Nashua Family Faces Addiction, Finds Hope

Nashua resident Crystal Nordwall is a proud mother of three daughters, Adrienne, Avery and Arabella, she's a hard worker and spends each day putting one foot in front of the other in the fight against addiction.

Throughout her relatively short life, she has struggled with finding productive ways to handle difficult situations, which, by her own account, led her down to a pathway of addiction. Six years ago, Nordwall started struggling with alcohol, which eventually got her in trouble with the law. As a result of an altercation, she served a suspended sentence of nine months in county jail. She then moved to Helena for a fresh start for her and her then two daughters, where she self-reflected and knew she was going towards a downward spiral and needed help. She heard and learned about the Passages Women's Program in Billings, and spent 10 months waiting to get accepted. She then spent six months in the program, learning about healthier ways to deal with emotions and situations.

After being released from the program, she moved back home to Nashua and found work. With the assistance of Nordwall's probation officer, her and her daughters were referred to Youth Dynamics in Glasgow in order for the entire family to get help, learn new skills and ensure the cycle of addiction did not continue with the next generation.

Youth Dynamics is a private, nonprofit licensed mental health center serving Montana youth with emotional and behavioral problems and their families. They provide a wide range of progressive community-based services, allowing the staff to design client-centered, culturally-sensitive treatment programs according to the needs of each youth and family. The wide array of services provided are delivered in a dynamic manner and are continually modified according to the changing needs of the youth and family. Their belief is that every child deserves a family. There are many locations throughout the state, including Glasgow.

The Glasgow office specializes in a variety of services including service coordination and support, youth mentors (family support assistance), individual and family therapy, medication management, parenting education and support (family support team), supported independent living and substance abuse education and treatment. Anyone can refer a child to Youth Dynamics, including doctors, teachers, family member, neighbors, anyone and everyone that wants to help a youth they are seeing struggle.

Since being referred to Youth Dynamics, Care Manager and Youth Case Manager Rosalie Nelson and Area Manager and Care and Youth Care Manager Barb Connors have been helping Nordwall and her daughters reconnect by providing support and learning new ways to handle life stressors. "I know I can turn to them no matter what happens," says Nordwall. With the services available to Nordwall and her daughters, she has been able to learn practical tools and find different ways to handle a variety of situations instead of turning towards unhealthy habits.

The girls have also benefited one-on-one with Youth Dynamics by participating in the youth mentor program this past summer. Volunteer Katie Brandt spent a lot of time with them, having fun days at the park, the pool, and connecting with them. The girls really benefited from this program as it allowed them to have different experiences, and have another positive role model in their life.

With the support of Youth Dynamics, Nelson and Connors, Nordwall hopes to go back to school to gain skills in a computer-related field. She also wants a better life for her daughters, providing them with the necessary skills to be successful and do well in school.

Youth Dynamics is a community resource, located at 316 Railroad Aly N. in Glasgow. For more information, contact the Glasgow office at 228-2058.