R U Fit?! Inspires Healthy Living

Odyssey House launches

employee wellness program.

(See page 2)

Senior Drug Abuse Continues to Rise

Treatment admissions double for Americans aged 50 and over.

(See page 2)

Art Show Explores the Search for Wholeness

The Odyssey House Art Project

opens its 6th exhibition.

(see pages 4-5)

In this issue:pg. 2 WellnessProgrampg. 2 SeniorDrugAbusepg. 3 NewBoardMemberpg. 3 ABrighterFuturepg. 4-5 SeekingWholenesspg. 6 Community-BasedServicespg. 7 FoundationAwardspg. 7 FastFoodtoWholeGrains

Continued on page 7

OdysseyHousenewsodysseyhouseinc.org

Summer 2011

CommunityGardenTeachesOdysseyHouseChildrenAboutNutritionWithobesityamongthetoppublichealthconcernsfacingtoday’schildren,residentialprogramssuchasOdysseyHouse,wherefamilieslivewithusforseveralmonths,offerauniqueopportunitytoeducateparentsontheimportanceofchoosinghealthyfoodsfortheirfamilies.TheOdysseyHouseManorFamilyCenterhasbeguntakingadvantageofthisopportunitybylettingfamiliesgettheirhandsdirtyatalocalcommunitygarden.

OdysseyHousewasgiventwoplotsattheCarverCommunityGardenonEast124thStreet,athree-minutewalkfromourfamilycenteronEast121st.WhittakerWright,programdirectoroftheManorFamilyCenter,saidthatthegardenisawaytohelpconnectresidentstotheirfoodsources,reinforcethelessonsbeinglearnedthroughourhealthyeatingprogram(seepage7),

andtoofferaneducationalopportunityforchildrenlivingwiththeirparentsintreatment.

Preschoolteachershaveincorporatedgardentripsintotheirlessonplansandcreatedageappropriatecurriculatoteachthechildrenaboutplantsandnutrition.Thelessonplansalsotakeadvantageofacompostsystematthegardentoteachfamiliesaboutrecyclingleftoverfoodtoproducefertilizerandnutrientsfortheplants.

AfterbuildingnewbedsfortheplotwiththehelpofNewYorkCares,inearlyspringOdysseyHouseresidentsandtheirchildrenbeganplantingavarietyofvegetables,includingtomatoes,collardgreensandbellpeppers.Thechildrencannotwaituntiltheycansamplethefruitsofthelabor.

2 Odyssey House News, Summer Issue 2011

RUFit?!InspiresHealthyLiving

Thisspring,OdysseyHouseemployeeswereintroducedtoafreewellnessprogram,RUFIT?!,toencouragethemtoincorporatehealthandfitnessintotheirlives.ThisnewwellnessinitiativeisacontinuationofOdysseyHouse’scommitmenttosupportandencouragegoodhealthandpreventivecare. 

Staffmembersalreadyhaveaccesstoexerciseequipmentatourfacilities,andmanyhaveparticipatedinRun for Your Lifeandother

Recreational coordinator Andre Matthews (with trophy) with the MABON/Manor team, winners of the annual staff softball tournament.

intramuralsportsactivities.WithRUFIT?!,theynowhaveaccesstoonline,confidentialhealthcoachingandpersonalizedprogramsthatpromoteweightandnutritionmanagement,exercise,smokingcessation,stressreduction,andlifestyle-relatedimprovements.

RUFIT?!wasgreetedwithenthusiasmbyOdysseyHouseemployees–86%offull-timestaffparticipatedinthefirstphaseofthe

Asbabyboomers,manyofwhomexperimentedwithdrugsinthe1960sand1970s,headtowardslatemiddleageandtheirsenioryears,thenumberofolderAmericanswithsubstanceaddictionsisgrowingdramatically.AsurveybythefederalSubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration(SAMHSA)foundthattreatmentadmissionsforadults50andoldermorethandoubledintheU.S.between1992and2008.

