Living Large n FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 1

Living LargeFEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN RECOVERY

RecoveryALL IES

ADVOCATE • CELEBRATE • EDUCATE

A PUBLICATION OF RECOVERY ALLIES OF WEST MICHIGAN

recoveryallies.usKevin McLaughlin, Executive Director Sara Vanderleest, Assistant Director

Recovery Community Organization (RCO)Phone: 616-262-8531• Email: kevin@recoveryallies.us

STIRRING THE POT IN THIS ISSUE WE ARE GOING TO STIR THE POT A LITTLE

By KEVIN MCLAUGHLINDirector of Recovery Allies of West MI

Stirring the pot results in changing the way the soup turns out. Sometimes it keeps the soup from burning. Part of the revolution taking place in the field of addiction treatment and recov-ery support is recognizing the problems with treatment today and how recovery coaching fills a much needed gap. In-side this issue you will find an article by Bill White on how individuals working in the treatment field are being challenged to look at how we currently view the re-covery process. You will also find an ar-ticle by Tom McHale which talks about how we need to look closer at the concept of multiple pathways to recovery. Also here I want to touch on two topics. One is how recovery coaches are shaping the landscape in the recovery community, and two, on a sensitive subject but true fact about addiction treatment today: there were over 130,000 “administrative discharges” in 2013. What are “administrative discharg-es”? When looking at documentation of administrative discharges, you will see words and descriptors like “non-compli-ant”, “disruptive”, “still actively using” or what some describe as “not ready for

treatment”. The problem with these words is that they are exactly the same words that describe and confirm that we do indeed have the disease we are being treated for! It is similar to asking the diabetic to leave treatment because they were asked to follow a strict diet and didn’t do so. Let me say two things. First, treatment has posi-tive effects. It has helped many, many, people. Second, the individuals that work in this field are my heroes. They know the system and method of deliv-ering services has some kinks and gaps and yet give their heart and soul to helping the suffering, wounded person. They work in an environment that often says that addiction is a disease with maladaptive behavior but actually, in many cases, are required to re-spond to these behaviors as though they are personal, moral or charac-ter failures. This situation is neither the fault of the treatment providers or of the individuals in the field. In fact the

word “fault” is not accu-rate. The word reason is better as in: There are val-id reasons for programs to discharge individuals; when they are forced to send someone packing for bad behavior, we need to

recognize that most pro-grams are not set up for any

other option. After all, what do you do with a person that

is negatively effecting other people as they work on their re-

covery? There are answers, and some places have adapted, but it’s

a tough question. Remember, I’m just stirring the pot today. So if there were over 130,000 administrative discharges in 2013, who helped them after they left treatment? The answer many times is a recovery coach. In many more cases, unfortunately that is not the answer. But it could be. It’s new,

it’s hard to fund, but the good news is that using them in many settings is proving so effective that people, agencies and gov-ernmental departments are warming up to the idea and funding is being worked out. Michigan in particular is the newly organized Office of Recovery Oriented System of Care. We are very fortunate to have some very forward thinking dy-namic people in that office that are willing to not only consider it but make it hap-pen. Imagine a day when anyone with insurance through the Affordable Care Act could have a coach….the people at OROSC do! Recovery coaching fills many gaps, one of them is in establishing recovery capitol. Many people that have recovered and survived cancer say that the scariest day of their recovery was the day they were successfully discharged. A similar situa-tion happens with addiction treatment. What happens to the cancer patient is no

See STIRRING page 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE• Pathways to Recovery

• Recovery Residence List

• Felony Friendly Employers List

• Upcoming Training & Events

• It’s a Family Disease

• Transformative Change as a Pathway

• The Depressing Truth about Recovery

‘I’m not telling you it will be easy, I’m telling you it will be worth it’

