The Southeastern Family Project provides a vital bridge for pregnant and postpartum women, offering a safe, residential recovery environment where mothers can focus on healing while maintaining the bond with their children.
Motherhood is often painted as a time of pure joy and instant connection, but for many women, the reality is far more complicated.
When the overwhelming pressure of pregnancy or early motherhood collides with a substance use disorder, the result is a heavy, suffocating burden of fear and shame.
There is still a profound stigma surrounding mental illness and substance abuse, making it a difficult topic for many people. Society is quick to pass judgment on mothers who struggle, which only forces women deeper into isolation. If you are reading this and you are struggling, we want you to hear this loud and clear: You are not a bad mother for having a substance use disorder. Addiction is a medical condition, not a moral failing. You are the hero of your child’s life, and seeking help is the bravest, most loving thing you can do for both of you.
The Hidden Reality of Maternal Substance Use
You are far from the only one walking this path. Approximately one in five people use alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or other illicit substances during pregnancy in the United States. The pressures of modern life, untreated mental health conditions like depression or trauma, and the physiological changes of pregnancy can all trigger or exacerbate substance use.
Tragically, the fear of judgment (and the terrifying fear of losing custody of their children) prevents many mothers from asking for help. Consequently, overdose has become a leading cause of pregnancy-associated death, with mortality rates increasing drastically in recent years. Many of these heartbreaking outcomes could have been prevented with compassionate, comprehensive care.
We know that a mother’s deepest desire is to keep her baby safe. The barrier isn’t a lack of love; it’s a lack of safe, non-judgmental environments where a mother can heal without being separated from her infant.
The Southeastern Family Project (SEFP): A Vital Bridge
This is where the Southeastern Family Project (SEFP) steps in to change the narrative. Located in Newport News, Virginia, and operated as a program of the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, SEFP is a licensed substance use disorder residential treatment program.
Unlike many traditional rehab facilities that require mothers to find alternative care for their children, SEFP is designed specifically for pregnant women, recently post-partum women, and their infants. The core philosophy of the program is to keep mothers and babies together, allowing them to form a crucial, healthy bond while the mother focuses on recovery.
The goals of the Southeastern Family Project are clear and compassionate:
- To provide gender-specific treatment services based upon clinical need.
- To improve pregnancy, stabilization, and recovery outcomes for enrolled women.
- To ensure infants are born healthy and free from the effects of substance use.
Comprehensive, Compassionate Care
Recovery is not just about stopping substance use; it is about rebuilding a life. At SEFP, residents are enveloped in an environment that prioritizes their dignity and holistic well-being. The program works with residents to build a stable and healthy lifestyle, offering services that go far beyond standard counseling.
Services provided at SEFP include:
- Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding that past trauma often drives substance use, the staff provides care that is sensitive to the residents’ histories.
- Evidenced-Based Treatment: Addressing the unique psychological and physical needs of women with substance-related disorders.
- Co-occurring Mental Health Education: Providing both group and individual education on managing conditions like depression or anxiety alongside substance use disorder.
- Direct Linkage to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): Ensuring residents have access to safe, evidence-based medical interventions for cravings and withdrawal.
- Peer Recovery Support: Connecting mothers with peers who have walked the same path and successfully found recovery.
- Comprehensive Case Management: Assisting with after-care planning, community support, and linkage to needed resources for long-term success.
Because the program is designed to serve residents based on their individual needs, there is no rigid time limit on healing; residents stay in a person-centered treatment environment that encourages true stabilization.
Local Support Throughout the Virginia State Area
While the Southeastern Family Project is physically located in Newport News, it is part of a much broader safety net. SEFP is open to all women who are Virginia residents and at least 18 years of age with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder.
Region Five is your authority on mental health and substance abuse recovery in the Greater Tidewater Hampton Roads area. We are supported by a powerful network of Community Services Boards (CSBs) that can help coordinate your care, provide outpatient services, and connect you to residential programs like SEFP. These brick-and-mortar clinics include:
- Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Health (CIBH)
- Colonial Behavioral Health
- Eastern Shore Community Services Board
- Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board
- Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck Community Services Board
- Norfolk Community Services Board
- Portsmouth Behavioral Health
- Virginia Beach Community Services Board
- Western Tidewater Community Services Board
Reaching Out: Your First Step Toward Recovery
If you are a pregnant or postpartum mother struggling with substance use, please know that you do not have to carry this weight alone. The fear of reaching out is heavy, but the freedom of recovery is entirely possible.
Take the first step toward a healthier future for you and your baby. Call 757-245-1070 to discuss bed availability and learn more about the program, or visit our Southeastern Family Project page for more details.
If you are experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis, you can reach the Region Five Crisis Line anytime 24/7 at 757-656-7755. Help is available, and hope is real.
