Life-changing support from the ABC Program

Published on November 28, 2024

Tarah sitting in her living room smiling

When Tarah first came to the ABC program, she had only one wish: to get better for her son, Nick, who was only two years old. “I was living at Bethlehem Place at the time,” she remembers, “and they introduced me to the ABC program.” ABC, short for “A Better Choice,” is one of Niagara Health’s Addiction Recovery Services. “I was trying to do everything I could to better myself to be reunited with my son,” said Tarah. “I had counselling through them, I attended parenting programs, I learned about preparing balanced meals, budgeting – they helped me with everything.”

The ABC program provides intensive case management to pregnant and/or parenting women with substance use issues, and Tarah first came to the program in 2013. “When I first started, I met with them every week, and we had something called ‘plans of care.’ That means that if I was afraid I might relapse, for example, I had a plan in place. I could call them at any time and just let them know, and they would either talk to me or let me know where I could go to receive help immediately.”

Having that kind of support changed Tarah’s life. 

“They allowed me to show myself and everyone else that just because I made mistakes doesn’t mean they define who I am. They showed me that I can grow and change from that,” she says. The feeling of being heard, understood and supported is something she wishes for everyone. “If you need help, please go to the ABC program. They will get you the support you need – if they don’t have the resources, they will know where to send you or who to connect you with.”
Tarah knows better than anyone that it is hard to take that first step. “Yes, you might be embarrassed and ashamed, and you don’t want to admit that you’ve messed up, but with the ABC program, you don’t have to worry about that. You’ll get the help you need with no judgment. Just tell your story like it is, and they’ll help you get past it.”
For the first time in her life, Tarah had found someone who stuck around, even when she made a mistake. “They didn’t run away or turn their back on me. To them I wasn’t just another junkie. They don’t treat people like statistics, they treat them like human beings. They showed me that just because you fall doesn’t mean you can’t get up and move forward in life. They have literally picked me up many, many times, and I’ll never ever forget that,” she adds, her voice breaking. “I wouldn’t be who I am without them.”
Tarah’s four-year-long fight to get her son back wasn’t easy, but she knew the only way she could get him back was by being honest with herself and her ABC case worker.
“If I relapsed, I told them. They made sure I reported it to Family and Children Services, but they were with me, and they supported me and came up with a plan. So when we called, I wasn’t just telling on myself, but I called and said: this is what happened, and this is what we’re doing about it. They always had my back. They didn’t say: oh well, you used, so you’re out! That’s not how it works. They still had my back and helped me move forward.”
That unconditional support made all the difference in Tarah’s life. “It took a lot. I had to grow up, and they helped me do that. Obviously, I did the work as well to get there, but it was nice to have that support system. I find when people don’t have that support system, they fall back in, fall through the cracks, and get left behind because nobody is fighting for them. I was fighting for my son, and they were fighting with and for me – for both of us. And people need that.”
Today, Tarah continues to meet with her case worker regularly. “When we talk, it is not so much about fear of using anymore, but they still support me for anything that I’m dealing with or going through. It goes beyond the one thing. Yes, initially, drugs were part of it, but they are not anymore. Still, there are things in my life I like to talk to somebody about who doesn’t have a biased opinion. They help me come up with solutions and different ways of handling things and coping mechanisms.”
As parents, we try to make sure our kids have everything, so we put ourselves on the back seat.
One of the things the ABC program is helping Tarah with is the holiday season. “It is so stressful when you have to worry about not having enough money to get gifts for your children,” she says. The team at ABC makes sure that every child gets a little gift and that you get one as well. They give me a blanket every year and care products… it’s really nice. As parents, we try to make sure our kids have everything, so we put ourselves on the back seat, but at ABC, they make sure that we get something, too, which is awesome.”
These little things make a huge difference in Tarah’s life and the lives of the 80 – 90 moms, expecting women and children ABC supports on any given day.
“When you donate to the ABC program, you’re not just helping adults,” Tarah says. “You’re helping children as well. You’re giving children their parents back. You’re giving moms a little bit of hope and sunshine during the holidays because knowing that your child will be able to open a gift at Christmas – nothing beats that.”
“When you donate to the ABC program, you’re not just helping adults,” Tarah says. “You’re helping children as well. You’re giving children their parents back.”
Thanks to the ABC program, Tarah gets to give her kids the kind of Christmas she’s always wanted for them – one filled with gifts, tobogganing, hot chocolate and watching Christmas movies together. “We need more support for this program. It’s a program that helps people get out of the dark holes that nobody else is helping them get out of. The team at ABC has watched me go from a mom of one to a mom of four, and they’ve watched my children grow into who they are today. That means something to me. Our journey has been beautiful,” she smiles, “and it will continue to be.”
We thank Tarah for sharing her story to help raise awareness and funds for Niagara Health’s ABC Program.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please visit Niagara Health’s website to learn more about the ABC program and for a full list of Addiction Recovery Services provided by Niagara Health, or connect with the many other community partners who are here to help.