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 n Living Large 2

RECOVERY RESIDENCESRECOVERY RESIDENCESUNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY HEALTH FIRST STEP HOUSE – WOMAN’S HOME Contact: Rose Simmons Phone: 616-452-3226 Ext. 3037 Mailing Address: 904 Sheldon Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507 E-mail: rsimmons@umchousegr.org Website: umchousegr.org Home Address: 922 Sheldon Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507

HOUSE OF BLESSINGS – WOMAN’S HOME Contact: Shellie Cole-Mickens Phone: Update soon! Address: 938 Humbolt Street Southeast Grand Rapids, MI 49507 918 Hall Street Southeast Grand Rapids, MI 49507

NEXT PHASE – WOMAN’S HOME Contact: Freddy Martin Phone: 616.450.0686 Address: 368 Senora Ave Southeast Grand Rapids, MI 49508

SACRED BEGINNINGS – WOMAN’S HOMES Contact: Leslie Borrego Phone: 616-890-8278 E-mail: leslieborrego@gmail.com Home Address: 1165 Hermitage SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 1366 Elliott SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507 Website: www.sbtp.org

STEP FORWARD RECOVERY HOMES Address: Grandville Area Contact: Jo Ringnalda Phone: 616-662-0881

THE COMFORT HOME Address: South East Grand Rapids area Contact: Ron and Laurie DeBose Phone: 616-459-1930

MY SISTER’S HOUSE (WOMEN IN RECOVERY) Address:761 Bridge Street NW Phone: 616-235-0223

RECOVERY ROAD LLC – MEN’S AND WOMEN’S HOMES Contact: Shelly Demull Website: recoveryroadllc.com Home Address: 961 Alpine NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504 3036 Perry SW Wyoming, MI 49519

HOPE HOUSE – MEN’S HOME Contact: Matt Matlock Phone: 616-915-4664 or 616-246-6369

Mailing Address: 1036 Alexander SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507

NEXT PHASE RECOVERY – MEN’S HOME Contact: Freddy Martin Phone: 616-450-0686 Address: 1145 Alexander SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507

RECOVERY ROAD CHARITIES – TWO HOUSES FOR MEN Address: Alpine and Kentwood locations Phone: 616-915-0594

FAITH CHARITY RECOVERY CENTER – COUPLES HOME Address: 2219 Horton Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507 Contact: Dan or ZoeAnn Phone: 616-247-4744 or 616-808-5106

TOUCHSTONE RECOVERY

Address: 138 Travis St SE Contact: Kevin O’Hare Phone: 616-558-4958, Cell: 734-309-3091

PINE REST JELLEMA HOUSE Contact: Derrick Jackson Phone: 616-222-6861 Mailing Address: 523 Lyon Street Grand Rapids, MI 49508

BUILDING MEN FOR LIFE Address: Ottawa County Contact: Jeff Vantrees Phone: 616-393-2188

GRAND RECOVERY Address: PO Box 1060, Grand Rapids, MI Contact: Sanford Cummings Phone: 616-516-6537

In recent years research has painted a very different picture of what recovery looks like, not in terms of its visual appearance, but in how people gain access to and define their recovery. The old picture of a single recovery pathway has evolved into a broad range of diverse pathways and an expanding definition of what recovery means. Examples of diverse pathways include medication assisted recovery, harm reduction, secular recovery, faith based recovery, twelve step programs, spontaneous remission and the list goes on. Whether a person sees this new face of recovery as positive or negative doesn’t change the fact that 23 million Americans have recognized their alcohol/drug use as a problem and took corrective action. This is a reason to celebrate. It is also a time to express gratitude for the efforts of individuals and groups that forged the initial recovery path. The message emanating from the face of recovery is clear however, there is no single pathway. I had hoped treatment facilities in the private and public sectors would begin offering clients support options based on this new picture of recovery and the diverse pathways now available, but I continue to see a great deal of reluctance to get on board with multiple pathways and I have even read affirmations from treatment facilities expressing loyalty to the one pathway. I fully understand that there are people working in the treatment industry, who are in recovery, and maintain their recovery by using a 12 step pathway. This is great for that individual. I am concerned however with insistence on guiding everyone down the same recovery path. It is disheartening that clients unwilling to embrace a prescribed pathway are identified as

