Capital Health’s For My Baby and Me can help mothers get their life back on track.
Pregnancy can be difficult for women who are dealing with addiction. Fortunately, women who enroll in Capital Health’s For My Baby and Me receive medical care through all stages of pregnancy; medication-assisted addiction treatment; peer recovery, relapse prevention counseling and support; housing assistance; transportation; employment services; and child care for dependents.
One of the program’s participants, Deserae, recently discussed the program with NJ Advance Media.
Q: How did you learn about the For My Baby and Me program?
Deserae, participant, For My Baby and Me
A: I heard about For My Baby and Me from my sister Morgan and her social worker. I was trying to escape my situation with the man I was with. I wanted to get away from him and have a nice fresh start with my baby. He was not changing, and he still hasn’t changed.
Q: How has the program changed your outlook on your substance use/abuse?
A: I thank God that I came to this program. Everything about it helped me gain myself back. It helped me to see clearly and start working hard for me and mine. It helped me mature, and after some time, I realized I was unhappy. I don’t want to be around anyone that uses drugs anymore, and I don’t want any part of it. I feel really strong about it.
Q: What opportunities has the program afforded you as a mother?
A: Of course, For My Baby and Me helped change my future for the better. I see the light now and feel positive; I know everything will be OK. The counselor I worked with in For My Baby and Me was amazing. She helped me work through the confusion I went through. At first, it’s hard to put down the drug, and your brain still says you want it, but your heart tells you no, don’t do it … my future is bright. For My Baby and Me changed my life. I would have probably lost my baby to the system if it wasn’t for this program.
Q: How has For My Baby and Me influenced your day-to-day and your future life plans?
A: There are many benefits. It’s all what you make of it. Nothing can compare to not being depressed anymore and the benefit of waking up, being happy, motivated and healthy. Every day I wake up, I benefit from the chances the program gave me. It will let me go to school and learn a new career path that I wanted to do but never could. But thanks to My Baby and Me, they helped me, so I didn’t have to worry about anything else but school. I didn’t have to worry about bills where I lived; they provided for me so I could concentrate on school.
Q: What would you say are the overall benefits to a program like For My Baby and Me?
A: Women struggling with addiction … you can live a better life. It is possible to be happy and have a good life and future for you and your baby because no one else matters. You and your baby come first. I would highly recommend this program above any other program. You have a chance to make a difference.
Q: What message would you send to other young woman struggling with addiction?
A: You have a chance at a brand-new life. For My Baby and Me is a calm, safe place for you and your baby to be and for you both to grow. You can only go up from here. You must surrender and let the For My Baby and Me program work with you, guide you and be there for you while you work a few things out. I guarantee you’ll be happy and grateful you did; I am.
For information about Capital Health’s For My Baby and Me program, call 609-256-7801, or visit www.formybabyandme.org.
