For Immediate Release

 

Date:                June 28, 2006

Contact:           Valerie Colvin

Phone:              301-997-1300

 

Program helping mothers recover from substance abuse

announces successful year

 

            St. Mary’s County, Maryland - Walden/Sierra, Inc. is pleased to announce that its Compass (Care of Mothers Preparing and Achieving Sustained Sobriety) House for women with young children had an extremely high success rate during the past year.  Since July 2005, 17 of the 21 participants successfully completed the program and are now living independently and drug-free with their children.  During this time, 22 children lived in Compass House, and five healthy babies were born to Compass participants.

            Compass is a unique halfway house program that opened in 2002 in California, Maryland.  The program provides mothers recovering from substance abuse the opportunity to remain with their children in a safe place while living in sustained recovery for up to one year.  Through a variety of services, including counseling, support groups and employment enhancement activities, Compass helps participants develop the skills necessary to live healthy, independent lives with their children.  For each mother that completes her stay at Compass successfully, her children have a greater opportunity for a healthy, bright future free of the influence of substance abuse and the many associated problems, such as poverty, abuse and neglect. 

            Walden/Sierra, Inc. is a private nonprofit organization that has provided quality crisis intervention and counseling services to Southern Maryland since 1973.  Walden offers a full continuum of behavioral health services, including residential and outpatient addiction treatment.  A 24–hour Crisis Hotline (301-863-6661) is supported by the St. Mary’s County Government.  Additionally, Walden provides domestic violence and rape crisis counseling services to the community. 

            For more information about the Compass House or any of Walden’s programs, please contact Valerie Colvin at 301-997-1300. 

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