TheAssociated Press,reportingontheSAMHSAsurveyresults,interviewedOdysseyHousePresidentDr.PeterProvetaboutthis“silentepidemic.”Dr.Provetsaid,“Thereisalevelofsocietaldenialaroundtheissue.Noonewantstolookattheir

grandparent,noonewantstothinkabouttheirgrandparentortheirelderlyparent,andseethatpersonasanaddict.”

Asthenumberofolderpeoplewithsubstanceusedisordersincreases,sodoesthedemandfortreatment.OdysseyHouse’sElderCareprogramhasbeenfocusingonthespecialneedsofthispopulationsinceopeningin1997.Theprogram,withan85%completionrateinthelastfiscalyear,hashelpedmorethan200seniorssuccessfullyre-integrateintotheircommunitiesandregainproductive,drug-freelives.

* To read the full article and view the accompanying video, visit the newsroom on our website at odysseyhouseinc.org.

program.Thissummer,theywillhavetheopportunitytocompetewiththeircolleaguesinthe10,000 Steps a Daychallenge.

Staff Role Models Support TreatmentThewellnessprogramisanaturalfitatOdysseyHouse,whereprovidingholistictreatmentispartofourmissionandwebelievewellnessisessentialtoafullrecoveryfromsubstanceuseandmentalhealthdisorders.ToOdysseyHousePresidentDr.PeterProvet,employees’healthandwell-beingisparticularlyimportantbecausestaffmembersserveasrolemodelstotheresidentsundertheircare.

“Rolemodelstaffinspire,challenge,check,andmotivateclientstolookatthemselvesandrealizetheycanbecomefarmorethanwhattheyhavebeen,”saidDr.Provet.

OdysseyHousehaslongofferedprogramsthatteachclientshealthliteracy,goodnutrition,andmore,inadditiontopromotingtheirparticipationinyoga,running,basketballandotherteamsports.Encouragingstafftoactasrolemodelsprovidesanadditionalincentiveforindividualsintreatmenttoembracehealthyliving.

SeniorDrugAbuseContinuestoRise Save the Date!

Odyssey House 6th Annual Run for Your Life

5K Run & Recovery Walk Saturday, September 24th

JoinusatIcahnStadium

onRandall’sIslandformusic,entertainment,children’s

activitiesandmore!

Thefunbeginsat9amwithchildren’sraces.

Formoreinformationortoregisteronline:

odysseyhouseinc.org

3

WhenTroyH.droppedoutofhighschoolafewyearsago,collegewasthelastthingonhismind.Today,heistheteenvaledictorianofthe2011GEDgraduatingclass,withhissightssetonadegreeinsocialwork.

Troywasoneof51residentswhowererecognizedforpassingtheirGEDtestsataceremonyearlierthissummer.Hisexcitementtobeatthegraduation–his

BrandingExpertJoinsBoardsofTrustees

GEDGraduatesLooktoaBrighterFuture

Valedictorians Troy H. and Herbert H. celebrate their accomplishments at the graduation ceremony.

OdysseyHouseandOdysseyFoundationhaveaddedanewmembertotheirBoardsofTrustees:JustinPeters,GlobalExecutiveCreativeDirectoratSiegel+Gale.Mr.Petershasextensiveexperienceinstrategicbranddevelopment,andheisexcitedtousehisexpertisetohelpfurtherOdysseyHouse’smissionandsupportindividualsandfamiliesinrecovery.

Mr.PetersfirstworkedwithOdysseyHouselastyearwhiledevelopingarefreshedvisual

identitythatcapturedthebreadthanddiversityofitsprogramsandservices.Mr.PeterswasimpressedwiththecommitmenttobuildingabrandthatexemplifiesOdysseyHouse’senergyandfocusinsuchafreshanddifferentiatingway.“Asaboardmember,IlookforwardtohelpingOdysseyHousefindnew,creativewaystocommunicateitsinnovativeofferings,”hesaid.