recovery resistant or worse dismissed until they get so sick they will accept a program of recovery they didn’t accept during better times. I believe as the field of addiction treatment moves toward the implementation of evidence based practices, the pathways introduced to an individual will represent the diversity now available. Choosing a pathway is a personal decision based on the person’s beliefs, values, culture and other extenuating circumstances. The role of the therapist is to help the individual find his or her own personal pathway. The treatment industry has an ethical obligation to support multiple pathways until the research tells us different.

Personally, I believe that we’ve been totally unfair to the initial pathway by creating an unrealistic expectation that this pathway alone could help EVERYONE. As a result, this pathway became a dumping ground for individuals that society did not want or could not serve, and the practice of forcing people to attend, compromised the supportive atmosphere for those who want to attend. The solution to addiction and maintaining recovery is not likely to come in one nice neat package. By supporting and facilitating multiple pathways we stand a much better chance of growing the number of people who stabilize in an addiction free lifestyle. Just think of how many more

lives we can reach by being open to multiple pathways that all work toward a common goal: to afford everyone the opportunity to recover from his or her addiction. I suspect that treatment facilities that learn this lesson will be the first to come out on top.

THE NEW FACE OF RECOVERY AND THE AGE OF MULTIPLE PATHWAYS By Tom McHale

Tom McHaleRecovery Supports Coordinator, Northern Michigan Substance Abuse Services, Recovery Center, Gaylord MI

Living Large n FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 3

One commonly hears in addiction treatment and in the rooms of recovery mutual aid circles that recovery is a time-involved, stage-dependent process. From the iconic Jellinek Curve of the mid-twentieth century to the equally iconic and currently popular transtheoretical stages of change model of Prochaska and colleagues, addiction recovery is often portrayed as a slowly unfolding process with the potential for progression and regression along the journey. And the stories of many people in addiction recovery precisely fit these depictions. But there is another style of recovery initiation that differs significantly from staged change (SC) in that it is sudden, unplanned, profound, positive, and permanent--a recovery conversion experience in which one’s life is forever cleaved into the categories of “before” and “after” in a matter of moments. This style of recovery has been christened quantum change or transformational change (TC). SC is like spilled molasses inching its way across a table; TC is like a lightning strike to one’s brain or heart. In 2004, I penned an article for Counselor in which I suggested five important lessons that could be drawn from studies of this TC style of recovery initiation.

TC is a viable, but poorly understood pathway of addiction recovery. Professional helpers need to be open to the potential for such sudden, conversion-like transformations in the lives of those they serve.

TC experiences often contain elements that closely resemble, and may be misperceived as, symptoms of psychiatric illness. Professional and peer helpers must be patient in allowing sufficient time and support to distinguish clinical deterioration from personal metamorphosis.

TC is often characterized by two overlapping experiences: a breakdown and a breakthrough. What many of the individuals transformed by such experiences retrospectively understand is that their addictions were imbedded within a damaged self that had to die before a new self could be born. Recovery is both destructive (the collapse of an indelibly stained self) and constructive (the emergence of a new self). This metamorphosis can occur over decades or a span of moments.

The TC experience has a momentum and trajectory that should not be altered or aborted by professional intervention. William James advises, “When the new centre of personal energy has been subconsciously incubated so long as to be just ready to open into flower, ‘hands off’ is the only word for us, it must burst forth unaided!” (1902/1985, p. 187).

