Monica looks normal.
Pretty, young, grandma (though she doesn’t look it), full-time employee, unconventional looking she tempts the desires of her newfound friend Mark.
But as she tells her story you realize how deceiving the outside can be.
“I had part of my liver removed because of cancer but that didn’t stop me from drinking,” she begins. “Not even going through chemo though I didn’t drink when I was pregnant with my two girls. But then I went back to drinking. Nothing stopped me.”
Until she heard her 25-year-old daughter talking to her friend on the phone.
Her daughter told her pal, “I won’t ever drink because my mom is going to die from drinking. She’s going to wind up with cirrhosis of the liver.”
“She doesn’t know I heard her say that,” said Monica. “That’s when I made the decision to never drink again.”
Don't wait, get help! There are a lot of resources available:
The Manhattan Alcohol and Drug Inpatient and Rehab Centers is one of the first in New York State that recognized the necessity of providing on-site child care in order to successfully treat women with alcohol and substance abuse problems. Part of Women In Need (WIN); the center provides comprehensive services for clients.
They also have a Casa Rita Clinic for women, a family-focused treatment with on-site child care services and individual and group counseling, acupuncture, evening clinic services, and vocational assistance to help clients make the transition from welfare to work. “Because the welfare of children is central to the success of the family unit, helping mothers help their children is the keystone of our efforts,” reads their website.
WIN provides specialized services for children including therapeutic child care for infants, preschoolers, and school-age children; a personal educational plan for each, youth appropriate referrals to any other services needed, parenting workshops, and after school programs.
The structured J. Jill Compassion Fund provides young minors of school age with homework assistance, tutoring, computer skills, and a range of literacy enhancing activities at the Monica Apartment Program Shelter.
The Women Empowerment Program funded by L’Oreal Paris, specifically addresses issues of self-esteem as well as problem-solving and leadership skills.
Camp WIN is an eight-week summer day camp completely supported by private funds. Children’s day care includes after school and full-time summer programs for 60 kids, ages 6–12 from low income families on Manhattan’s West Side. A broad scope of education and vocational services, from the most rudimentary to advanced is available.
Domestic violence is prevalent in the lives of many females and children who enter a Women In Need shelter.
The Empower Women — Women Should Shine! is a support housing program with intensive supportive services for ladies who have been victims of domestic abuse.
The HIV Education program was born out of the realization that many of WIN’s clients are at high risk for HIV/AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Aftercare services include help with homes from the Women In Supported Housing (WISH) program. (NS211).
The Family Friends Intergeneration Center (IGC) program founded by the board of directors is a privately funded program providing up to two years of financial support to former clients who are living independently and are working or in school.
The Homelessness Intervention Project that works with 150 families in 11 Brooklyn neighborhoods during the early months of independent living, helps with budget planning, tenancy advocacy, and other relevant concerns.
The Winner’s Circle is funded by the Robin Foundation and offers networking, information sharing, and support among formerly homeless clients from two of WIN’s shelters. Their website is winservices.org. WIN is located at 115 West 31st Street in New York, NY and may be reached at 212–695–4758.