Testimonies
I think this is an awesome program. I was on long term birth control through your program and decided to have it removed because I was at a place in my life where I was stable and thought I wanted another baby.
Well I ended up with twins, and to make a long story short, the father started drinking and became abusive. So I'm raising my older two (both concieved while I was drug addicted) plus the twins alone. I am on long term birth control again, and this time (if I'm smart!) I'll keep it in.
I am 26 years old and have 5 kids, the oldest of which was adopted out. I believe, if anything, this program should be advertised more and be more readily available to the general public. I had only heard of this program because someone else knew about it at the inpatient drug treatment center that I was a resident at. I am absolutely appalled that anyone has anything negative to say about such a worthy cause. To me, your message and your goal is black and white. If anyone can't understand the benefits this program offers, they need to go back and read the statistics again.
I was also wondering if there's any way I can get a new application, or renew my old one since I haven't been participating for about two years now.
- Anonymous
I am contacting you from England, having just heard your interview on BBC 4's programme, "Taking a stand." I found the interview and the work that you have described so moving, that I felt compelled to immediately write to you, to tell you what a fantastic job I think that you are doing.
Like you, I had a son in my teens and although, (again like you,) I was not doing drugs, I do feel that I was too young to have had him and that he has suffered in many ways as a result of my actions. I do not regret having him, nor do I wish that I had had an abortion. I do however wish that I had been more mature and stable when I had him and that he had a father who could have been a loving and supportive figure for his children. I say children as I went on to have a daughter with this man. I cannot blame drugs for my poor decisions but instead blame myself as I reacted to abusive relationships and low self worth.
I do not judge the women who get into drugs. I do not know how exquisitely painful their lives have been leading up to their drug addiction, I can only imagine. Like you, I feel compassion for these women, but this does not mean that they have the right to drag innocent children into their own hellish prisons. When a drug addict mugs someone to feed their addiction, the police go after them and attempt to catch and prosecute them. When a deranged drug addict gets out of control and stabs or shots someone, does the state sit back and say, "Well this person was out of their head, they did not know what they were doing. Anyway, people have the right to do what they want to do!" NO. The state arrests such people and sends them to jail. Why then, is it not recognized, that what is happening to these innocent, defenseless children, is nothing short of an abominable humanitarian crime, responsible for unimaginable and unaccountable human suffering???
Woman whose own sufferings have lead them into permanent escapism, (through drugs,) from their own lives, have already decided to surrender self responsibility. Therefore they need other people to step into their lives and make compassionate and responsible decisions for them. I fully agree that women in this position should be encouraged, if not forced to take long term contraception and in some cases sterilization.
I cannot imagine caring for a baby who is in pain and distress 24/7. I think that what you have done for the children you have adopted is one of the most amazing and purest demonstrations of "loving thy neighbor." I truly admire and respect the compassion and love that resonates from your core, towards all children who are subjected to such horrific suffering and misery. Thank you for bringing awareness of your organization and these issues to the UK. Do you have any plans of bringing your organization to the UK?
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your frankness, your transparency and your unapologetic sentiments. You are an incredibly brave and conscientious women, unafraid of fighting for what you know is right. It is forward thinking people like yourself that, the world looks back on and considers to be the "John Wesley's," of our time. Thank you again for your tireless work to care and bring awareness to these issues and ultimately end this appalling suffering. I wanted to give you some positive feedback on your interview and I hope that you have found this encouraging. I would be very interested to hear if you do set up over here.
God bless you, your family and your organization. Warmest regards
- Emma Fontaine
As a child protection worker I cannot thank you enough for providing this program. I desperately wish it was government funded in all countries. Thank goodness you are offering vasectomy\'s as well, it isn't uncommon to see a man father children with multiple, multiple women and have no active role as a parent. I always say that people who are anti-abortion and anti-sterilization need to spend a day in child welfare. Keep up the great work.