The addiction counselor can help nurture and consolidate experiences of TC by:

n heightening awareness of the incongruity between the idealized and real self,

n creating opportunities for isolation and self-reflection,

n being with a person during the TC experience and

assuaging anxieties and fears related to the experience,

n helping frame the TC experience within a recovery-anchoring personal narrative,

n facilitating the transition from the TC experience to a sobriety-based identity and lifestyle,

and

n linking the TC-touched persons to a community of shared experience, or encouraging them to build such a community.

The messianic vision and evangelical zeal that are a common aftermath of the transformational change experience have spawned many recovery mutual aid and recovery advocacy movements. Addiction counselors never know when they may be called by history to play midwife in the birth of such movements.

Perhaps there is a broader lesson in all of this. That lesson is that there are brief developmental windows--defining moments--in all of our lives that provide opportunities to change who we are at a most fundamental level. The TC experience serves as a catalyst for addiction recovery, not by removing alcohol and drugs from an otherwise unchanged person, but by birthing a new self in which alcohol and other drugs have no role. We who have been called to work in this ministry of recovery would be well advised to respect the potential for such mysterious and positive processes of change--in those we seek to help and in ourselves. For those wishing to learn more about this style of recovery initiation, I recommend the book Quantum Change by Bill Miller and Janet C’de Baca and my 2004 review of the history of transformational change in addiction recovery.

MAYBE IT’S NOT A PINK CLOUD... By Bill White

Advertise In Living Large!Currently distributed to 45 agencies/companies.

NEW EDITION OUT MONTHLY! Includes inspiring and thought provoking articles on

recovery, felon friendly employer list, meeting schedules for self help and much, much more!

Contact kevin@recoveryallies.us

Bill White From Bill’s November 6, 2014 weekly blog at willliamwhitepapers.com

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People are sometimes confused when they are told that addiction is a family disease. Some take this to mean that addiction runs in families. Others believe that it means that the family caused the addiction. Neither of these is correct. So what does it mean to say that addiction is “a family disease?” It means, quite simply, that when addiction enters a family, everyone who loves the addict or alcoholic is deeply affected. In fact, many of those who work in the field of addiction treatment and recovery believe that family members—to varying degrees—will become just as sick, or even sicker, than the addict. One can even make the case that family members will travel a parallel path with the person suffering from addiction—mirroring each of the diagnostic indicators of addiction.

Living the Small Life For example, while the person with the addiction becomes preoccupied and obsessed with alcohol or drugs, the family becomes narrowly focused on them (“What is he doing? What is he thinking? Where did he go? How is he feeling today?”) Just as the person’s obsession with alcohol and drugs causes him to neglect other important areas of his life, the family’s obsession with their using causes them to live increasingly narrow lives. To put it simply, life for the family becomes very small.

Tolerance Just as the person with the addiction develops an incredible tolerance for increasing amounts of alcohol or drugs, the family learns to tolerate behavior which they would never accept from anyone else. They find themselves paying the addict’s bills, bailing them out of jail repeatedly, allowing temper tantrums, and making excuses for outrageous behaviors.

Withdrawal When the addicted person is deprived of access to alcohol or drugs, he experiences physical and emotional pain and distress. When the family does

not know where he is and what he is doing, they often feel intense anxiety—sometimes terror—as they imagine the worst possible scenarios. This sometimes causes family members to actually purchase alcohol or illegal drugs for them so they can use “safely” at home.

Loss of Control In time, the person struggling with addiction begins to lose control over how much alcohol or drugs he will use. He will make promises to his family and to himself that he will limit his use—fully intending to do so. He will buy enough beer—he thinks—to last a week and finds that it’s gone after one night. Similarly, the family will draw a line in the sand and say, “This is the last time we bail you out of jail!” only to find themselves doing it over and over again. Family members will lose control in another ways as well. Sooner or later, they start screaming—demanding that they stop his use of alcohol or drugs.

Continuation of Mistakes Despite Negative Consequences Just as the addicted family member continues to use alcohol or drugs despite being thrown into jail, losing jobs, and ending relationships, so the family finds themselves continuing to scream and enable despite considerable evidence that these behaviors not only do not work, but make the problem worse—screaming gives them an excuse to use; enabling gives them the opportunity.

