Treatment Services for Women

The Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse believes that it is necessary to consider pregnant women and women with dependent children as a high priority based on the potential for future cost avoidance. Women with dependent children constitute a significant portion of the current welfare role. For welfare reform to be successful, substance abuse needs to be addressed. To assist in the success of welfare reform efforts, treatment must be provided to those that require this service if they are to be successful in entering the job market.

According to research conducted by Sioux San Hospital, the estimated FAS/FAE rate for South Dakota is 8.5 per 100,000 births (the National Average is 2.0 per 100,000). Treatment of a pregnant women could potentially save the state 1 million dollars over the lifetime of one FAS child. For information on FAS/ARE (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Alcohol Related Effects), go to www.usd.edu/cd.

Specialty Women Programming Agencies

Behavior Management Systems
(Full Circle)
350 Elk Street
Rapid City, SD 57701

Phone:
605-343-7262 or
1-800-299-6023

Volunteers of America - Dakotas
New Start and New Start II
1309 West 51st Street
PO Box 89306
Sioux Falls, SD 57109

Phone:
605-334-1414 or
1-800-365-8336
www.voa-dakotas.org

New Start II and Full Circle programs are residential treatment programs for 18 and older pregnant and parenting females, and their dependent children, who are struggling with drinking and/or takings drugs and who lack the ability to abstain from drinking or taking drugs. These programs provide coordinated substance abuse intervention and treatment, health care, and supportive services to pregnant and/or parenting women in Rapid City and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The goals of New Start II and Full Circle is for participants to develop a recovery based lifestyle, make a successful transition into independent living arrangements, be quality parents to their children, and avoid long term dependency on the social services system. The programs consist of 2 phases. Phase One is medically monitored inpatient chemical dependency treatment and lasts typically 6 weeks. In this phase, the clients learn how drug and alcohol use affects them and their children, new ways of coping with life, or relating to others and self, and they acquire the tools they need to aid them in living a recovery oriented lifestyle. Phase 2 is the Clinically Managed Residential Phase of the program and is designed to provide women with a safe, secure, and structured place to stay before and after the baby is born. Case managers will help her obtain housing and become involved in education, vocational programs, and parenting classes among other services. Residents are encouraged to utilize the group home styled facilities for 3 months post birth. In addition, Full Circle offers case management services upon a client's discharge from Phase 2. Services included in this phase would be continued provision of support groups and counseling, as well as ongoing linkage with vocational, childcare, educational, and support services in the community.

Women can be referred to these facilities by Law Enforcement, Social Services, Human Services, Tribal Entities, the private sector such as physicians and attorneys, and others including family members.

Volunteers of America also has an alcohol and drug program specifically designed for pregnant juveniles and their dependent children, entitled New Start. This is a transitional/custodial care facility that provides in-house treatment and support services for females under the age of 18 and their dependent children.

Specialty programs for pregnant women and women with dependent children must comply with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administrations guidelines for Residential Treatment programs for Pregnant and Postpartum Women.