For a single mom in recovery, child care can be the difference between staying in treatment and falling behind — and a new Toledo partnership is built to close that gap.

Mom’s House of Toledo and Harbor announced today, Nov. 6, 2026, the launch of UPSTREAM, a pilot program pairing Harbor’s mental health and substance-use treatment and recovery support with Mom’s House child care, so mothers in treatment can keep working toward school, jobs, and parenting goals while their young children are cared for.

The pilot will offer five spots for moms and their children. Harbor helps women build a strong foundation for lasting recovery, while Mom’s House sets goals with moms around education, work, parenting, and personal growth — and connects them with the resources and support to reach those goals.

“Mom’s House helps transform that vision into a pathway forward,” said Christina Rodriguez, executive director of Mom’s House. “Through UPSTREAM, mothers in treatment can explore their educational, vocational, parenting and personal goals while connecting with the resources and support they need to make those goals attainable. It’s about creating greater possibilities for mothers and their children.”

A press conference was held today to launch the program, with speakers including Harbor CEO Dustin Watkins, Rodriguez, Mom’s House program director Julie Haas, and Nicole Shurelds, Harbor’s director of Women’s Residential Rehab. Local elected officials and community leaders also attended to show their support for the partnership and its potential to strengthen families across Northwest Ohio.

The partnership is built on data showing that child care is a significant barrier to sustained recovery for mothers. UPSTREAM reflects the two organizations’ shared commitment to reach families earlier, instead of waiting for challenges to grow further downstream. Harbor, a nonprofit mental health care agency, has served the community for more than 100 years and serves more than 30,000 youth, adults, seniors, and families each year.

For more information, visit momshousetoledo.org or harbor.org.

Source: EIN Presswire

Photo: Iryna Studenets via Unsplash. The featured image is a stock photo and does not depict UPSTREAM participants.