Mr.PetersjoinedSiegel+Galein2005,drivenbyacommitmenttoeffectpositivechangeonaglobalscalethroughleveragingthepowerofstrategicthinkinganddesign.Hisexpertiseatleadingcomplexbrandengagementsmarriesanunconventionalvisualsensewithleadershipskillshonedovertwodecadesofworkingwithdiverseclientsaroundtheworld.Mr.Petershasledstrategicpositioning,designdevelopmentandmarketimplementationofidentityprograms,printcommunications,branded

firstsincethefifthgrade–wasobviousashesaid,“Icouldn’twaituntilthedayIcouldsay,‘Mom,Ididit!’”Addressinghisfellowgraduates,hesaid,“Iwantyoualltounderstandsomething.Itdoesn’tstophere.‘Can’t’and‘try’shouldn’tbeinourvocabulary,andwecandoanythingweputourmindto.Wejusthavetowantitenough.”

Troy,18,enteredtheOdysseyHouseTeenLeadershipCenterinDecember2009andisexpectedtocompletetheprogrambytheendoftheyear.HehasmadethemostofhistimeatOdysseyHouse.Inadditiontohiseducationalaccomplishments,hehascompletedrelapsepreventionandparentingclassesandhasrecentlystartedaninternshipforayoungadultmentorprogram.

KeynotespeakerDeborahBrinkley,avocationalrehabilitationexpert,congratulatedthegraduatesontheiraccomplishmentandofferedthemsomewordsofencouragement.“Don’tstophere.Continuelearning.Youcanbeanythingandeverythingyouwanttobe,onedayatatime,

onestepatatime,onemomentatatime.Itisnevertoolatetobecomethepersonyouwerealwaysmeanttobe,”shesaid.

HerbertH.,a60-year-oldElderCareresident,alsolefthighschoolbeforegraduating.Morethanfourdecadeslater,heistheElderCarevaledictorian,withthehighestscoreoftheentireclass.

“Odyssey House has saved my life by giving me the tools and knowledge to live a drug-free life.” — Herbert H.

OdysseyHouse’sVocationalRehabilitationServices,inpartnershipwiththeNewYorkCityDepartmentofEducationandProjectRestart,provideson-siteeducationalservicesavailabletoallresidentialclientsandadministerstheGEDexamfivetimesayear.

environmentsandinteractiveexperiencesforclientssuchasKodak,IngersollRand,NationalGeographic,SesameWorkshop,Disney,Scholastic,GE,TheWhiteHouseMillenniumCouncil,Tata,TheChicagoSymphonyOrchestraandtheCooper-HewittNationalDesignMuseum,tonameafew.

Hisworkhasbeenrecognizedinnumerousindustryjournalsandperiodicals,andhehaswonseveralnotabledistinctionsincludingthePresidentialDesignAward.

Mr.PetersholdsaBFAfromtheUniversityoftheArtsinPhiladelphia,certificatesfromRhodeIslandSchoolofDesignandParsonsSchoolofDesign,andhehascompletedtheOmnicomAdvancedManagementProgramatBabsonCollege.

4 Odyssey House News, Summer Issue 2011

Artshowexploresthesearchforwholeness“Seeking Wholeness”isthesixthexhibitionbymembersoftheOdysseyHouseArtProject, composedof individualsinresidentialtreatmentforsubstanceuse and/ormentalhealthdisorders.Thisyear’sshowexploresmandalasassymbolsofrecoveryandthesearchforspiritualwholeness.Artists,includingthechildrenofresidentsintreatment, wereencouragedtouseavarietyofmedia,suchaspainting,photography,needlepointandahand-crankedspinningwheel,tocapturethespiritembodiedintheseancientimagesandportrayhowtheycontinuetoresonateandguideindividualsinsearchofbalanceandwholeness.

5

“Wholeness of the Self”MandalaisaSanskritwordmeaning“circle.”Invariousspiritualtraditions,mandalas areusedasaspiritualteachingtool,forestablishingasacredspace,andasanaidtomeditation.PreeminentpsychologistCarlJungsawthemandalaas“anarchetypalimagewhoseoccurrenceisattestedthroughouttheages.ItsignifiesthewholenessoftheSelf.”Heencouragedhispatientstocreatethemas“movementtowardspsychologicalgrowth,expressingtheideaofasaferefuge,innerreconciliationandwholeness.”

