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Five years ago, we opened our doors with nothing but a dream, a handful of cribs, and a heart full of hope. We wanted to create a place where babies exposed to substances could be met with compassion instead of judgment—where families could find healing, understanding, and a chance to start again.
Today, that dream has become a movement. More than 1,100 babies have been embraced at Hushabye Nursery. Thousands of moms and dads have found support, dignity, and hope through our programs. We’ve seen lives restored, families reunited, and futures rewritten.
This milestone belongs to every one of you—our staff who show up with love and grit every day, our donors and partners who believe in this mission, and our community who continues to say, “Yes, this matters.”
Hushabye was built on faith, courage, and an unshakable belief that every baby deserves a healthy start. As we celebrate five years, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for how far we’ve come—and so excited for what’s ahead.
Together, we are world changers.
Tara
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On November 17, Hushabye Nursery celebrated five incredible years since we opened our doors to serve babies experiencing withdrawal and their families impacted by substance use disorder. In just five years, Hushabye has grown from a visionary idea into a nationally recognized model of compassionate, evidence-based care.
Our collective impact:
- 1,100+ babies have received specialized care in our nursery.
- Thousands of families have received wraparound services through our outpatient and virtual programs.
- The average hospital stay for substance-exposed newborns is 22 days; at Hushabye, it’s just 8 days.
- Saving the healthcare system an estimated $65,000 per baby—and changing lives in the process.
Behind every number is a family—healing, uniting, and finding hope again. None of this would be possible without our dedicated staff, community partners, and the donors who continue to believe in this mission.
Five years later, our purpose remains clear: to ensure that every baby has a chance at a healthy start and that no parent walks this journey alone. Here’s to the next five years of changing lives, one baby at a time.
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If you had the pleasure of attending Twinkle Twinkle Little Star last month, then you remember Jessica and her son Jeremiah.
Jessica made the courageous decision to begin her recovery just before giving birth to her son, Jeremiah. When he arrived, she felt an overwhelming determination to heal and become the best mother she could be. While in the nursery, Jessica developed a safety plan to take her son home and continue outpatient treatment.
Despite her progress, DCS determined that additional time in recovery would be needed before approving her plan, and Jeremiah was removed from her care. Instead of letting this setback derail her, Jessica remained focused on recovery. She worked tirelessly with her Hushabye care team, secured employment, and built a stable, nurturing environment for her son.
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After several months of dedication, Jessica achieved all of her goals and Jeremiah was returned to her custody. On November 1, Jessica celebrated 11 months in recovery by speaking at and attending Hushabye’s Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star fundraising event with baby Jeremiah—a joyful milestone that reflects how far they have both come. Jessica is an inspiring example of resilience, hope, and the power of compassionate support.
Be sure to check out the link below to hear her story from Jessica herself. We are so proud of her and all the hard work she's done.
Jessica, you are an inspiration!
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Did you know that Hushabye Nursery’s care model is being studied and replicated across the country?
Organizations, health systems, legislators, and academic partners regularly visit Phoenix to learn from our intentional design and wraparound approach. From prenatal support through the HOPPE program to trauma-informed inpatient care and long-term outpatient services, Hushabye is building a blueprint for how families impacted by substance use can be treated with dignity and compassion. We are redefining care—not just locally, but nationally.
Now you know.
| We are making a difference one family at a time, and the community is noticing. Whether you refer a friend in need or tell someone who hasn't heard about us, you're helping our cause. Spread the word at Hushabye Nursery! | | Congratulations to Dashia | |
Earlier this year, Dashia stepped into the Front Office Administrator role with the kind of confidence, warmth, and ownership that makes it feel like she’s been part of Hushabye forever. She takes on managing our nursery with dedication and pride—ensuring our building is safe, welcoming, and that our staff, volunteers, and families always have what they need.
Having recently moved from the Northwest, she’s fully embracing the Arizona lifestyle and culture all while bringing her own spark and humor to the team. Dashia supports our outpatient families with absolute genuine care, works seamlessly across departments, and never hesitates to help leadership or jump in wherever she’s needed. She’s funny, thoughtful, always willing to do the right thing, and consistently goes above and beyond to support our mission. It’s no surprise she was named Employee of the Month—her reliability, heart, and can-do attitude make her someone Hushabye is truly lucky to have!
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Hushabye Nursery is fortunate to have board members who lead with both heart and expertise, and Susan Cordts is one of those remarkable leaders. Susan has spent her life helping the underserved and overlooked individuals find stability, hope, and dignity.
When she first learned about Hushabye—and later met Tara—she immediately felt aligned with the depth of compassion behind the mission. “When I met Tara, there was no question in my mind about how deep the dedication is to this work.”
Susan loves supporting the growth of the Hushabye team through thoughtful guidance and is grateful to have watched the organization evolve from an idea into a thriving, sustainable program. “I am blessed to have had the opportunity to watch Hushabye go from a mere idea into a thriving, sustainable organization serving over 1,100 babies to date and many more to come.”
Outside of Hushabye, Susan is the Founder and CEO of
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Catalytic Health Partners, a company serving Arizona’s highest-needs individuals through an integrated, person-centered model that prioritizes social stability first. “Our work puts a face to the faceless and a name to the nameless, highlighting the successes that our members achieve each and every day.”
Many may be surprised to learn Susan is also a passionate advocate for individuals experiencing homelessness, supporting transitional and permanent housing solutions to create sustainable change. Her family describes her as generous, driven, and inspiring—a reflection of exactly how she shows up for Hushabye.
Susan leaves us with a powerful reminder: “The biggest impact one can make in another person’s life is free—making eye contact and smiling. We all wish to be recognized as human and belonging; be kind and give those along your path these two amazing free gifts.”
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Donating to Hushabye Nursery is so easy when you are filing your taxes. Your donation comes back to you as a dollar-for-dollar credit on your Arizona state taxes. And for our babies, your generous gift becomes safe care, warm holds, recovery support, and hope. If you file as an individual, you may claim up to $495. If you're married filing jointly, you may claim up to $987.
Talk to your tax advisor for more information. It's a win-win!
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