TABLE 2.

Themes From Focus Groups

Past Experiences
Theme	Original Statements	Agreement Statements	Examples
Perception that service providers do not understand	48	13	“Ain’t nobody happy to be a drug user mom … and you get treated like crap everyday.”
Perception that service providers are unsupportive	52	26	“And there are other ways they can help us … they just don’t want to.”
Fear of service providers	24	10	“You can’t tell them you use heroine … you wouldn’t be able to keep your kid.”
How Mothers Hope to Be Treated
Theme	Original Statements	Agreement Statements	Examples
Desire to be understood	23	8	“I feel like if I would get an advocate that actually paid attention to me and really realized what I do think, I would feel three times much better …”
Desire for support	31	9	“I need somebody there; you need the guidance, you need the extra push, you need that pat on the back.”
Trust	30	1	“You get comfortable enough with somebody; you would be almost cool to talk with them.”