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2 G A U D E N Z I A G A Z E T T E A P R I L 2 0 1 6 www. g a u d e n z i a . o r g
Happy BirthdayGAUDENZIA
The Gaudenzia Ball is an annual celebration marking
Gaudenzia’s founding on December 8, 1968. The Ball brings
together all of Gaudenzia’s clients and staff, encouraging them
to depict aspects of recovery and healthy living through skits,
dance and song. This year’s theme was “The Sky Is The
Limit.” Since 1968, the number of Gaudenzia programs
and individuals served has grown significantly. The agency
is now spread throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland and
Delaware. Accordingly, this year’s Ball was conducted
in four sections: on December 3 in Harrisburg,
on December 4 in Erie,
on December 5 in Philadelphia
and on December 12
in Baltimore.
The Gaudenzia Gazette is published by the Community Affairs Department of Gaudenzia, Inc.
Michael B. Harle, M.H.S.President and CEO
Richard Z. Freemann, Jr., Esq.Chair, Gaudenzia Inc.
Maureen Q. DwyerChair, Gaudenzia Foundation
Gadi AronsonDirector of Development
Dan GugliuzzaJane HoretskyJim IngolioCarole LeeLynanne SchaefferAshley SealContributors
Please forward address changes to:Gaudenzia Gazette 106 W. Main Street, Norristown, PA [email protected]
GAUDENZIA, Inc.Corporate Offices106 W. Main StreetNorristown, PA 19401
www.gaudenzia.org
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Follow us online! www.facebook.com/gaudenziaorg
www.twitter.com/gaudenzia
On Christmas Day, Jim Kenney, then Philadelphia
Mayor-elect, visited Gaudenzia’s Safe Haven, an emergency shelter for homeless, single parent families as part of the city’s Winter Initiativeprogram. Following the visit, as Mayor, Mr. Kenney supplied a range of needed items to the shelter, from sundries toappliances. Weeks later, in the midst of a major wintersnowstorm, Mayor Kenneystopped by again, to check on the women and their children.
Production costs of this issue have been paid by the employeesof Gaudenzia through the 2015 Staff Appeal.
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GazetteGAUDENZIAAPRIL 2016 VOLUME 29, ISSUE 1
In a first for Pennsylvania on March 9, the Upper Darby Township Police
Department in Delaware County announced it will connect residents
battling addiction to Gaudenzia, Inc. According to Michael Chitwood,
Police Superintendent, “the police station will be transformed into a safe
haven for individuals caught up in addiction. Police officers are now taking a
greater role in rehabilitation efforts, offering assistance to residents struggling
with any type of substance abuse. People can come in, request help and we
will reach out and seek that help for them. Period.”
Michael Chitwood, Police Superintendent, Upper Darby Township and Thomas Micozzie,Upper Darby Mayor, announcing the "Change is Possible" program.
Mayor Thomas Micozzie met with Mike Harle, President and CEO and Al Meyer, Eastern Region Referral Development Manager to discussimplementation of the program.
A D D I C T I O N T R E A T M E N T & R E C O V E R Y S E R V I C E S
Upper Darby Township’s Groundbreaking Program
“Change is Possible”
The program, known as Change Is Possible, was created
to combat the heroin epidemic that is sweeping our
nation. Gaudenzia will assist individuals to determine
what coverage their private health insurance or Medicaid
provides. If someone is lacking health insurance,
Gaudenzia will seek funding through county and state
programs already available. Individuals seeking help
can stop by the police station on weekdays between
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. A police officer will perform
a background check and contact a Gaudenzia
representative, who will connect the individual with
the appropriate assessment provider in Delaware County
to determine the correct treatment placement for the
addict. Gaudenzia staff will navigate funding and
assessment issues for the individual.
“The Number 1 war in America right now is
drug addiction,” emphasized Mayor Thomas Micozzie.
“It’s killing the fiber of our communities. It’s not only
our youth – it’s the middle-aged accountant, it’s the
housewife who suddenly had a dental problem and got
hooked on opioids.”
“This is about saving lives,” added Chitwood. “If we
can save a life, we’ve accomplished something.”
In February and March, Gaudenzia partnered with WashingtonCounty Community Mediation Center and CommunityMediation Maryland to offer a series of facilitated dialogues in Hagerstown, MD. The goal was to create a deeperunderstanding of issues created by the heroin epidemic.Participants included treatment providers, law enforcement,government officials, educators, religious leaders, individuals in recovery and family members of people struggling withaddiction. The program was funded by a grant from theGovernor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.
Site Visits
On December 8, Dr. Val Arkoosh, Montgomery CountyBoard of Commissioners, visited Montgomery CountyOutpatient Program in Norristown.
Mike Harle; Kay McGowan, Director, Montgomery County Drug & AlcoholCommission; Eileen Lafferty, Director, Prevention Services, MontgomeryCounty Drug & Alcohol Commission and Dr. Val Arkoosh.
