How a San Francisco program helped a new mom turn around her life

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – As San Francisco’s new mayor Daniel Lurie works to declare a fentanyl state of emergency, a four-year-old city-run program is finding success in helping those addicted to the deadly drug. 

The program specifically helps pregnant women. KRON4 sat down with one woman today who, after more than a year of getting help, is thriving – with a job, a home and a healthy baby girl.

“The day she was born was like the first day I was sober. I’ve been clean since she was born,” said Crystal Stevens.

After living on the streets for a while, Stevens says her case manager connected her to the city’s perinatal stabilization program. That’s when she started working with public health nurse – Dana Lazarobitz – to get treatment. 

“She helped me get stable on methadone at the hospital while I was pregnant so I could have a safe delivery. When Delilah was born she was in the NICU, and Dana helped me with that process and helped me with my CPS case so that she wasn’t removed from me at birth,” Stevens said. 

Stevens then went to a residential treatment facility with her newborn, and Lazarobitz supported her through it all. 

“Every week visiting her at her treatment facility, weighing Delilah, making sure she was meeting all of her milestones, supporting her when she graduated treatment,” Lazarobitz remembers. 

Stevens moved to permanent family housing and has been working at a cafe, but she just got a new job that will allow her to give back.

“I just got accepted to work at the same treatment center that I was at with Delilah. I am really excited to help the women and let them know that only good things come from staying sober and staying with your baby,” she said. 

The perinatal stabilization program provides services to pregnant women suffering from homelessness, addiction, or mental health disorders. The Department of Public Health says this program was launched in 2020 after an increase of unhoused pregnant women miscarried or gave birth on the street. 

“People are capable of change. People who want to stop using drugs can. With the right support, do. We also know that pregnancy and preparation for parenting can be a really motivating time for folks where they can make a change in their lives that they weren’t able to do,” Lazarobitz said. 

As the fentanyl crisis continues to take lives, Stevens hopes programs like these stick around to help families thrive.

“Not everyone that comes through is going to make it, but for the ones that do and are successful… It’s so worth it. And it’s so worth it for their children. It’s really important to keep programs like this open and funded,” Stevens said. 

The perinatal stabilization program is one of three programs in the city with nurses that help pregnant or postpartum mothers. By the end of 2024, it served 311 people, and 90 clients are currently enrolled.