LAKE COUNTY ? New Beginnings, the sole, state-licensed intensive perinatal alcohol and other drug abuse treatment facility in Lake County, is currently engaged in a celebration of life. It”s “Million Dollar Baby Drive” fundraising campaign, which launched earlier this month, is being met with the support the community and representatives are excited and grateful for the response thus far.
As part of the campaign and to demonstrate the need for the organization, administrators would like to introduce to the community clients who have achieved success through the program like Deidra Lopez and her infant Joanna.
The New Beginnings Perinatal Day Treatment program is a daycare rehabilitative alcohol and drug treatment clinic operating under the supervision of Lake County Community Action Agency (LCCAA) Executive Director Georgina Lehne, who was voted Stars of Lake County Woman of the Year in 2009. “I think that by linking health and social services expertise with substance abuse services, a cohesive and comprehensive system is created,” she said. “The New Beginnings program and the Transitional Living Center (TLC) are among the many programs currently making this happen. Like our mission statement says, we are removing barriers to personal success by providing our clients with direct services, training and ongoing support.”
Lopez and her daughter are currently residing at the TLC House, which is providing them with clean and sober housing, which outreach provider Janet Thomson said is preventing them from having to continue living with family or friends who may still be using drugs or alcohol. “Not having to worry about providing a safe and sober environment for themselves and their children allows the women in our program to give their full attention to their treatment and recovery,” she said.
Lopez said she grew up in Lakeport on the Big Valley reservation. She said her introduction to drugs at the age of 12-years-old has made her life seem unmanageable. Bringing a child into this world, she said has made her realize that her daughter deserves to have the best mom she can be.
“I”m very thankful to be here. I”m learning structure and experiencing stability living at TLC like I”ve never experienced before,” Lopez said. “Thanks to help of New Beginnings I am learning routine, responsibility and most of all, how to be a great mom. My future is in my hands and I dream of going to college and earning a business degree. I would like to become a chairman on the board of the Big Valley Tribe commission where I can be a part in giving them what they deserve and share what I have learned.”
Thomson said that funding for Lake County Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AODS), which is New Beginnings” major funding source, has been drastically cut for Fiscal Year 2009-10. New Beginnings Director Jennifer Rodgers said that the program will not be able to continue to provide much-needed services to the Lake County community if it cannot secure funding from other sources.
“Since we are the only agency in the county that provides perinatal services and a supervised Transitional Living Center, loss of this organization would be incredibly detrimental to the demographic that we predominately serve and would result in women continuing to abuse drugs and alcohol during their pregnancy, failing to obtain proper prenatal care for their unborn babies and we would see a huge increase in tox-positive infants born,” Rodgers said. “It is a well-proven and documented fact that addiction treatment is just as effective as treatment for other chronic medical conditions. We know that over 80 percent of our clients successfully stop or reduce their alcohol or other drug use, have no new criminal justice involvement and report a stable living situation six months after finishing their treatment.”
New Beginnings is committed to creating a healthier community and is very proud of its record 159 babies born clean and sober to women participating in the program. New Beginnings contracts with many organizations such as the Lake County First Five Commission. The agency also works closely with Redbud Healthcare District.
“How to help? You could be a mother or even a sister, a cousin, an aunt, an uncle or grandmother. You could be a close friend or a co-worker. If you”re close to a pregnant woman who drinks alcohol or is using drugs, you can help in ways you might not realize,” Thomson said. “If you know someone who is pregnant, don”t be afraid to talk and listen to her. It”s sometimes hard to start the conversation, but you can always help her connect with a counselor.”
For more information regarding New Beginnings and/or the Million Dollar Baby Drive, contact Janet Thomson at 995-3235 or e-mail her at janet@nblakeco.org. The New Beginnings crisis hotline can be reached at 995-1938. Additionally, the agency”s Web site can be accessed at www.newbeginningslake.com.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
