Via CNN, comes the story of one residential treatment facility trying to provide services to pregnant and parenting mothers who struggle with substance abuse.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA’s health information network, compared to other racial groups, Latinos come in second for highest incidence of binge drinking and heavy alcohol use. Additionally, about 1 in 10 Latino youth has recently used illegal drugs. The effects of drug and alcohol abuse on our lives and health is massive. When pregnancy and parenting is also considered, the services needed to serve our community are even more difficult to find.
Serenity Place of South Carolina is one women’s treatment facility that tries to serve this community.
Serenity Place is a fairly new, 16 bed residential facility treatment program where women can bring up to two children with them and pregnant women battling substance abuse are also encouraged to enroll in services. While in the residential center, women learn a variety of new skills for parenting, in addition to techniques for coping with substance abuse. While the program says it can’t guarantee the success of every women who passes through its program, this type of holistic support is necessary to provide support to these women and their families. The program website states that private insurance and Medicaid are accepted and no one is denied services due to the inability to pay.
I think it is about time programs like this become accessible to ALL women regardless of situation, to ensure brighter futures for both them and their children. To read or hear more stories about the women currently in the program or those who have graduated, please read the article or watch the video here.
By Jennifer Leigh Velez, Policy Intern
Leave a Reply