SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – As San Francisco’s new mayor Daniel Lurie works to declare a fentanyl state of emergency, a four-year-old city-run program is discovering success in serving to these hooked on the lethal drug.
This system particularly helps pregnant girls. KRON4 sat down with one lady at this time who, after greater than a 12 months of getting assist, is flourishing – with a job, a house and a wholesome child woman.
“The day she was born was like the first day I was sober. I’ve been clean since she was born,” stated Crystal Stevens.
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After dwelling on the streets for some time, Stevens says her case supervisor related her to town’s perinatal stabilization program. That’s when she began working with public well being nurse – Dana Lazarobitz – to get therapy.
“She helped me get stable on methadone at the hospital while I was pregnant so I could have a safe delivery. When Delilah was born she was in the NICU, and Dana helped me with that process and helped me with my CPS case so that she wasn’t removed from me at birth,” Stevens stated.
Stevens then went to a residential therapy facility together with her new child, and Lazarobitz supported her via all of it.
“Every week visiting her at her treatment facility, weighing Delilah, making sure she was meeting all of her milestones, supporting her when she graduated treatment,” Lazarobitz remembers.
Stevens moved to everlasting household housing and has been working at a restaurant, however she simply received a brand new job that may enable her to provide again.
“I just got accepted to work at the same treatment center that I was at with Delilah. I am really excited to help the women and let them know that only good things come from staying sober and staying with your baby,” she stated.
The perinatal stabilization program gives companies to pregnant girls affected by homelessness, dependancy, or psychological well being issues. The Division of Public Well being says this program was launched in 2020 after a rise of unhoused pregnant girls miscarried or gave beginning on the road.
“People are capable of change. People who want to stop using drugs can. With the right support, do. We also know that pregnancy and preparation for parenting can be a really motivating time for folks where they can make a change in their lives that they weren’t able to do,” Lazarobitz stated.
Because the fentanyl disaster continues to take lives, Stevens hopes applications like these stick round to assist households thrive.
“Not everyone that comes through is going to make it, but for the ones that do and are successful… It’s so worth it. And it’s so worth it for their children. It’s really important to keep programs like this open and funded,” Stevens stated.
The perinatal stabilization program is one in every of three applications within the metropolis with nurses that assist pregnant or postpartum moms. By the tip of 2024, it served 311 individuals, and 90 shoppers are at present enrolled.