The Way Out One of the most important things for people suffering with addiction to understand is that there is a way out of the nightmare which has descended upon their lives. In short, recovery is possible. However, this often starts when they receive the “gift of desperation”—the awareness that he can no longer live with alcohol or drugs in his life. Similarly, most families need to receive that same gift—realizing that most of what they have done, no matter how well-intended, has not

worked. They need to understand that there is a way out of their nightmare as well. As the family disease concept has become more commonly recognized, therapists and support groups such as Al-Anon have become life-savers to those who love and live with addicts.

Mark Thomson is Director of Special Projects at D.A. Blodgett-St. John’s and serves on the Kent County Prevention Coalition, The Turning Point Advisory Council, and Recovery Allies of West Michigan, an advocacy coalition for those in recovery. Recovery Allies of West Michigan advocates for everyone affected by addiction, including family members. If you want to learn more about this coalition, please contact Kevin McLauglin at kevin@recoveryallies.us

surprise. They are embraced with support of all kinds to ease their minds and encourage a holistic approach for con-tinued health. One of the most valuable types of support for them is that of a group. Interestingly, people have shared with me that one of the most beneficial kind of “group” was simply the one in the waiting room with the same folks week after week. So it makes sense to offer a group that allows those people to continue to connect and share. That’s how cancer, grief, divorce, and any other support groups started. In contrast, the addiction survivor upon discharge gets a schedule of meetings and hopefully some help with a therapist. One interesting thing is that in many settings for addiction treatment, the idea of exchanging numbers and helping each other along the way either during or after treatment is discouraged. This seems counter productive. Wouldn’t it be nice if, when a person gets discharged from addiction treatment , they would have those names and numbers of those who have experienced similar recovery journey? How much could a coach help, at this time, in in-

troducing the individual to a new social network, making their home environment a safe one to return to, and acting as a bridge from the support of a treatment community to the sometimes isolated journey of recovery in the commu-nity? In light of this discrepancy a new trend is emerging; the introduction of a recovery coach as the final step in the treatment continuum. Recovery coaches advocate for the individual on many different levels, they provide emotional support, practical support- getting people to understand the benefits of meetings, practical education on job seeking, etc. but they also advocate for the larger recovery community. One way they are doing this is by helping to start support meetings (other than 12 step) that provide a person with the opportunity to truly choose a path that fits them. Some ex-amples are All Recovery, Life Ring, Secular Recovery, Ref-uge Recovery, S.M.A.R.T. Recovery and White Bison. Some are run like 12 step meetings and some are informal discus-sion types. Some have facilitators and some don’t.

If anything I’ve mentioned in this article strikes a cord with you….if it sounds like your experience, or that of a loved one, and you’d like to create some change, here are some quick steps you can take. If you have a loved one in treatment, ask if they can be assigned a coach. If you know someone exiting treatment, consider working with them to ease that difficult transition. Look for new meetings in your area and help others find these groups. If you are a coach and/or a person in recovery looking for a certain style of meeting that might fit you and or people you are working with or would just like something different, consider start-ing one up in your community. Call us! We can help get you started with the process and help market it and bring others to work with you so it’s not a one person show. These are just a few ways that coaching can “turbo charge’ a person’s path to wellness. We are seeing a shift in how we can all work together. Working together is a game changer! It’s a new form of care and a new kind of outcome!

STIRRING continued from cover

ADDICTION - A Family DiseaseBy: Mark Thompson, MSW - Recovery Allies Board Member

Living Large n FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 5

Leonard Street Counseling CenterProviding individual and group counseling services

Accepting new patients and most insurances, including Medicaid and Healthy Michigan (no copays)

To schedule an appointment call (616) 954-1991

Cherry Street Health Services

Residential and Outpatient Center For Women Struggling With

Addiction to Drugs and Alcohol.

