Goodbye Aurora from group C

Goodbye Aurora from group C

It is both with sadness & with joy

that we now say goodbye

to this place & these people

who could only try.

To show us a path we can follow

Albeit a trying task.

They’ve given us useable tools & help

All we need to do.

The road ahead unknown to us

And fear we shall control.

It’s time to take back our lives & all

the things that from us were stole. 

With your blessing and prayers

We go back into the world;

Taking with us light you give

To man, woman, boy and girl.

To conclude with love in our hearts

For every one  of you

Thank you to the Aurora folk

We love and we will miss you too.

A poem by One of our Youths

A Poem by One of our  Youths

Stop and stare at the beautiful  blue sky

which use to be a black, fire filled nightmare.

Stare down at the red rose blooming,

which used to be a a thorn studded flower.

Used to addiction, used to the thoughts flowing through your veins as you thrust the needle into you skin.

Now the tranquility seem too much, for even the smallest matter now.

Brush your hand over your cheek, feel the warmth and not a dead, numb sensation.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and feel life flowing, pumping through you. What used to feel like a death sentence filled with chemicals down your lungs is now a calm and beautiful thing.

Open your eyes smile, for life  itself is a gift, filled with beauty.

GROW (Guiding the Recovery of Women)

GROW (Guiding the Recovery of Women)

SANCA in co-operation with the Department of Social Development trained professionals to understand and implement the GROW curriculum.

Research on women and substance abuse high-lights the following:

· Women respond differently to treatment than men, particularly to programs designed for men

· Women abuse substances at different rates and for different motivations than men

· Women use different substances and for different reasons than men

· Gender responsiveness requires programs specifically geared to meet the needs of women, who experience substance abuse differently than men on many levels

· The programs must be culturally sensitive

· Intersection of gender expectations within culture are important to consider when adapting treatment program to different populations

· Programs must take into account family and children

· There are many risk factors and co-occurring disorders (e.g. a history of traumatic exposure) and consequences (interference with parenting) of substance abuse that are unique for women.

· Service barriers exist for women differently than for men. Substance abusing mothers also experience unique barriers to receiving the services they need to recover, such as absence of child care and lack of gender specific treatment in their communities. 

Women’s substance abuse is different with regard to the following:

· Addiction occurs more rapidly for women

· Frequently involves more than one mood-altering substance

· Produces serious medical consequences over a briefer period of time

· Women are more likely to have co-morbid psychiatric disorders

· Women are more likely to be victims of violence, physical abuse, domestic violence and rape

      - According to Mondanaro etal.(1982) 46% of all drug-dependent women have been victims of rape

      - 28% to 44% have been victims of incest

      - Studies indicate these percentages are significantly higher for incarcerated women.(80% have experienced

        some form of abuse)

Grow is designed to:

· Empower women

· Help her to trust and bond with other women

· When possible to strengthen a women’s relationship with her children and to reunify with her family

· Help women develop coping skills needed to build a productive and self-sufficient future. The  following skills are needed: parenting; controlling anger and stress (without chemicals); learning to identify personal cues of relapse; managing budgets and educational/vocational and non stereotyped job training.