Help By Doing, Not Protesting
The two sides lined up again Sunday, marking the 23rd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision on abortion. We heard the familiar speeches - one side decrying the horror, the other commemorating the fairness. As opposite as the warring sides are, they both bring the same zeal to their respective marches. Just different signs.
It’s a pity that effort and energy isn’t funneled away from political rhetoric and protests and more toward constructive, tangible activities that would do more to make every community a welcome one for children.
Right here in Spokane - this great place to raise a family - children are faced with a grim future. Some schools give free or reduced lunch to more than three-quarters of their students because their parents don’t make enough money to feed them. Drug arrests are up, including those involving methamphetamines, a cheap and addictive upper that appeals to teenagers. And high-profile abuse cases involving children are becoming all-to-common front page stories.
The latest shock to Spokane’s image is a study conducted last year that showed 64 of 820 newborns tested over six weeks had drugs or alcohol in their system - a much higher ratio than other cities Spokane’s size.
These mothers had used drugs at some point - some not knowing they were pregnant, others knowing full well the poison they were putting in their system was flowing straight to the fetus.
These weren’t your stereotypical welfare moms. Many had insurance and received routine prenatal care, indicating a middle- or upper-income status. Most were young and white; most denied using drugs, even when they tested positive.
And they all need help. When you’re in the middle of an addiction, the drug or alcohol comes first. Caseworkers and nurses say these women want to be good moms, but the addiction far outweighs that desire.
Spokane’s medical community and educators are doing what they can to help mothers fight those addictions. Representatives from Spokane’s four hospitals have teamed up to teach nurses how to identify drug or alcohol abusers. They learn what to do with the information, how to approach the mother.
They’re also reaching out to schools to remind educators to tell students early in their sex education the effects of alcohol or drugs on babies. Smoking, alcohol and marijuana are not going to help a baby grow. That lesson, if taught, may come back when women have the life of an infant at their mercy.
Private groups are making an impact as well. The Junior League of Spokane has a teen mentoring program in conjunction with Career Path Services where young mothers are teamed with older moms who can help them make responsible decisions. The CAPA Doula Project of Catholic Family Services does much the same thing.
Both of these programs - and the efforts of Spokane’s nurses - are positive, palpable examples of real steps being taken to better this community for children. They’ll take us a lot farther than any routine protest march.
, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Anne Windishar/For the editorial board