LAKE COUNTY — New Beginnings, the sole provider of perinatal alcohol and other drug abuse treatment in Lake County, is struggling financially to meet the needs of the area. A fundraising effort called the “Million Dollar Baby Drive” is being launched in effort to raise awareness and much-needed funds as well as to celebrate the successes of the program.
New Beginnings” mission is to provide an atmosphere of unconditional positive regard with the belief that respect and encouragement can be the catalyst necessary for transformation. Its drug rehabilitation program provides a safe, nurturing and trusting environment for substance-affected individuals to help them begin their journey on the road to recovery.
“New Beginnings, formerly known as DAAC (Drug Abuse Alternative Center), has been in operation since 1994. We are Lake County”s sole provider licensed perinatal alcohol and drug facility. Our residential home has been open since 1994, too,” Janet Thomson, outreach provider said. “Due to county and state cutbacks, we are not able to obtain the funding needed to operate smoothly. We need the community”s help!”
Thomson said that extreme health problems, especially in the area of alcohol and other drug abuse and perinatal alcohol use, have been identified in the community. She said Maternal Child Adolescent Health”s most recent needs assessment rated perinatal substance treatment as the number one priority in Lake County.
“Lake County has chronically high rates of alcohol and other drug abuse, which have serious effects on health, economic security and the well-being of affected individuals, their children and the general public,” Thomson said. “New Beginnings strives to facilitate positive change in the lives of women, children and teens that come through our programs by providing the tools and education that will allow them to break free from ingrained, destructive behavior patterns and become self-sufficient and productive members of the community.”
Thomson said that statistics from the State of California”s CALDATA Study show that one drug-affected, premature infant in the neonatal care unit could cost more than $250,000 alone. Since its inception, Thomson said that New Beginnings” perinatal treatment program has been responsible for the delivery of more than 159 drug-free babies, who without program resources, may have otherwise been born affected by drugs.
“I was referred to New Beginnings through the Lake County Department of Social Services Cal-Works program. Prior to entering the rehabilitation program I was unemployed and active in my drug addiction. Cal-Works showed me the door to this wonderful program,” Rosalinda Maravilla said. “I have been clean and sober for three years. I am employed full time, have stable housing and am a productive member of our community. These things would not be possible if not for the New Beginnings program and its awesome staff.”
New Beginnings offers a variety of resources for achieving a healthy lifestyle such as support services, alcohol and drug addiction education and treatment, one-on-one sessions and group crisis intervention, family counseling, relapse prevention, treatment planning, parenting skills, domestic violence and anger management counseling, childcare and even transportation.
New Beginnings also operates a transitional housing facility. “As an intricate part of our program, we have the Transitional Housing Center (TLC) House. The TLC House is a supervised, clean and sober structured living environment where some clients of New Beginnings can live with their children while receiving treatment for alcohol and other drugs,” Thomson said.
“I had been homeless, unemployed and on drugs for almost four years. I had an earnest desire to stop using drugs but I kept falling back into the same vicious cycle. The TLC House gave me a safe, clean and supportive environment to live,” Melissa Swensen said. “I was unsuccessful in my many attempts to get off drugs. I wasn”t able to get on my feet until the loving and supportive staff at DAAC (now New Beginnings) took me in and showed me a new way to live.”
Thomson said that New Beginnings” vital services are in financial straights having seen 80 percent of funding severed in the past year. Donations of any kind will be greatly appreciated. “Five dollars, 10 dollars, anything that helps us get to our million dollar goal,” she said.
Thomson said assistance doesn”t have to be financial. Those wishing to donate infant, toddler and children”s items are welcome to do so. Those who would like to offer mentoring services are also welcome.
Donations payable to New Beginnings may be sent to PO Box 6470, Clearlake, CA 95422. For more information, Thomson can be reached at 995-3235, ext. 10.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11