Sanford House is presently accepting clients. We invite you to learn more at sanfordhousegr.com

or call us at 616-288-6970

RECOVERY for WOMEN

866/852.4001pinerest.org/addiction-services

Recovery is PossiblePine Rest offers a full continuum of addiction services. With one call, we can guide you through the process of inquiry, assessment and admission to the most appropriate level of care. We will assist you with understanding your insurance benefit or what other sources of funding might be available, and we’ll qualify you or your loved one for treatment.

Our commitment is to treat you and your family with a welcoming heart, provide compassion and understanding in time of need and offer hope for recovery through excellent care.

• Individual Outpatient Therapy at 14 licensed locations• Intensive Outpatient Therapy (IOP) in Grand Rapids and

Kalamazoo• Outpatient Opioid Detoxification• Residential Detoxification• Residential Addiction Services• Short-Term Residential Services• Transitional Recovery Housing• Integrated Substance Use/Psychiatric Inpatient Services • Partial Hospitalization Program• Relapse Prevention Groups• Intervention and Family Services

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 n Living Large 6

As an individual in recovery, especially long term recovery, I am not always happy. I do not wake every morning and thank the universe that I am breathing that day, that being alive is just enough, and that because of the horrors I have overcome, no longer am I to be touched with the insignificant aches and pain of everyday life. I am to be invincible, right? The self judgment turns to shame and guilt; the depression sets in. For those of you who do not know, depression is like a slow motion fall, stayed in time, frozen yet falling all the same, just with no control. The world spirals around you in some frightening dance, and as a smile is worn upon your face, the separateness your mind feels from that smile is truly (almost) unbearable. Depression can make you wonder “why do I stay in recovery, wasn’t there supposed to be a Promised Land, where all the pain would disappear and life would become beautiful?” Although recovery IS a beautiful thing, life will throw at you what it wants.

Another problem it brings for those of us in long-term recovery is the fear of letting down the people who look up to us, or just look to us for support and inspiration. If we have a bad day, if we feel weak or vulnerable, we feel like we must maintain our positive attitude as a symbol of strength and willpower. It feels unsafe to any longer share the frailty of our human experience. Here’s the thing… it is not bad to question these things, it’s really all a part of recovery, or bigger than that, its a part of life, or should be. We should occasionally wake up feeling sad, weak, vulnerable or downright miserable. Why? Dissatisfaction can be our biggest motivator. Depression can sometimes be a big flashing light telling us that perhaps we are not living up to our personal truth, that being clean and sober or in recovery is NOT ENOUGH! There is an entire world out there that is messy, distracting, and hurtful and we can do something about it! That passion exists and it’s within reach, it just takes some soul searching, some meditation, prayer or mindfulness to discover, and a decision to dig deep to find the energy to do something for someone. Try it; it will help. When we feel alone in our weakness, that is when we will find the people or person who is truly there to listen, not to just be heard. It is in those moments we can DISCOVER who we are, who we can be and who we were meant to be. None of this is easy; it is the road less traveled. Facing these truths head on and staring them down when every bone in your body tells you to run, but you stay and fight. I am saying that this needs to be talked about more. Lets make it safe to say: “I

am in long term recovery and I feel sad and scared, “ and for that not to mean: “I am about to relapse.” It is a beautiful thing to admit as a symbol of strength, I am strong enough to know when I am weak.