On January 8, Matt Denn,Delaware Attorney-General,visited Fresh Start.
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On December 4, the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Healthand Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS) held an event celebrating a decade of transformative services offered.
Joy Martin, Division Director; Dr. Arthur C. Evans, Commissioner, DBHIDS; Gail Hannah, Deputy Director, Eastern Region.
On December 23, Tom Wagner,Delaware State Auditor General
visited Fresh Start in Wilmington.
Tom Wagner; Robert Robles, Special Assistant to Mr. Wagner; Charles Dale, Jr., Intake Specialist.
On February 9, Greg Warren,Chesapeake Region Director and Greg Jacobs, Admission Director,addressed the Caucus of AfricanAmerican Leaders, in Anne ArundelCounty, MD.
On February 16, an open house was held at Centro Primaverain Philadelphia to promote awareness of the program, which is a drug and alcohol prevention education program forchildren ages 5 through 12.
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Holiday CheerThe holiday season is taken very seriously at
Gaudenzia. For many of the people we serve, this
was their first holiday season celebrated clean and
sober in a number of years. Gaudenzia appreciates
the generous and thoughtful gifts from the
community which brightened the holiday season
for people of all faiths. Most of the gift items received
included items of clothing, cosmetics, toys and
candy. The following is just a sampling of the good
cheer that was generated.
Nina Gallacher, Giving Treecoordinator Marsha Menendez,and Lorrie Grady organize and
load the gifts into the van for WestChester's programs.
Karen Thomas, Program Director,received pajama bags filled withclothing for resident children atKindred House on Gaudenzia’s WestChester campus. The clothes were agift of The Pajama Buddy Program.
In Baltimore, Aegis Mechanical paid forclothing at the Women With Children’sprogram Pajama Day. A highlight was a visitfrom Santa, who arrived after dinner withgifts. Stockings for the children were provided,too, by the Original Laurel Assembly Club.Beth El Temple of Christ, Inc. brought giftsand toys for program families. Toys and babyequipment were also donated to the day care center at the facility.
On December 16, representatives fromTowne Place Suites by Marriott in Eriepresented 18 warm and fuzzy blankets forchildren of soon-to-be-opened House ofHealing, a residential treatment programintended for women with their young children.Blankets were handmade through TownePlace Suites’ “Real Giving” staff program.Each year, they choose a children’s non-profit as a recipient.
Gifts for families in the transitionalapartments in Baltimore were provided by the Reach Foundation. Mt. HattinMissionary Baptist Church sent purses and backpacks filled with toiletries for clients in residence at Gaudenzia’s ParkHeights facility.
As in previous years, Baltimore’s WBALKids Campaign granted funds to allowclients to purchase holiday gifts for theirown children.
In Philadelphia, Kenyatta Henderson, a local television news reporter, arranged for a donation of toys to children inresidence at Gaudenzia programs throughhis “Save Us From Us” Foundation.
In Lancaster, Elsie Schenk Outpatient Center hosted their Winter Celebration Drop-In for women with their children.
In Harrisburg, Gibson House residentsenjoyed a visit to Christmas Village inBernville, PA.
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Lead volunteer Beth Walsh with her new best friend.
Notes ofencouragementwere written to newly-arrivedresidents.
Emily F.Alumni SpotlightI came to Gaudenzia Sunbury Outpatient as part of my treatment through the NorthumberlandCounty Drug Court program. I arrived at Gaudenzia as a broken individual, hopeless anddesperate without any knowledge about recovery or how to abstain from drug and alcohol use. Through the help of Intensive Outpatient, individual counseling, peer-focused groups and
recovery support services I began my road to recovery. The staff at Sunbury taught meappropriate coping skills, knowledge about the disease of addiction and how to ask for help.Slowly but surely I started to believe in myself again. I began mending relationships with my family and son, became an active member of 12-step
support groups and started to find hope for the future. Even after I completed treatment andgraduated from Gaudenzia I was allowed to attend after-care groups, meet with my individualcounselor when needed and engage in peer-support services. In every step of my recovery processthe staff at Gaudenzia have been by my side and have been an integral part of my journey. TodayI am a Certified Recovery Specialist, which is not only an honor, it is truly a blessing. I take greatpride and determination in being able to give back to Gaudenzia all they have given to me.
On January 18, thirty volunteers from Accoladearrived at Gaudenzia’s Tioga Arms Apartments inPhiladelphia as part of the Rev. Dr. Martin LutherKing day of service. The volunteers were eager tohelp with anything that was needed. Theyorganized closets, decorated the community room,cleaned up outdoors (despite 20 degree weather!),assembled welcome bags for the homeless enclosingnotes of encouragement and provided activities forthe resident children. The entire Gaudenzia familyextends sincere appreciation to Accolade for thekindness and thoughtfulness offered.
Volunteers helped children prepare Valentine’s Day cards.
