DC North | August 2007 | Nonprofit Profile: The Rebecca Project for Human Rights

Nonprofit Profile

The Rebecca Project for Human Rights

by: Susan Ruether

A woman who struggles with substance abuse is likely to face down different obstacles than her male counterparts: women with substance abuse problems often have fewer resources than men, are more likely to be living with a partner with a substance abuse problem, and are more likely than men to have responsibility for the care of dependent children, according to a report released by the US Department of Health and Human Services in 2005.

Recognizing these interrelated challenges for addicted women who are often mothers, the DC-based Rebecca Project for Human Rights began its tenure as an advocacy organization in 2001. The national nonprofit works for reforms on interrelated policy issues in healthcare, child welfare and criminal justice policy that affect women and their families while also training parents in recovery to become community leaders.

Among the primary advocacy goals for the Rebecca Project is the expansion of comprehensive family treatment service. According to the Rebecca Project, most routine treatment programs for low-income women are inadequate in both length of stay and quality of treatment. “[W]e call the 30-60 day single adult treatment programs set-ups,” says Darla Bardine, associate policy director and family treatment coordinator, “because … it’s de-tox and drug education that doesn’t give these mothers any time to deal with why they started using in the first place,” Bardine says. Success rates are significantly higher for women who are able to attend a family treatment program (around 60 percent) which generally lasts from 12 to 18 months.

Part of the work of the Rebecca Project is to train parents in recovery to become advocates in the community and before government.

Lorna Hogan is just such a parent. Having completed family treatment and been recovered for five years, she testified as an expert witness before Congress in 2006 regarding The Second Chance Act on offender re-entry and the success of treatment programs.

“A family treatment program is where a mother can go with her children, and the family as a whole unit receives help together,” says Hogan. “In family treatment, I addressed the underlying reasons for my addiction. I identified the many ways that I self-medicated to my pain. I had a therapist to help me address the guilt and shame of being a mother who used drugs.”

Hogan, now the associate director of the Rebecca Project’s Sacred Authority Program, leads community workshops across the country focused on “healing, transformation and leadership at family-treatment centers, jails and in vulnerable communities nationwide.”

Lorna’s history of self-medicating to unacknowledged abuse is not uncommon.

“There’s a lot of incorrect dialogue going on,” says Darla Bardine. “The reality is that these women are survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and they are self-medicating to that pain, and that’s hardly ever found in the rhetoric when you’re talking about addicted mothers.”

“Over 96 percent of the women who are mothers and are substance abusing have domestic violence or sexual violence in their past,” comments Imani Walker, director of the Sacred Authority program and a mother who once received 18 months of comprehensive drug treatment at the Center for Mental Health in DC.

Though the focus of the Rebecca Project’s work is on women and families, the Rebecca Project also works with some fathers who enter family treatment, including some who join the parent advocate programs.

Among recent accomplishments, the Rebecca Project counts a 2006 Congressional appropriation of $145 million in mandated child welfare funding over a period of five years for family treatment services for substance abusing parents who come to the attention of child welfare services; training over 300 parents at workshops nationwide within the last year; and speaking at the NADCP (National Association of Drug Court Professionals) annual training conference this year.

The Rebecca Project for Human Rights is located at 2309 18th St. NW For more information, call 202-265-3906 or visit www.rebeccaproject.org.


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Nonprofit Profile
The Rebecca Project for Human Rights
by: Susan Ruether
A woman who struggles with substance abuse is likely to face down different obstacles than her male counterparts: women with substance abuse problems often have fewer resources than men, are more likely to be living with a partner with a substance abuse problem, and are more likely than men to have responsibility for the care of dependent children, according to a report released by the US Department of Health and Human Services in 2005. Recognizing these interrelated challenges for addicted women who are often mothers, the DC-based Rebecca Project for Human Rights began its tenure as an advocacy organization in 2001. The national nonprofit works for reforms on interrelated policy issues in healthcare, child welfare and criminal justice policy that affect women and their families while also training parents in recovery to become community leaders. Among the primary advocacy goals for the Rebecca Project is the expansion of comprehensive family treatment service. According to the Rebecca Project, most routine treatment programs for low-income women are inadequate in both length of stay and quality of treatment. “[W]e call the 30-60 day single adult treatment programs set-ups,” says Darla Bardine, associate policy director and family treatment coordinator, “because … it’s de-tox and drug education that doesn’t give these mothers any time to deal with why they started using in the first place,” Bardine says. Success rates are significantly higher for women who are able to attend a family treatment program (around 60 percent) which generally lasts from 12 to 18 months. Part of the work of the Rebecca Project is to train parents in recovery to become advocates in the community and before government. Lorna Hogan is just such a parent. Having completed family treatment and been recovered for five years, she testified as an expert witness before Congress in 2006 regarding The Second Chance Act on offender re-entry and the success of treatment programs. “A family treatment program is where a mother can go with her children, and the family as a whole unit receives help together,” says Hogan. “In family treatment, I addressed the underlying reasons for my addiction. I identified the many ways that I self-medicated to my pain. I had a therapist to help me address the guilt and shame of being a mother who used drugs.” Hogan, now the associate director of the Rebecca Project’s Sacred Authority Program, leads community workshops across the country focused on “healing, transformation and leadership at family-treatment centers, jails and in vulnerable communities nationwide.” Lorna’s history of self-medicating to unacknowledged abuse is not uncommon. “There’s a lot of incorrect dialogue going on,” says Darla Bardine. “The reality is that these women are survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and they are self-medicating to that pain, and that’s hardly ever found in the rhetoric when you’re talking about addicted mothers.” “Over 96 percent of the women who are mothers and are substance abusing have domestic violence or sexual violence in their past,” comments Imani Walker, director of the Sacred Authority program and a mother who once received 18 months of comprehensive drug treatment at the Center for Mental Health in DC. Though the focus of the Rebecca Project’s work is on women and families, the Rebecca Project also works with some fathers who enter family treatment, including some who join the parent advocate programs. Among recent accomplishments, the Rebecca Project counts a 2006 Congressional appropriation of $145 million in mandated child welfare funding over a period of five years for family treatment services for substance abusing parents who come to the attention of child welfare services; training over 300 parents at workshops nationwide within the last year; and speaking at the NADCP (National Association of Drug Court Professionals) annual training conference this year. The Rebecca Project for Human Rights is located at 2309 18th St. NW For more information, call 202-265-3906 or visit www.rebeccaproject.org.