Life-changing support from the ABC Program

Published on November 28, 2024

Tarah sitting in her living room smiling

When Tarah first came to the ABC program, she had only one wish: to get better for her son, Nick, who was only two years old. “I was living at Bethlehem Place at the time,” she remembers, “and they introduced me to the ABC program.” ABC, short for “A Better Choice,” is one of Niagara Health’s Addiction Recovery Services. “I was trying to do everything I could to better myself to be reunited with my son,” said Tarah. “I had counselling through them, I attended parenting programs, I learned about preparing balanced meals, budgeting – they helped me with everything.”

The ABC program provides intensive case management to pregnant and/or parenting women with substance use issues, and Tarah first came to the program in 2013. “When I first started, I met with them every week, and we had something called ‘plans of care.’ That means that if I was afraid I might relapse, for example, I had a plan in place. I could call them at any time and just let them know, and they would either talk to me or let me know where I could go to receive help immediately.”

Having that kind of support changed Tarah’s life. 

“They allowed me to show myself and everyone else that just because I made mistakes doesn’t mean they define who I am. They showed me that I can grow and change from that,” she says. The feeling of being heard, understood and supported is something she wishes for everyone. “If you need help, please go to the ABC program. They will get you the support you need – if they don’t have the resources, they will know where to send you or who to connect you with.”
Tarah knows better than anyone that it is hard to take that first step. “Yes, you might be embarrassed and ashamed, and you don’t want to admit that you’ve messed up, but with the ABC program, you don’t have to worry about that. You’ll get the help you need with no judgment. Just tell your story like it is, and they’ll help you get past it.”
For the first time in her life, Tarah had found someone who stuck around, even when she made a mistake. “They didn’t run away or turn their back on me. To them I wasn’t just another junkie. They don’t treat people like statistics, they treat them like human beings. They showed me that just because you fall doesn’t mean you can’t get up and move forward in life. They have literally picked me up many, many times, and I’ll never ever forget that,” she adds, her voice breaking. “I wouldn’t be who I am without them.”
Tarah’s four-year-long fight to get her son back wasn’t easy, but she knew the only way she could get him back was by being honest with herself and her ABC case worker.
“If I relapsed, I told them. They made sure I reported it to Family and Children Services, but they were with me, and they supported me and came up with a plan. So when we called, I wasn’t just telling on myself, but I called and said: this is what happened, and this is what we’re doing about it. They always had my back. They didn’t say: oh well, you used, so you’re out! That’s not how it works. They still had my back and helped me move forward.”
That unconditional support made all the difference in Tarah’s life. “It took a lot. I had to grow up, and they helped me do that. Obviously, I did the work as well to get there, but it was nice to have that support system. I find when people don’t have that support system, they fall back in, fall through the cracks, and get left behind because nobody is fighting for them. I was fighting for my son, and they were fighting with and for me – for both of us. And people need that.”
Today, Tarah continues to meet with her case worker regularly. “When we talk, it is not so much about fear of using anymore, but they still support me for anything that I’m dealing with or going through. It goes beyond the one thing. Yes, initially, drugs were part of it, but they are not anymore. Still, there are things in my life I like to talk to somebody about who doesn’t have a biased opinion. They help me come up with solutions and different ways of handling things and coping mechanisms.”
As parents, we try to make sure our kids have everything, so we put ourselves on the back seat.
One of the things the ABC program is helping Tarah with is the holiday season. “It is so stressful when you have to worry about not having enough money to get gifts for your children,” she says. The team at ABC makes sure that every child gets a little gift and that you get one as well. They give me a blanket every year and care products… it’s really nice. As parents, we try to make sure our kids have everything, so we put ourselves on the back seat, but at ABC, they make sure that we get something, too, which is awesome.”
These little things make a huge difference in Tarah’s life and the lives of the 80 – 90 moms, expecting women and children ABC supports on any given day.
“When you donate to the ABC program, you’re not just helping adults,” Tarah says. “You’re helping children as well. You’re giving children their parents back. You’re giving moms a little bit of hope and sunshine during the holidays because knowing that your child will be able to open a gift at Christmas – nothing beats that.”
“When you donate to the ABC program, you’re not just helping adults,” Tarah says. “You’re helping children as well. You’re giving children their parents back.”
Thanks to the ABC program, Tarah gets to give her kids the kind of Christmas she’s always wanted for them – one filled with gifts, tobogganing, hot chocolate and watching Christmas movies together. “We need more support for this program. It’s a program that helps people get out of the dark holes that nobody else is helping them get out of. The team at ABC has watched me go from a mom of one to a mom of four, and they’ve watched my children grow into who they are today. That means something to me. Our journey has been beautiful,” she smiles, “and it will continue to be.”
We thank Tarah for sharing her story to help raise awareness and funds for Niagara Health’s ABC Program.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please visit Niagara Health’s website to learn more about the ABC program and for a full list of Addiction Recovery Services provided by Niagara Health, or connect with the many other community partners who are here to help.