I’m Josie from Northern VA—a mom, lawyer, peer parent, mentor, coach and also CRAFT-trained. My husband Bill and I adopted siblings Jessie (21) and William (19) from foster care. William’s early trauma led to years of mental health and substance use struggles that took our family through crisis, treatment, justice system, and even months of homelessness. I joined OPLM in 2022 feeling isolated, and it became my lifeline. In March 2023, I became a Peer Parent to pay it forward. When William graduated high school—a year late but right on his timeline—I found the inspiration to share my journey on Instagram/TikTok @josiedristy and on a YouTube channel — From Chaos to Connection: Parenting Struggling Young Adults. Today, I walk with other parents—grounded in gratitude, compassion, and connection.
Josie D.
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