Artistsinterpretedthemeaningofmandalasindifferentways.JoseC.,anElderCareclient,createdavisualinterpretationofthebabyboomerexperienceintheformofaclock(seeright).Usingcut-outphotoshecreatedacirculartimelinestartingfrom1945totoday.Aself-taughtartist,JosegraduallystoppedmakingartuntilhejoinedtheOdysseyHouseArtProject.“IwasgratifiedtofindIstillhadthatcreativityinme,”hesaid.

Engaging in TreatmentOdysseyHousehasanactiveandvibrantexpressiveartsprogram.Creatingarthelpsresidentsfindnewwaystoaccessandcommunicatetheirfeelings.Manyresidents,whoweresociallyandculturallyisolatedbytheiraddictionand/ormentalillness,areencouragedtobecomeengagedinthecreativeprocess.ForresidentsinrecoveryatOdysseyHouse,discoveringtheirbroaderpotentialwithinapositivepro-socialenvironmentisintegraltotheircontinuedgrowth.

Residentswhoparticipatedintheartprogramfoundittobearewardingandsatisfyingexperience.FredP.,aresidentinouradultcomponent,saidtheprogramhelpedhimrelievestressandgavehimanewperspective.“Arthasaredemptivepower,”hesaid.“Nomatterhowdarkyourpastis,youcanuseittocreatesomethingbeautiful.”

“Seeking Wholeness”willbeopenthroughDecember23,2011attheHavenArtGallery,239E.121stStreetinHarlem.Viewadditionalselectionsfromtheexhibitiononodysseyhouseinc.org.

Park Avenue tenant Jack C. with his painting “The Alchemist”. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts, “Seeking Wholeness” is Jack’s 24th art show.

“Squirrely” by Gary S.

“Time Marches On” by Jose C.

“Green Imp” by Gary S.

6 Odyssey House News, Summer Issue 2011

TakingRecoveryIntotheCommunity

0

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Abstin

ence

No Crim

inal J

ustic

e

Involv

emen

t in P

ast 3

0 Day

s

Employe

d or

Attend

ing S

choo

l

No Sub

stanc

e Abu

se-R

elated

Conse

quen

ces

Social

Conne

ctedn

ess

Initial

6-Month Follow-Up

Change in HMHF Outcomes from Initial Interview to 6-Month Follow-Up Interview (n=20)

InnovativeprogramsthataddresstheongoingneedsofpeoplewithsubstanceuseandmentalhealthdisordersareahallmarkofOdysseyHousetreatment.Alongwithintensiveresidentialandoutpatientservicesthatprovideaccesstoprimarymedicalanddentalcareandoffereducationalandvocationalsupport,ourapproachtorecoveryincludescommunity-basedservicesthatpromoteindependent,soberliving.InthelastseveralyearsOdysseyHousehasbeenawardedfivefederalgrantsfromtheSubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration(SAMHSA)thatrecognizeourcommitmenttoinnovationandexcellenceindeliveringcommunity-basedtreatmentservices.Threeofthecurrentgrantssupportdistinctsubstanceabusingpopulations:womenwithchildren;olderteens,youngadultsandtheirfamilies;andadultsinearlyrecovery.Eachofthesenewservicesenhancesrecoverybyutilizingtreatmentexpertisetoreachouttoextendedfamilyandaccessingcommunityresources.

Focus on Family Connections HealthyMothersHealthyFamilies(HMHF)isacomponentoftheOdysseyHouseFamilyCenterofExcellence,acomprehensivetreatmentservicethatprovidesasafe,supportiveresidentialcommunityforsubstanceabusingpregnantwomenandmothers,andtheiryoungchildrenandbabies.Womenaddresstheproblemsthathaveledthemtodrugsandpreventedthem

frombeingresponsiblemothers,whiletheirchildrentakepartindaycareandpreschoolprogramsthathelpthemdevelopintellectualandsocialskills.

