Moms seeking help for substance abuse learn to bond with their babies

DENVER - The California-based company Moby is reaching out to local moms who are getting help for substance abuse.

On Friday, representatives from Moby visited with woman at Denver's Haven House. The woman are moms or moms-to-be who came to the program to get clean. The residential treatment program allows babies to stay with their mothers during the entire treatment process.

"It's just an amazing treatment opportunity for our women, many of them came form harsh situations so this is their chance for them to live with their babies and really move forward," said The Haven Director Julie Krow.

Moby donated cloth wraps to the woman so they could carry their children conveniently and bond with them at the same time.

"To have both hands free is a huge gift, especially if you have other kids running around," said Carrie Hill, public relations specialist for Moby.

Amber Brandenburg has called The Haven House home since November. She's been clean from methamphetamine for two years, but sought treatment to make a better life for herself and her youngest daughter Ryane, who is 3 weeks old.

"It's nice to have a lot of support around here because I never had that," said Brandenburg.

Brandenburg lost her mother to drugs two years ago and said she doesn't want her children to be without their mother.

"With my first daughter and with my addiction it made it really hard. I told her I'd be there in an hour and I wouldn't show up for days, and it really crushed her," said Brandenburg.

The mothers at Haven House get help with substance abuse, mental health, and with furthering their education during the program. The program which was founded in 1992 was the first of its kind to accept infants while mothers received treatment. Krow said having the children around motivates the moms to complete the program and remain successful afterward. The Haven serves around 120 clients each year, and 96 percent of them are drug and alcohol free one year after treatment.

To find out more about The Haven and to learn how to help with the latest campaign to build a new day care you can visit www.havenfriends.org.