Brandywine Counseling: Success Stories

For BCI staff, the reward for our hard work is seeing the successful outcomes for clients. Recovery. Self-confidence. Social connectedness. Setting goals, reaching them, and celebrating.

Commercial sex workers are a population at very high risk for infection with HIV, due to unprotected sex and injection drug use. They are one of the populations most in need of intervention and prevention services, but also one of the most challenging to reach. They are unlikely to leave their neighborhood to access services in an office setting, and are reluctant to receive information from outsiders.

Along Routes 13 and 9, two of the main routes leading into the city of Wilmington, prostitutes and exotic dancers frequent a cluster of strip clubs and motels. The community refers to this area as “the two tracks.” Since 2002, BCI has conducted an innovative outreach project here, targeting women who trade sex for money or drugs. The project began with two outreach workers renting a motel room two nights per week, providing refreshments, education, and referrals. Later we expanded the project using our mobile outreach van. Since then, 124 outreach contacts have been made, 9 individuals have been tested for HIV, and 13 individuals have used the referrals they were given. In November 2003, we offered a special dinner and retreat as a reward for women who consistently utilized our services.

Rochelle Booker is one of the outreach workers working on this project. In the following story, she tells about the night of the retreat in her own words.

We started setting up at 12:00 p.m. and getting everything ready for the ladies. We hung up the pajamas and the clothing we had for them. The rooms at the hotel were wonderful. We had two double beds and one king size bed. The hotel manager and housekeeping were great.

As we began to set up, we also were having fun, knowing that the ladies would appreciate all this. We outreach workers were discussing how, when we were out there, this kind of intervention was not available to us, offered by someone who cared about our safety, health or just our well being. Therefore, before going out to search for the women, I went into prayer that maybe one woman would show, because in your addiction, it is hard to trust anyone, or believe anyone cares. In addition, I knew that we had to catch them before they started getting high or it would be hard.

So we started our route searching for them. We drove through all the target areas, but no one was out. So we started all over again, going through Governor Printz Boulevard and Claymont Street. One client approached us about the retreat and got in the van with us. We had seen another sex worker, who had just purchased some crack, who did not want to go right now, so we told her that we would come back for her later. We saw other women, who knew about the retreat, but did not want to come because they were tired, just brought drugs, or were busy making money. Some were with their pimps, who would not let them come.

It was a real joy to see the ladies happy. We went out on Dupont Highway and found a client who uses crack cocaine. I had phone numbers for several of the ladies and made calls, but they were not at home. I talked to family members who would relay the message. I left my cell phone number for them, if they wanted to come.

We then went to Riverside, looking for a client who was pregnant, who I really wanted to come. However, she had gone to the hospital to have her baby. I found out later it was a little girl, who had to stay in the hospital because she was born addicted to heroin and crack. Later, I prayed for them both to be safe and asked God to answer my prayers, because there were rumors of her having the baby in a vacant house.

We kept riding around, calling houses and going to houses, but we could not find anyone else. The two sex workers we had picked up stayed with us the whole time while we searched for others to attend. Finally, we went to pick up the food at Boston Market and went back to the hotel.

Once we got back to the hotel, upon entering the room, the surprise on their faces brought tears to my eyes. They were so happy to receive the items we gave them. They were like kids in a candy store, choosing pajamas, slippers, and then opening the leather duffle bags full of items. They had a comb and brush set, phone cards, toothpaste, toothbrush, panties, socks, bras, a manicure and pedicure set, nail polish, body wash, lotion, powder, body spray, make-up, shampoo, conditioner, tampons, razors, and hair items.

We had two rooms, one set up for food and fun, and the other set up for groups or discussions, with candles to be lit. Pajamas and slippers were set up in the closet in one room, the clothes in the other room, with the choice of what they wanted. I had brought perms for the ladies. The food was great from Boston Market. The fruit and vegetable tray was from Acme. The desert was chocolate cake, apple pie and brownies. There also was coffee and tea.

It was a real joy to see the ladies happy. They kept thanking us and giving us hugs. They could not believe it to be true. After the excitement of the gift, we all kneeled around for prayer. We ate and talked. They begin taking showers and putting on pajamas. The outreach workers and my boss also got comfortable. After eating, we sat around watching T.V., doing facials, and we took a couple of pictures.

Three female sex workers stayed with us, which I believe to be a blessing. There were so many reasons for them not to have shown up. Being addicts, they typically believe we outreach workers are only trying to take them to treatment or talk about treatment. They do not trust anyone. We also expected they might be high, or their social security checks had come out, or they were tired from the night before, doing the only work they know how to do at this point in their life.

The groups were emotional, trusting, and very real. Many doors were opened among us. There was also some bonding, hugging, laughing and crying. Most of all, this was a big start. There were issues of sexual abuse, drugs, homelessness, family, loss of children, self-esteem, behaviors, and recovery.

Having a good time doing facials For me it was a wonderful feeling to see the ladies happy, just knowing that I was a part of giving this retreat. The Division of Public Health (DPH) made it happen for me to give a part of myself to this project. I love working with the ladies, hearing their stories and telling mine, and letting them know that they are not alone. When I talk to the ladies, I see so much pain in their eyes. When I give them a hug, I can feel them within that hug, saying “do not leave me here” or “please help me.” I want so much to do more for them, wishing I could sweep them into a home for women, maybe an overnight shelter or six month program, I do not know. That is a goal I have for the future. The name would be “HEAVEN HERE ON EARTH.” If I continue to do my part and stay in prayer, God will see me through.

Again in all, I love my job, I love this project. I thank Brandywine Counseling and Division of Public Health for this opportunity to work with the ladies. If this project continues, I pray that I’m able to work on it again. Also I pray that someone takes time out to read these reports, because they mean a lot to me, because there are lives out there that are hurting. I know there is only so much one can do, but I feel at least someone will know what is happening.