THE DEPRESSING TRUTH ABOUT RECOVERYBy: Sara Vanderleest

FELONY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYERSAXIOS INCORPORATED 528 Bridge St NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504

ADECCO 1140 Monroe Ave Grand Rapids, MI49505

EXPRESS PERSONNEL 2330 44th St, Se Suite 1A Grand Rapids, MI 49508

UNITED CHURCH OUTREACH MINISTRIES 631 Hall Street Grand Rapids, MI 49503

JUBILEE JOBS INC. 935 Baxter St. Se Grand Rapids, MI 49506

EMPLOYMENT GROUP 3230 Broadmoor Ave. Se Suite A Grand Rapid, MI 49512

TROY TECH CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES INC. 1000 3 mile Rd. Grand Rapids, MI 49512

VAN ANDEL ARENA 130 W Fulton St, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

GOOD WILL INDUSTRIESLABOR READY 2438 28th SE Wyoming, MI 49519

BEACON SERVICES 4595 Broadmoor Ave, SE Suite 180 Grand Rapids, MI 49512

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AMERITEMP STAFFING 6151 28th St. Se Suite 9 Grand Rapids, MI 49546

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GILL INDUSTRIES 4328 Kalamazoo Ave. Se Grand Rapids, MI 49508

CLEANING COMPANIESAWWARD WINDOW CLEANING SERVICE 3552 Rodger B. Chafee Grand Rapids, MI

BYERS D C COMPANY 5946 Clay SW Grand Rapids, MI

AUTOMOTIVEMUFFLER MAN AUTO REPAIR CENTER 3300 28th St SE Kentwood, MI

CARQUEST AUTO PARTS STORES 801 Michigan Ne 3554 Alpine NW 6015 S. Division Se 2417 Northville Dr. NE 5007 28th St

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MANUFACTURING, FACTORIES, WAREHOUSESMODERN ROOFING 4741 21st

Dorr, MI Contact PaulAMERISUITES 5401 28th Ct. Grand Rapids, MI 49546RANIER 4701 East Paris Grand Rapids, MI 49546PRO FINISH POWDER COATING 1000 Ken-O-Sha Ind’l Dr. Se Grand Rapids, MI 49508PHILLIPS AND MEAD PAINTING 215 Sweet St. SE Grand Rapids, MI, 49505VI-CHEM CORPORATION 55 Cottage Grove St. Se Grand Rapids, MI 49507N-K MANUFACTURING TECH 1134 Freeman SW Grand Rapids, MI BUTTERBALL FARMS 1435 Buchanan SW Grand Rapids, MI AIMS FINANCIAL 4595 Broadmoore E Suite 297 Kentwood, MI 49512PRECISION FINISHING 1010 Chicago Dr. Grand Rapids, MIDEN KETELAAR PLUMBING 883 West River Dr. Comstock Park, MILEON PLASTICS 4901 Clay SW Grand Rapids, MI 49548PRIDGEON AND CLAY 50 Cottage Grove SW Grand Rapids, MI 49507SUPERIOR ASPHALT 699 Century SW Grand Rapids, MIERIE CONSTRUCTION 44th St Grand Rapids, MIB & G MOLD ENGINEERING INC. 2851 Prairie Grand Rapids, MI 49509CHALLENGE INDUSTRIES 3079 3 Mile Rd Grand Rapids, MI 49544

RESTAURANTSJIMMY JOHNS 63 Monroe CenterQuizno’s Sub 146 Monroe CenterSUBWAY 1202 Fulton St. WOLGA’S KITCHEN 3195 28th StFIRE MOUNTAIN 3725 Alpine NWWING HEAVENARNIES RESTAURANT AND BAKERY 710 Leonard St. NWBS’S MONGOLIAN BARBECUE 2619 28th St.BELTLINE BAR 16 28th St. Se BUFFALO WILD WINGS GRILL AND BAR 2035 28th St. Se 2121 Celebrations Ave Bob Evans 3766 Potomac Cr. GrandvilleCARLOS O’KELLY MEXICAN CAFÉ 4977 28th StreetCHECKERS RESTAURANT

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Without knowing that life in recovery can be scary, full of doubts and sometimes downright ugly, we are setting ourselves up for failure.

Without knowing that life in recovery can be scary, full of doubts and sometimes downright ugly, we are setting ourselves up for failure.

