Special Populations and Alcohol Abuse

The Special Population group that I would like to work with is children. To me, children are the most amazing things in the whole world. They have so much to learn and so much to offer. They have a sense of innocence and unconditional love that we seem to lose somewhere in our journey to adulthood. They embody all that is pure and good. They are our future and to be able to help these wonderful little people would be most fulfilling for me.

In order to do that, I think it would be great to start at the source, the expectant mother. I think the inadequate education, treatment and health care are the major issues surrounding these women and their children. A mother who becomes healthy and sober would be in their right mind to raise a healthy and happy child. It breaks my heart to think of the women and children out there who have the potential to be something but are unable to become so due to their unfortunate circumstances.

With the rapid growth of dependence in the U.S. why isn't the government more interested in helping these women and their children to offset the dependency problems of the future?? Why can't they offer more programs like Project SAFE? I love this program. To be able to help women overcome their issues whether it be dependence, domestic violence, etc. and keep them with their children is an amazing feat.

I know a few women with such problems that require the call to DCFS but I also know if these women had the appropriate help and support they could get better. No child belongs in the hands of the state instead of with their families. Sometimes I hear people say, "they should just give that child away, they'd be better off" but I don't think that's true under all circumstances. I know what it's like to have a mother with a dependency problem. Although my mother was lucky enough to have the support of her family, it doesn't hurt any less that she has yet to get help. I also don't think that my brother or I would have been better off in any sort of foster care program. We are who we are partly because of our mother and what we chose to do with the lessons learned was up to us. My brother and I were lucky enough to have the support of family too but also the education to decide how to process the idea of alcohol/drug dependence.

That is where these children will be lacking. As they grow up, without the proper education and support from family, friends, clinicians, social workers, teachers, etc. they will not be as fortunate as other kids such as my brother and myself. If we can start working with them when they are young, they will be able to develop life skills to carry them through to adulthood. Offering children a sense of support and love, family and community can help them with self-esteem issues and other obstacles that come their way. As they get older, education on alcohol and drugs along with the group activities and even counseling could be big factors in developing healthy children to lead our future.

I would like to be able to put my skills to use in educating these mothers also. I feel if you start at the source you are able to accomplish more. Women need to