fought on her behalf and on behalf of her baby.
00:24:30 | Alise describes meeting a CASA advocate that “saw beyond the yuck,” and decided that in order to support Alise’s child she had to get to know the birth parent.
00:26:40 | Alise describes the effects of having two voices follow her through treatment.
00:30:55 | What happens when a birth parent gets to connect with the foster family?
00:33:40 | Hear from Alise on why professionals should embrace the messiness of co-parenting.
00:35:34 | What is the “Parent to Parent” program?
00:41:40 | Advice from Alise on how to communicate with skeptics about families affected by the child welfare system.
00:44:00 | Final thoughts from Matt.
Resources
Supporting Young Parents: State and local examples | Child Welfare Information Gateway
King County’s Parents for Parents program
Nacy Roberts-Brown, Former Director of Catalyst for Kids, Washington
Transforming Hearts and Minds Through Valuing Parent Voice | Children's Bureau Express
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