- Jody Allen
Good afternoon, I\'m writing from the UK; I heard the interview with Barbara Harris on BBC Radio 4 this morning. I just wanted to write to let you know how interesting I thought the interview was. I had never heard of Project Prevention before, and I found the interview extremely informative and thought provoking. I thought Mrs. Harris came across excellently throughout the piece. My impression was that Mrs. Harris is an extremely dedicated person, and the methodology Project Prevention uses to help alleviate some of the social problems associated with narcotic and alcohol abuse made perfect sense to me. I understand that various people have called Mrs. Harris a racist and various other negative accusations. To me, she across as someone who cares deeply about the children whose suffering she is trying to alleviate. In all, I was touched by the interview, and about the work I have since learnt your organization undertakes.
I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know, and to wish all of you the very best of luck with everything now and in the future.
- Greg
WOW! My hat is off to you and I hope I didn't offend you by not realizing. I won't go on and on about my experiences and why I find your program so worthwhile. I'll just sum it up by telling you I worked for years as a nurse in chemical dependency and now work as a Family Planning Nurse for the State. Thanks for all your time and effort! It makes a huge difference.
- Jane
Hello, I am an MSW student at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Last week in my substance abuse class, we watched a video called "Broken Children" which showed the lives of drug-addicted women and their children. I was so upset and frustrated with this topic that I went home, cried my eyes out, and got on the internet to see what was being to done to break this cycle. Then I found your website. I don\'t know what I can do to be a part of this cause, but I would be honored to help out in any way I can. I talked to my class about it today and what a great harm reduction tool this is. I am willing to post fliers or do outreach in the LA area, and know I could get other social workers involved. My school is very supportive of grassroots projects such as this and I feel very passionately that more people need to get behind this. Thank you all for creating this project and helping break the cycle!
- Kristen C
Hello, I am a senior public health nurse for Orange County Healthcare Agency located in Southern California. I work with pregnant women with substance abuse history. I case manage these women after they deliver their infants and work hard with them to receive IUDs after they deliver. I would like to have some Project Prevention applications sent to my office so that I can distribute them to my clients. I have instructed my clients to still call the toll free number to register, however they often need their applications right away for their postpartum visits.
- Diann A, PHN
hi Barbara --and the other wonderful foster moms helping so many, I attended your meeting in Tucson. I used to live in LA and vaguely recall how this began - but I didn't have the knowledge to get passionate about it. Just completed an education in Human Services emphasis on child studies-interned at CPS, was a Big Sister in LA. for over 8 yrs. I tried to share all I\'d learned in my Child Abuse class, and was surprised with a few who reacted negatively. I want this organization to be out there -I know how it affects kids -and I call it fetal abuse! I want the middle class as well to be fully AWARE of how all of this affects society, but through more understanding.
- Linda H
I am also a foster mother who just lost one of my drug babies. She was returned to her mother who also had, that I know of, 7 children. The mother was still an addict, but the system returned the child to her anyway. It breaks your heart when you see how hard they try and know that there might be learning problems later. Best of luck with your project.
- Linda, Glendale CA
"I wish a program like this would have been available while I was addicted. Then I wouldn't have so many children.
- Sandra Mathews, recovered addict raising 7 children
It is immoral to have a baby that no one can care for. We're adopting number 7 from a mom who has had 12.
- Phil D., Foster Parent
I think the big thing about drug babies is that everything you've ever done for a newborn baby, ever been trained to do, doesn't work for them.
- Barbara R., Pediatric Interim Care
Only those who haven't actually worked with the people in this unfortunate situation could criticize you. I spent 15 years as a health care lawyer- the last 3 as in-house legal counsel to a large, tertiary care teaching hospital in inner-city Philadelphia. I took emergency custody of children who had drug-crazed parents removed from the hospital--and always felt like the little Dutch boy with his finger in the hole of the dam. The problem is so huge, it just overwhelms you when you try to make a difference. Don't listen to the nay-sayers- YOUR IDEA IS A GREAT CHOICE TO OFFER PEOPLE!!
- Robin W., PA
As a family practice physician, I saw many crack babies during my residency. It was such a heart-wrenching sight- tiny babies abused before they were even born. Now in practice I am seeing these children as they are maturing. Those fortunate enough to have caring foster or adoptive parents have an edge on life. I hope this small contribution helps your very worthy cause. Personally I feel if a "bribe" is what it takes to get these people from having unwanted and damaged children then let's bribe them. God bless you and your organization.
- Kristi M., FL
