News-Impact-Advocacy Celebrating 40 Years! August 11, 2015 Quick Links Recovery Walks Registration Donate to The Council Information Help Line Recovery Night at the Baseball Game Employment Opportunities Recovery Center Calendars Professional Trainings Save the Date! National Recovery Night at the Baseball Game!! 9/12/15:  6pm Tickets $20 Recovery Walks! 20159/19/15: 9am Registration is FREE! 40th Anniversary Gala!5/5/2016 Family ProgramRegister:  215-345-6644 Chester County 9/2, 9/9, 9/16: 7-9pm Colmar9/3, 9/10, 9/17: 7-9pm Pottstown9/1, 9/8, 9/15:   6:30-8:30pm Media9/1, 9/8, 9/15: 7-9pm Perkasie9/14, 9/21, 9/28: 7-9pm Bristol9/3, 9/10, 9/17: 7-9pm Volunteer for The Council/PRO-ACT !! Central Bucks:      Email or call Steve at215-345-6644 x3006 Southern Bucks:   Email or call Karen at215-788-3738 x100 Philadelphia, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County:         Email John or call 215-923-1661                     PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! Committees:  Email  or call John at215-923-1661 PHILLIES  vs CUBS It's Recovery Night at the Baseball Game!!! Saturday, September 12, 2015 Enjoy a a fun night of baseball with 500 other fans in an alcohol-free section! Tickets:  $20 Purchase Here   Health Crisis Continues! On July 1, Governor Wolf vetoed the 2015-16 budget the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed on June 30. The budget submitted to the Governor for his signature cut $26 million to fight the epidemic of opioid-based overdoses and deaths in Pennsylvania. This includes $6 million from Governor Wolf's proposal and Representative DiGirolamos' (R-Bensalem) $20 million amendment to establish an Emergency Treatment Fund for opioid addiction and overdose.  Seven Pennsylvanians die every day from drug overdoses. PRO-ACT was invited to the Governor's mansion with 100 other non-profit organizations in the human services field on July 23 to discuss the impact of the state budget impasse on our citizens.  The most vulnerable citizens in Pennsylvania who are directly affected by this issue were represented:  seniors, mental health and addiction, or substance use, disorders, underprivileged children, and homeless people.  Because the Governor's veto leaves the state with limited spending authority, non-profit organizations in the human services field are limited on the services they can provide due to financial stress.  Additionally, some organizations may be put under so much financial duress that they may be forced to close.  As an interim solution, the Governor's Budget Office has offered to assist state funded non-profit organizations in their search for other options.  While this may be helpful to some, it is definitely not a long-term solution for all.  The longer we go without an approved budget, the more of a reality it becomes that staff will lose jobs, organizations will close their doors, and services will be discontinued.  You can help!  Everyone who cares about access to drug and alcohol recovery services needs to call their Pennsylvania House and Senate Representatives (find your legislators here). Tell them to pass the budget with the $26 million to fight the epidemic of opioid-based overdoses and deaths in Pennsylvania.  Without a passed budget, funds for community organizations and non-profits are on hold and can limit resources for individuals needing services. "The Right Track to Recovery" Family Thanks Council Case Management Services Ms Beverly Haberle, Good morning and I hope you are doing well.  While I realize you don't know me, I wanted to share some personal thoughts about one of your teammates, Ms. Monica Santiago. During my career, I have had the pleasure of working with thousands of individuals, from all backgrounds and functional areas, and simply wanted to say that, without equivocation, they don't come any better than Ms. Santiago--an individual who personifies professionalism, compassion, and an unwavering commitment towards helping others--individuals such as our son who is battling an opiate addiction. While (my son's) struggles are far from over, my wife and I have never....and will never...give up on him and, today, we are convinced more than ever that he's on the right track to recovery.  Although there are a few reasons for our belief, there's no great singular reason than Ms. Santiago.  In life...if we are fortunate enough....we come in contact with individuals who clearly possess the attributes to make a difference in people's lives....people just like Ms. Santiago.  A wise person once stated 'people need to know you care before they care what you know' and, to my wife and I, Ms. Santiago...whether she realizes it or not....brings life to this saying.  Her ability to connect with (our son) is nothing short of outstanding and I have no doubt it symbolizes how she interacts with all of her clients and, for that, (our) entire family feels blessed to have come in contact with a professional such as Ms. Santiago. Thank you for the chance to share our feelings about Monica; I could go on and on but simply wanted to share our thoughts about this truly amazing person and counselor.  While we can't predict the future for our son, because of Monica's support, our confidence in (his) ability to beat this disease has never been higher.  Finally, as we all know, our legacy in life is not defined by the cars we drive, the clothes we wear or the house we live in but, rather, by the impact we have on those we come in contact with on a daily basis....this is exactly the legacy being created by Monica Santiago and it is far from done. Recovery Walks! 2015 Last year, 23,000 people joined Recovery Walks! to celebrate recovery, making it the largest recovery activity in the nation.  With support, we can show an even larger constituency of consequence (an organized voice of people in recovery) to elected officials.   Recovery Walks! highlights the positive impact of recovery and gives hope to those struggling with addiction that thriving in recovery is possible.  Individuals can participate by forming a team, sponsoring a team, walking, or by sponsoring a walker.  At Recovery Walks! 2015, PRO-ACT will be providing free Naloxone education to reduce the number of deaths due to overdose, and there will be a voter registration booth.  