Withthesupportoflicensedsocialworkersandcertifiedalcoholandsubstanceabusecounselors,atleast150womenand225childrenhaveparticipatedinarangeofenhancedtherapeuticinterventionsdesignedtoreinforceconnectionswithfamilymembers,includingpartnersandthechildren’sfathers.

Expanding Youth Services Thetransitionfromadolescencetoyoungadulthoodcanbeadifficultperiodformanyyoungpeople,butforthosewithhistoriesofsubstanceabuse,navigatingthisprocesscanbeespeciallychallenging.Tohelptheseyouth(manyofwhomhaveagedoutoffostercare,school-based,orotherinterventionservices)emergeasindependentanddrug-freeyoungadults,OdysseyHousehasestablishedanalternativetreatmentprogramthatofferscommunity-basedindividualandfamilysupportoutsidethepurviewoftraditionalresidentialandoutpatientprograms.

CalledBronxUrbanYouthInitiativeorBUY-In,thisisanevidence-basedprogramproventobeeffectiveinempowering18-24yearoldstomakehealthylifestylechangesontheirownthroughskill-buildingactivities

andutilizingresourceswithintheirhomecommunities.

Recovery Mentors Make a Difference Oneofthemostrelapsepronetimesforformersubstanceabusersistheperiodfollowingtheconclusionofformaltreatmentservices.Duringthisperiodindividuals,whointreatmenthavemanagedtomaintainadrug-freelifestyle,findthetransitiontoindependentlivingcanbeisolatingwithoutthesupportofapeergroup.

OdysseyHouseRecoveryOrientedCareSystem(OHROCS)providestimelyaccesstoanetworkofpeermentorswhohavesuccessfullynavigatedthetransitionfromtreatmenttoindependentlivingandaretrainedinpersonalcoachingtechniquesproventosupportindividualsinearlyrecovery,includingcraftingandfollowingarecoveryplan,attendingpeer-to-peersupportgroups,andpursuinggoal-orientedincentives.OHROCSenrolleditsfirstmenteesearlierthisyearandisontargettoserveaprojected330individualsinearlyrecoverywithinthreeyears.

To find out more about our community-based services, contact Odyssey House Admissions at: 212-987-5100; or send an email to: admissions@odysseyhouseinc.org

figure 1

Reduction in Substance Abuse-Related Outcomes for BUY-In Clients from Initial to Follow-up Interview (n=26)

0

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Reduc

tion i

n

Substa

nce U

se

Reduc

tion i

n Sub

stanc

e

Abuse

-Rela

ted P

roble

ms

Reduc

tion i

n Fam

ily

Proble

ms

Reduc

tion i

n Ille

gal

Activit

y

figure 2

7

“It’sprettyhardtogetkidsexcitedaboutvegetables,butthegardenmanagedtodoit,”saidMr.Wright.

Hecontinued,“ItalsohelpstodevelopmoreconnectionsbetweenOdysseyHouseandthecommunity.”Thefamilieshavebeenattendingmonthlymeetingsatthegardenandvolunteeringatevents,suchaspreparingproducebagsfordistributiontothehomeless.Inaddition,OdysseyHousehasconnectedwithanotherlocalorganization,NourishingNYC,asaresultofourparticipation.GardenersfromNourishingNYC,acommunityfoodprogramthatstrivestoachieve“nutritionforall”inNewYorkCity,willbevisitingtheManorFamilyCentertoprovideaHealthySummerEatingworkshopforchildrenandElderCareclients.

GardeningforHealth Continued from page 1

Preparing produce bags for the homeless.

FromFastFoodtoWholeGrainsCHEF program teaches healthy eatingThefirstcycleofthenewCreatingHealthyEatingFamilies(CHEF)programwrappedupatFamilyRe-Entrythisspringwithapotluckdinner.Theprogram,createdwitha$25,000grantfromAetna,focusesonimprovingthebasicnutritionandeatinghabitsofparentsandtheirchildren.Itprovideshands-onnutritionandcookingclassesforparentslivingwiththeirchildrenintheOdysseyHousefamilycenters.

