Terri
A person in charge of her life finds the path to safety.
Terri had her first of eight children when she was 11 years old. Her mother died young and her father went off with another woman. She and her older brother were left to fend for themselves. She had legal involvement due to her drug use and had recently undergone drug and alcohol recovery.
Part of Terry’s recovery program was to participate in the Prevention Services program. Terry was reluctant to participate in the first session and appeared even angry, but she listened. The Prevention Services program facilitators were patient and non-judgmental of her and used a positive approach with her. During an early group exercise, Terry could not think of one female role model in her life and said she had never been inspired by a woman. In fact, Terri stated that the woman in her life “showed her nothing”. Terry returned to the second session where she was greeted with a smile, a hug, soft music and the facilitators called her by name.
That made all the difference in the world for Terry, she mattered enough to be remembered by name. As the group proceeded, she began to trust the other women participants and opened up about some issues that where important to her. Terry stated “I wish the classes were longer so that the facilitators could teach us more about Black woman from the past and present. At first I didn't care but now I am looking forward to being here.”
Terri attended 100% of the sessions and always did her homework. She attended the booster session and stated that the Prevention Services program had helped her with condom use negotiation and that she was getting along with the women she lived with better than ever.