We each have a voice and the power to shape the future of our community and the nation.  Together we can clear the barriers to treatment and long term recovery, reduce stigma, end discrimination, and celebrate those thriving in recovery.   Participation in Recovery Walks! 2015 is a time to unite and to show support for recovery as a solution.   Be sure to register!  It's free and it is essential for gaining press coverage and attention. Let's make our voices heard to reduce stigma and end discrimination!  www.recoverywalks.org Medication-Assisted Treatment   As we continue to see new medications and new versions of proven medication that can assist a person in recovery become available, it is important to recognize that these drugs merely "assist" the person in their treatment. The importance of therapeutic interventions while the person is receiving these medications cannot be stressed enough.  Not only does the person need to heal physically by means of ceasing the intake of the substance to which the person is addicted but they also need to heal cognitively, learning new and healthy coping mechanisms. By removing the withdrawal symptoms or psychological urges to use substances, the person can focus on addressing the root issues and begin to implement an effective recovery plan. As with any treatment whether it is for addiction or medical reasons we must recognize that all treatments work for some people but no one treatment works for all people.On Monday, August 3rd, 2015, David Fialko, a Prevention Specialist with The Council, provided a training on medication-assisted treatment.  Mr. Fialko provided information on the various forms of medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction and alcoholism. The goals of the training were to explore the current options and advances in medication-assisted recovery for both alcohol and opioid dependence from an unbiased point of view, and to dispel any myths, misconceptions and stigma surrounding medication-assisted recovery. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been viewed as the most appropriate form of clinical therapy while utilizing the assistive medications. However, with today's network therapy model, CBT should not be the only support in the person's recovery capital. Utilizing resources such as recovery community centers and Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS) can further improve the effectiveness of medication assisted treatments.  A CRS can help navigate the treatment network and provide unique insights gained through personal recovery experience.  Support from a CRS includes developing a plan for recovery, increasing problem solving skills, and developing support networks.  These resources all help a person in medication-assisted or non-medication-assisted recovery participate fully in life and in the community. Medication assisted treatments work for many people and should be viewed without bias. If you or a loved one are interested in more information regarding this topic or if you would like be connected to a CRS, please call The Council's Drug and Alcohol Information/Intervention Line (1-800-221-6333) between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00pm, Monday-Friday, to speak with a resource expert. Please review this article to learn about Opioid Abuse in the U.S. and HHS Actions to Address Opioid-Drug Related Overdoses and Deaths. A Symbolic Gift   This tree was donated by Harry J Burak and Jesse Condon of T&T Tree Service to the Women's Recovery Community Center. In their words, "regardless of personal beliefs of spirituality...one thing is fact: To be compassionate of others, respectful, and have unconditional love for all living things on Earth makes us better human beings. It helps us to triumph over ignorance, greed, and addiction. We must never forget we are always human and we carry the entire burden of being only human. The wisdom of trees tells us...we must also live in the moment. They teach us how to endure and accept the what is."     The Council sincerely thanks both Harry and Jesse for their hard work and generous donation.  Their gift has contributed to the beauty and healing environment of the center and will stand to represent strength and endurance for many years to come!  Center Program Highlights Central Bucks Recovery Community Center 252 W Swamp Road, Unit 12, Doylestown, PA  18901 Planning to Sustain Recovery:   Educational support group to help individuals in all stages of recovery plan goals and action steps to sustain recovery. To register email or call Jeanne at 215-345-6644 ext. 3120. 1st, 2nd, and 4th Tuesdays of each month,  7:00pm - 8:30pm Every Thursday 10:00am - 11:30am Recovery Toolkit Educational peer support group to help individuals in recovery and provides tools for continuous sobriety. To register email or call Steve C. at 215-345-6644 ext. 3006. 3rd Tuesday each month, 7:00pm - 8:30pm   Gateway to Work: Workshop with tips and tools for resume building, overcoming barriers to employment such as overcoming criminal background and gaps in employment, and motivation. To register email or call Steve C. at 215-345-6644 ext. 3006. 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, 1:00 pm  SMART Recovery© Open recovery meeting focused on self-empowerment, abstinent-based recovery support.  Email or call Stephen Osborne for more information. Every Thursday, 6:00pm Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center 1286 Veterans Highway, Unit D-6, Bristol, PA  19007 Gateway to Work: Workshop with tips and tools for resume building, overcoming barriers to employment such as overcoming criminal background and gaps in employment, and motivation. To register email or call Karen at 215-788-3738 ext. 100. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11:00am Give to The Council While You Shop!  AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support The Council every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to The Council. Go to www.smile.amazon.com  Log in with Amazon account info or register if you are a new member Type in The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. and click SEARCH We will come up, hit SELECT Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to The Council.