In this episode of One Day at a Time, host Laurie Dhue speaks with Frank Long, Director of Development at the Lovelady Center in Birmingham, Alabama. The conversation highlights the Lovelady Center’s transformative impact on women and children facing challenges such as addiction, incarceration, homelessness, and domestic violence.

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Frank explains that the Lovelady Center is the largest long-term, Christ-centered recovery facility for women and children in the U.S., currently serving 493 women and 126 children. Women stay for 9-18 months, engaging in comprehensive programs designed to address their unique needs, including life skills training, education, counseling, and spiritual growth. Programs range from GED preparation and auto mechanics to parenting classes and financial literacy.

Frank shares the center’s approach to rehabilitation, emphasizing long-term care and spiritual support. He recounts stories of women who initially resist the program but later embrace its sense of hope and purpose. For example, a former inmate transformed her life at the center, becoming a dental hygienist, and is now pursuing dental school.

The center’s innovative services include a supervised reentry program for women nearing the end of their prison sentences and aftercare programs that support graduates with housing, childcare, and financial assistance. The Lovelady Center also provides dental care to restore confidence and improve employability for women recovering from neglect and poverty.

Frank discusses his personal journey of recovery, sharing how his faith and past struggles have fueled his passion for the center’s mission. He describes witnessing the center’s profound impact, from women rediscovering their faith to breaking cycles of addiction and trauma. He reflects on moments of transformation, such as women arriving in despair and leaving with hope, confidence, and purpose.