This study investigates the role of parenting in the recovery of substance abusing mothers. In depth interviews were conducted with 19 chemically dependent mothers recruited from a community based substance abuse program. This program was developed out of concern that the experiences of women in recovery from communities of color were neglected by both male-oriented treatment and approaches that lacked a cultural component. Combining perspectives from ecological-developmental and self-in relation models, the interviews explored (a) the nature of these mother's relationships with their children during active drug use and (b) during recovery; (c) their sources of knowledge about parenting; and (d) their motivation to undertake sobriety in relation to their status as mothers. Findings emphazize the importance of the relationship with their children in terms of the development of their identity as mothers. The mother's narrative accounts of the self as a motivator invariably included references to their status as parents, that is to say, for most of the women interviewed, the self as mother or parent was an important driving force behind recovery. In addition to the development of caring, respectful and nurturing relationships within the treatment context, the findings suggest that women who are able to maintain sobriety have possibly developed an identity of self as mother that reconciled the pull between "doing it for others" and the pull of "doing it for self."
Learning Objectives: Aftern participating in this session participants will be able to: 1. Describe the importance of a cultural component to recovery programs for Women of Color 2. Describe the importance of development of a woman's indetity as mother to the recovery process
Keywords: Drug Addiction, Maternal and Child Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.