ParticipantsmetwithnutritionistPauletteSinclair-Weirtwiceaweekforsixweeksandlearnedabouttopicssuchasreadingnutritionlabels,reducingportionsizes,increasingfruitsandvegetables,andfoodsafety.Sessionsincludedhands-oncookinginstruction,givingparticipantstheopportunitytotryouttheirnewculinaryskills.Theclassesculminatedinapotluckdinnerwhereresidentseachpreparedseveralvegetariandishesfortheirfamiliesandneighbors,demonstratingwhattheylearnedduringtheprogram.

Itwascleartheprogramhasalreadyhadapositiveimpactontheparticipants’livesastheytalkedaboutthechangestheyhavemadeintheirdietsasaresult.Oneresident,Teresa,wasabletoreducehercholesterolmedicationbymakinghealthysubstitutions,likebakinginsteadoffrying.Anothermother,Bernadette,whosaidshewasskepticaloftheprogramatfirst,startedusingfreshherbstoflavorherfoodandreducedhersodiumintake.Shesaid,“Theprogramtaughtmehowtocookmealstomytastethatwerestillhealthy.AndIlearnedIdon’thavetoputsomuchonmyplatetobesatisfied.”

TheCHEFprogramisbeingimplementedattheManorFamilyCenterthissummerfornearlythreedozenresidentsaspartofOdysseyHouse’songoingcommitmenttoimprovingthehealthandwellnessofparentsandchildreninresidentialtreatment.

FoundationAwardsFundInnovativeServicesUnrestricted grant supports agency-wide services Privatesupportfromfoundations,corporationsandindividualsfundsmanyoftheinnovativetreatmentprogramsOdysseyHousedevelops,fromhealthandwellnessinitiativestofacilityrenovations.Workinginpartnershipwithoursupportersweareabletoenhancethetreatmentexperiencesoftheindividualsandfamiliesinourprogramsandincreasetheirchancesofachievingalong-termrecovery.Arecentunrestrictedawardof$50,000fromtheLavanburgFoundationwillhelpfundimprovementstoouradministrativesystemsthatbenefitclientsintreatmentacrossourservicelines.Expressinghisthankstothetrusteesofthefoundation,Dr.PeterProvetsaidhewasespeciallygratefultoreceivesupportforgeneraloperatingcostsandacknowledgedlong-timeOdysseyHouseandFoundationboardmemberStephenGrossforintroducingustotheLavanburgFoundation.

“Itisincreasinglyrarefornonprofitorganizationstoreceiveunrestrictedgrantstohelpwiththecomplexadministrative,financial,andcommunicationfunctionstheyareexpectedtoperform.ThisgenerousawardfromtheLavanburgFoundationwillmakearealdifferencetoouroveralloperatingcapabilities,inparticularthecontinuedimplementationofclients’electronicclinicalrecordsandotherneededimprovements.”

Renewed support from Broadway CaresPreventionservicesforHIV/AIDSreceivedasecondyearoffundingfromtheatredistrictpartnersBroadwayCares/EquityFightsAIDS.The$5,000awardwillaugmentourHIV/AIDStestingservicesandtargetwomenintreatmentatourfamilycenters.

It is the mission of Odyssey House:To provide comprehensive and innovative services to the broadest range of metro New York’s population who:

• Abuse drugs• Abuse alcohol• Suffer from mental illness

To provide high quality, holistic treatment impacting all major life spheres: psychological, physical, social, family, educational and spiritual.

To support personal rehabilitation, renewal and family restoration.

In all of its activities, Odyssey House undertakes to act as a responsible employer and member of the community, and manage the assets of the organization in a professional manner.

95PineStreetNewYork,NY10005

odysseyhouseinc.org212-361-1600

On the Horizon

Odyssey House 6th Annual Run for Your Life

5K Run & Recovery Walk Saturday, September 24th

Join us to celebrate recovery in New York City!

Helpusspreadthewordfacebook.com/OdysseyHouse

Followusat@OdysseyHouseNY