'I want to help': Melania Trump vows to provide more support to addicts amid 'opioid epidemic' as she sits down with families at infant drug recovery center during solo trip to West Virginia

  • Melania, 47, toured Lily's Place, an infant recovery center that also provides services to parents and families dealing with addiction, today 
  • The First Lady met with a mother who is a recovering addict, whose son once received treatment at the center
  • Pledged to 'give a voice to Lily's Place and also for the opioid epidemic', while saying it is important to educate children and mothers about drugs 
  • She donned a green dress with short sleeves and a matching belt at the waist, which she paired with her signature five-inch stilettos
  • On Monday, Melania's spokeswoman responded to Ivana Trump's comments that she is the First Lady by calling them 'attention-seeking and self-serving' 

Melania Trump sat down with families at a rehab drug center for infants on West Virginia today, pledging to support addicted parents amid the country's opioid crisis.

The First Lady, 47, toured the nonprofit Lily's Place, the first of its kind in the nation, in Huntington, and met with a mother who is also a recovering addict, whose son once received treatment at the facility.

During the meeting, Melania sat with Donald Trump's counselor Kellyanne Conway and spoke out about the current opioid epidemic, saying it is urgent to educate children and 'young mothers' about drugs. 

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Support: Melania Trump visited a rehab drug center for infants on West Virginia today. She is pictured next to Kellyanne Conway and the facility's executive director Rebecca Crowder

Support: Melania Trump visited a rehab drug center for infants on West Virginia today. She is pictured next to Kellyanne Conway and the facility's executive director Rebecca Crowder

Stepping out: Earlier, the First Lady went to board a plane at Joint Base Andrews in Prince George's County, Maryland, donning a bright green dress

Stepping out: Earlier, the First Lady went to board a plane at Joint Base Andrews in Prince George's County, Maryland, donning a bright green dress

Official: The former model (pictured during the visit today) toured the nonprofit Lily's Place, the first of its kind in the nation, in Huntington

Official: The former model (pictured during the visit today) toured the nonprofit Lily's Place, the first of its kind in the nation, in Huntington

Lily's Place works with babies born with addiction symptoms, who are enduring the torment of drug withdrawal. It also provides services to parents and families dealing with addiction.

The facility's executive cirector, Rebecca Crowder, was part of a group of experts and people affected by drug addiction who were to the White House last month.

'I want to hear what I can do to help,' the First Lady told Crowder during her visit on Tuesday.

During the meeting with Kellyanne and the center's executive director, she added according to ABC News: 'I want to be here to support you and give a voice to Lily's Place and also for the opioid epidemic.

'We need to open the conversation to children and young mothers how it's dangerous to use drugs and get addicted to it.'

West Virginia has the nation's highest rate of babies born addicted to drugs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Message: During the meeting, Melania spoke out about the current opioid epidemic, saying it is urgent to educate children and 'young mothers' about drugs

Message: During the meeting, Melania spoke out about the current opioid epidemic, saying it is urgent to educate children and 'young mothers' about drugs

Evolution: Melania has made several solo appearances in the past weeks, expanding her role as the current First Lady

Evolution: Melania has made several solo appearances in the past weeks, expanding her role as the current First Lady

At ease: The First Lady smiled as she took part in the meeting along with Kellyanne

At ease: The First Lady smiled as she took part in the meeting along with Kellyanne

Speaking out: 'We need to open the conversation to children and young mothers how it's dangerous to use drugs and get addicted to it,' Melania said

Speaking out: 'We need to open the conversation to children and young mothers how it's dangerous to use drugs and get addicted to it,' Melania said

Rachael Kinder, a recovering addict, attended Tuesday's meeting with her young son, who was once treated at Lily's Place, and described how the facility has helped her. 

'It's done a lot for me,' she said, adding that she has received the support of a social worker whom she can call whenever she needs support.

Melania also met in private with two families who are currently receiving treatment at Lily's Place. 

'It is my hope that we can find ways to create more of the opportunities afforded by places like Lily's Place, so that we can continue to help infants and children grow into happy, healthy adults,' she said. 

The former model was photographed earlier in the day on her way to board a plane at Joint Base Andrews in Prince George's County, Maryland, this morning, donning a bright green dress and her signature five-inch stilettos, this time in a multicolored version. 

Accessories: The First Lady, 47, paired her green dress with her signature five-inch stilettos, this time in a multicolored version

Accessories: The First Lady, 47, paired her green dress with her signature five-inch stilettos, this time in a multicolored version

Look: Melania stepped out of her Secret Service SUV wearing the knee-length, short-sleeved green number, cinched at the waist with a belt

Look: Melania stepped out of her Secret Service SUV wearing the knee-length, short-sleeved green number, cinched at the waist with a belt

Look: She paired the green dress with a pair of sunglasses and her usual blowout, keeping her outfit simple in the warm fall weather

Look: She paired the green dress with a pair of sunglasses and her usual blowout, keeping her outfit simple in the warm fall weather

Melania stepped out of her Secret Service SUV wearing the knee-length, short-sleeved green number, cinched at the waist with a belt.

She paired it with a pair of sunglasses and her usual blowout, keeping her outfit simple in the warm fall weather.

The solo trip came the day after Melania responded via her spokeswoman to comments made by President Trump's ex-wife Ivana, claiming she was the First Lady.

Ivana, 68, said during an ABC interview promoting her book Raising trump: 'I have the direct number to White House but I don't really want to call him there because Melania is there. I don't really want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because I'm basically first Trump wife, OK? I'm first lady, OK?' 

Melania however didn't appear impressed by the comments. Her spokeswoman said on Monday: 'Mrs. Trump has made the White House a home for Barron and the President.

'She loves living in Washington, DC and is honored by her role as First Lady of the United States. She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books.

'There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex, this is unfortunately only attention-seeking and self-serving noise.'

Ivana, a Czech-born former model and businesswoman, married Trump in 1979. The couple were a fixture on the New York celebrity circuit before divorcing in a blaze of scandal in 1992.

Remarks: Ivana, 68, said during an ABC interview : 'I don't really want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because I'm basically first Trump wife, OK? I'm first lady, OK?'

Remarks: Ivana, 68, said during an ABC interview : 'I don't really want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because I'm basically first Trump wife, OK? I'm first lady, OK?'

Reply: Melania pictured above with the President and their son Barron back in June) responded to Ivana's comments via her spokeswoman, calling them 'self-serving'

Reply: Melania pictured above with the President and their son Barron back in June) responded to Ivana's comments via her spokeswoman, calling them 'self-serving'

History: Ivana (pictured with Trump in 1984) previously said she was able to start a friendship with her ex after their divorce was settled

History: Ivana (pictured with Trump in 1984) previously said she was able to start a friendship with her ex after their divorce was settled

Trump went on to marry Maples, with whom he had been having an affair, but they divorced six years later. Melania is Trump's third wife.

The president has three children with Ivana: Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric. He had another daughter, Tiffany, with Marla. His 11-year-old son with Melania, Barron, currently lives with his parents at the White House.

Melania, who has made several solo public appearances in the past weeks, conducted her first solo trip abroad as First Lady last month when she traveled to Toronto, Canada, for the Invictus Games. 

On that occasion, she met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Britain's Prince Harry.