Harriett Gaines, Program Manager, is African
American. She describes the Center Point Concepts such as completion, responsibility and integrity
and how the women learn recovery, parenting and life skills as tools to start
new lives.
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The feature documentary-in-progress On Life's Term: Mothers in Recovery
follows five mothers with substance use addictions in a unique residential
rehab in San Rafael, California over three years. Through moments
of self-awareness on the path to recovery, self-sufficiency and raising
their kids the moms struggle to heal from ADD, domestic violence,
prostitution and incarceration. The film exposes the high toll of the war
on drugs on families and eye-opening research on prenatal drug exposure
catalyzing the debate over treatment vs. criminalization.
Synopsis
This social justice documentary is in post-production.
We expect to complete the film by Fall 2012.
Your generous tax-deductible donation in any amount through our
non-profit fiscal sponsor
San Francisco Film Society will help us complete the film now.
With a $100 donation your name, or someone you designate will
be in the credits of the film.
Thank you for your support!
The number of women in prison jumped 400% and
800% for African American women since the 1986 mandatory sentencing law
and the war on drugs. 60% of women in prison have minor children. 70% of
children with a parent in prison will go to jail at some point in their
life. On Life's Terms: Mothers in Recovery tells the story of
five drug-addicted mothers and the transformative effect that gender
specific residential treatment has on them and their children.
Rachel, 22, hid to avoid childhood abuse. She escaped her abusive
boyfriend with her two baby girls. She wrestles with the fear of holding
down a job sober. Lisa R, 38, used drugs to self-medicate for ADD.
She relapsed and is back in the program to try again. Her addiction
complicates the relationships with her mother and two daughters.
Leslie, 31, her parents have temporary custody of her three year old
daughter. Enduring beatings by her boyfriend and online prostitution
nearly robbed her of all self-worth. Lisa S, 41, has been in and
out of prison for nine years for drug sales and possession. She feels a
strong sense of responsibility for her newborn daughter. She hopes it
will work out with the father who is also in rehab. Julia, 24,
cared for her grandmother until she died. The first time she smoked meth
she was hooked. She has trouble containing her anger over her mother
abandoning her for drugs. She doesn’t want this for her son.
Counterpoint to punitive laws, research by Barry Lester, PhD, Director,
Brown Center for Children at Risk; and, Sheigla Murphy, PhD, Director,
Center for Substance Abuse Studies reveals the importance of family environment
for children with prenatal drug exposure and that addiction is a mental health
issue that cannot be “jailed away.”
On Life's Terms: Mothers in Recovery will be a tool for social change by stimulating a national dialogue on treatment vs.
criminalization and breaking family ties.
The film will validate and inspire women and men in recovery, educate
social service providers and law enforcement, and encourage policy makers
and legislators to fund more family-centered substance use treatment
programs. To date, there are less than 150 programs in the United
States. The film removes the mask of substance use to show the
humanity of these women. The film puts a new face on drug
addiction ~ recovery and hope.
Your generous donation now will help us make a difference in the lives of
vulnerable women and children. Thank you!
If you are seeking help with
substance abuse issues call the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Treatment Referral Hotline:
1-800-662-HELP or 1-800-662-4357
National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE or 1-800-799-7233
Funded in part by: Pacific Pioneer Fund, Lucius and Eva Eastman Fund, Open
Meadows Foundation, Inc., Penny Harvest Roundtable and Individual Donors.
Please contact us at: 415.564.3691 or
onlifesterms.film@gmail.com
if you or your group would like to host a fundraising screening.
(c) 2012 Sheila Ganz