"Recovery should not be punished."
♡ Enter ♡
Sanctuary for Change
Foundation, Inc.
If you are a parent in recovery facing custody court, family court, or fighting for your children in New York — you do not have to do this alone.
"Recovery should not be punished."
You Found Us For a Reason
Your past addiction is being used against you in family court. You are doing the work. You deserve guidance, legal support, and someone in your corner.
You're attending meetings, completing treatment, staying sober - but the court process feels impossible and overwhelming. We help you understand what the system expects and how to show your progress.
You or someone you love needs help finding detox, inpatient, outpatient, IOP, sober living, AA, NA, or therapy. We connect you to the right resources.
Shame and stigma keep too many parents silent. Sanctuary is a trauma-informed space where you are not judged for your past - only supported in your recovery.
Our Mission
"Addiction should not define a parent forever. Children benefit when parents are given access to treatment, legal guidance, community, accountability, and hope."
Sanctuary for Change Foundation bridges the gap between recovery services and family court. We serve all parents - mothers, fathers, and caregivers - connecting them with treatment resources, pro bono legal referrals, sober housing, peer support, and trauma-informed guidance so no one has to walk through this process alone.
Legal Referrals
Recovery Support
Peer Community
Court Education
Stigma Advocacy
What We Do
Sanctuary provides coordinated support that no single organization in New York currently offers - combining recovery navigation with family court guidance under one roof.
We connect eligible parents with volunteer attorneys who can provide consultations, document review, court preparation, and representation in custody, visitation, and family court matters.
Plain-language guides explaining what New York family court expects from parents in recovery - including how to document sobriety, what judges look for, and how to prepare for hearings.
We help you find detox, inpatient, IOP, outpatient, sober living, AA/NA, therapists, recovery coaches, and court-approved treatment programs in New York.
Confidential, trauma-informed support spaces where parents can connect with others who have navigated the same road. No judgment. No shame. Just community.
We help parents understand what documentation supports a family court case - treatment records, meeting attendance, sponsor letters, employment, housing stability, and more.
We publish resources, host community events, and advocate for a family court process that recognizes recovery as evidence of strength - not weakness.
SANCTUARY
FOR CHANGE FOUNDATION, INC.
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Our Story
Sanctuary for Change Foundation was created to support mothers and parents who are fighting for recovery while navigating the family court system.
"For many mothers, addiction stigma does not end when sobriety begins. In family court, it can follow them into every filing, every hearing, every accusation, and every attempt to show that they are safe, capable, loving, and present."
We believe that parents who are doing the work - attending treatment, showing up for their children, rebuilding stable homes, complying with court expectations - deserve guidance, not abandonment. Legal support, not confusion. Community, not shame.
Reach Out to UsCommon Questions
These are the questions we hear most. If you are asking any of these, Sanctuary may be able to help.
New York family courts focus on the best interests of the child - which includes recognizing genuine recovery. The most important steps are completing a court-approved treatment program, maintaining consistent sobriety, attending all court dates, and documenting your progress. Sanctuary can help connect you with a pro bono attorney and provide guidance on what New York courts typically look for. Contact us to get started.
New York State has many publicly funded treatment options including OASAS-certified programs, Medicaid-covered IOP and outpatient services, and community-based recovery centers. The SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Sanctuary can also help you navigate treatment options that are recognized by family courts. Ask us for a referral.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings in New York City can be found at aa.org or by calling the NYC AA Intergroup at (212) 647-1680. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings can be found at na.org. Sanctuary can help you identify meetings that align with your court compliance requirements and help you get attendance documentation.
Courts look for consistent treatment compliance, sobriety maintenance, stable housing, employment or income, meaningful parenting involvement, and documentation of progress over time. They look at whether the parent has taken responsibility, what support systems are in place, and whether the child would be safe and benefit from time with the parent. Sanctuary provides educational materials to help parents understand and prepare for this process.
Yes. New York has several resources for low-income parents in family court, including the Legal Aid Society, New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), and volunteer attorney networks. Sanctuary is building a pro bono attorney referral network specifically for parents in recovery. Submit an intake form and we will try to connect you.
If ACS is involved in your case, it is critical to have legal representation. You have rights. You are also entitled to participate in your case plan and to have your recovery progress considered. Sanctuary can help connect you with legal guidance and recovery support simultaneously. Reach out to us today.
Support the Mission
Family court can be terrifying for a parent in recovery. Shame, stigma, fear, and lack of legal support can make the process feel impossible. Your donation changes that.
Sanctuary for Change Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Contributions may be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Federal tax-exempt status application pending.
Take the First Step
Reaching out is the hardest part. Fill out a brief intake form and a member of our team will follow up with resources, referrals, and support - at no cost to you.
Submit your intake form
We review your situation
We connect you to resources
You are no longer alone
Your information is confidential. Reaching out does not create a legal relationship. We are not a law firm.