Recovery Community Centers: Anchored in the Recovery Community Part 2: Their Operation

1. Recovery Community Centers: Anchored in the Recovery CommunityPart 2: Their Operation Teleconference Series March 26, 2008

2. Introductions • Pat TaylorExecutive Director, Faces & Voices of Recovery • Mark Ames NetworkCoordinator, Vermont Recovery Network • Caroline MicletteWindham Recovery Community Center, Willimantic, CT • Diane Potvin Manager,Windham Recovery Community Center, Willimantic, CT

3. Q & A Session • At the end of the teleconference, there will be a 15 minute Q&A session • If you would like to ask a question, please email the question to: jhess@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org during the teleconference

4. Life in Vermont Recovery Centers: What we do and how it works Mark Ames Network Coordinator Vermont Recovery Network http://vtrecoverynetwork.org/

5. Vermont’s Recovery Movement • Vermont Recovery Network • Friends of Recovery Vermont • Turning Point Center of Chittenden County

6. What’s Recovery Got to Do with It? • Acute care model vs. recovery-based care • Putting a face and a voice on recovery

7. Vermont’s Recovery Centers • Nine Recovery Centers • 14 part time center staff • 150 active volunteers • Who participates? • 1/3 never attended treatment • 1/5 reported being on probation or parole when they arrived • 1/4 initially reported homelessness; 1/2 of these have found housing

8. Vermont Recovery Network • Data System • Early Development • Today • Participant Survey & Recovery Solutions available online http://www.vtrecoverynetwork.org/

9. Vermont Recovery Network • Not affiliated with AA, NA, or any other recovery approaches • Providing safe, supportive, substance-free environments, welcoming to everyone seeking recovery • Our Visitors • People new to our centers engaged in recovery • People contemplating recovery • People in need of recovery • People with multiple issues

10. Vermont Recovery Network • Our services • Peer-to-peer recovery meetings • Outreach to people on probation or leaving corrections • Recovery Solutions • Making Change • Wit’s End • Discussion on Medication • Employment Programs for Recovered Alcoholics (EPRA) • Medication-Assisted Recovery System (MARS)

11. Vermont Recovery Network • Special Events • Alcathons • Recreational events • Educational forums • Kingdom Recovery Center’s “Rock Around the Block Party” • Sports events

12. Vermont Recovery Network • Volunteers • Recovery community • Student interns • Reach Up for welfare recipients • Vermont Associates (people over 55 trying to reenter the workforce) • Volunteer Background checks • Retaining and Honoring Volunteers • Training Volunteers • Peer credentialing

13. Vermont Recovery Network • Recovery Centers as Advocacy Platforms • Affiliation and Anonymity • Weaving recovery into community life • Putting a new face on recovery

14. Since the Beginning My Road to Recovery Caroline Miclette Windham Recovery Community Center http://www.ccar-recovery.org/recoverycntr_windham.htm

15. Getting into Recovery • Typical American family • What I thought was recreational use • Five years of self induced pain • High risk pregnancy/post partum • Just couldn’t find my own salvation

16. A Glimmer of Hope • CCAR • How I heard about it • My first experiences there • My life • Early recovery • Pregnant again • Custody battle for my son

17. Recovery Is A Beautiful Thing • Attended meetings • Became Secretary of Mutual Support Group • CCAR • Decided to become involved again • Volunteered

18. My Life Today • Custody of both of my children • A job, a place to live • A life that I never dreamed I would have

19. A Day in our life! Recovery Centers: A beacon of light in communities searching for change! Diane Potvin Manager Windham Recovery Community Center http://www.ccar-recovery.org/recoverycntr_windham.htm

20. Wednesday • Check messages, make call backs if necessary • Check emails and reply when needed • Doors open at noon but with both of us here and a volunteer we usually answer a knock at our door • Attend our Women’s All Recovery meeting that usually has about 15-20 or more ladies in attendance

21. Wednesday continues • Address issues that might come up from attendees, such as: • job searches • relapse prevention • sober houses • social events • recovery coaching with life’s issues

22. Wednesday continues • Skill building workshops • Crocheting classes • Specialized meeting • Afternoon or evening training • CCAR 101 • CCAR volunteer

23. Wednesday continues • Every other Wednesday I co-host our Public Access TV Show “Positive Faces” with guests who are willing to put themselves out about their addiction but mostly their recovery to the Windham community • We offer volunteers opportunities to work the front desk and be part of managing the Center

24. Daily • There are usually people in recovery using our computers or talking with other people in recovery about life and their issues at the Center. Sometimes they are group discussions and/or one on one but always someone to talk to • There is always someone here to give guidance for someone that wants Detox

25. Wednesday continues • We have scheduled morning and afternoon volunteers to make calls to other recoverees for our Telephone Recovery Support (TRS) program. Miracles have happened • It happens that I am doing this on a Wednesday and one of our attendees has relapsed again, crashed her car and we will be discussing at the meeting, ‘what do we do when a friend or someone we care for relapses’

26. Q & A • Please email your questions to: jhess@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org • If we are unable to answer your question during the teleconference, we will answer by email after the teleconference is over