MOTHERS WITH ADDICTIONS GET ADVOCATE

Pregnant Cowichan Valley women who use substances now have a group of
concerned health care providers and advocates championing programs to
give them help.

Community groups and health care workers have come together to form a
working group to educate people about services available to pregnant
substance-using women and to brainstorm new ways to deliver services.

"We need multi-disciplinary teams who can identify potential issues if
women show up in the (emergency room) in labour," Malaspina fourth
year nursing student Jayne Hardy said. "We need more resources in the
Cowichan Valley and a way to offer women a safe, non-judgmental place
for them to come and get help without the fear of losing their child.

"They are women who love their babies no less than woman who aren't
addicted to substances."

Hardy believes a high percentage of women who smoke, drink or take
drugs while pregnant are fearful that if they come forward and seek
help they may lose their babies.

"We do have to make sure the child is safe, but the earlier people
seek help the better."

Kathryn Coopsie, the Healthiest Babies Possible program nurse, is
heading the working group and wants to ensure no matter where women
go, they can find the fastest route to the best support.

"If they show up at the ER or the food banks, we want then to know
that every door is the right one," she said. "Having a child provides
a great window of opportunity for women to get help. Children are a
life-changing catalyst.

"We need a system that is more co-ordinated so we are all working
toward the same goals and are aware of services other agencies are
providing."

Healthiest Babies Possible sees almost all at-risk pregnant women in
the Duncan area because the program is known, Coopsie said.

"But there are bigger issues than the substance use.

"There are housing issues, poverty issues, hunger issues. Having a
baby while dealing with any one of these can be tough. We're here to
walk with those women."

Coopsie said it's possible there is currently enough services offered
in Cowichan to address substance use among pregnant women, but
everyone needs to come together and discuss the delivery.

"It isn't the best thing for these women's children to be
apprehended," she said. "We need to focus on harm reduction because
sometimes people just aren't capable of changing."

To learn more about the working group call Coopsie at 748-2242.