For more employers visit exoffenders.net

Living Large n FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 7

UPCOMING TRAINING & EVENTSRECOVERY COACH TRAINING

March 2nd - 6th, 2015 • 8:30am to 4:00pmAbout This Training: Recovery Allies of West Michigan is hosting the RCA five-day training opportunity. The training is designed to prepare participants for employment as a Recovery Coach as well as inform those that want to attend that may not be seeking employment as one. The training will provide participants with an in-depth and comprehensive training experience focused on the development of the skills required for a person to responsibly provide the services of a Recovery Coach. The training will provide participants tools and resources useful in providing recovery support services and will emphasize skills needed to link people in recovery to needed supports within the community. The cost of this training is $400.00 and worth 32 MCBAP hours. Lunch is included.

Who Should Attend: The RCA is open to individuals who have an interest in providing support, mentorship, and guidance to persons with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. Individuals who are interested in the RCA must be approved for participation by their employer, a coordinating agency or endorsed by someone in the community that can speak as a reference. RCA participants should themselves be individuals in stable recovery, as it is important to those served that their coach have a personal understanding of addiction and recovery. Email registration to sara@recoveryallies.us and call 616-254-9988 to pay by phone with credit card.

SUNDAY Midnight Courage Good Start 8:00am Fellowship Week-Enders - C NOON Freedom Celia Street - C NOON Fellowship Celia Street 12:30pm Unity Women’s Way - C 5:30pm Fellowship Fifth Tradition 6:45pm Fellowship Big Book Study MONDAY Midnight Courage Good Start 6:30am Fellowship Early Risers - C NOON Freedom Celia Street - C NOON Fellowship Celia Street 4:00pm Fellowship Search for Serenity - C 5:30pm Fellowship Fifth Tradition 7:00pm Fellowship Young People 8:00pm Fellowship Celia ST - C TUESDAY Midnight Courage Good Start 6:30am Fellowship Early Risers - C 8:00am Unity Primary Purpose NOON Freedom Celia Street - C NOON Fellowship Celia Street 4:00pm Fellowship Search for Serenity - C 5:30pm Fellowship Fifth Tradition 7:00pm Fellowship Young People 8:00pm Fellowship Celia ST - C WEDNESDAY Midnight Courage Good Start 6:30am Fellowship Early Risers - C NOON Freedom Celia Street - C NOON Fellowship Celia Street 4:00pm Fellowship Search for Serenity - C 5:30pm Fellowship Fifth Tradition 7:00pm Fellowship Young People 7:00pm Unity Women’s Stag - C 8:00pm Fellowship Celia ST - C

THURSDAY Midnight Courage Good Start 6:30am Fellowship Early Risers - C 8:00am Unity Primary Purpose NOON Freedom Celia Street - C NOON Fellowship Celia Street 4:00pm Fellowship Search for Serenity - C 5:30pm Fellowship Fifth Tradition 7:00pm Fellowship Young People 8:00pm Fellowship Celia ST - C FRIDAY Midnight Courage Good Start 6:30am Fellowship Early Risers - C NOON Freedom Celia Street - C NOON Fellowship Celia Street 4:00pm Fellowship Search for Serenity - C 5:30pm Fellowship Fifth Tradition 7:00pm Unity Young People 8:00pm Courage 12 & 12 Forward - C 8:00pm Fellowship Men’s Stag - C SATURDAY Midnight Courage Good Start 8:00am Fellowship Week-Enders - C 10:00am Unity Celia Street 10:00am Freedom Ladies Stag NOON Freedom Celia Street - C NOON Fellowship Celia Street 5:30pm Fellowship Fifth Tradition 6:45pm Auditorium Speaker’s Meeting 7:00pm Fellowship Young People

ALANO CLUB MEETINGS – SOUTH

CHERRY VALLEY GROUP 204 E MAIN ST • CALEDONIA

CLOSED MEETINGS – C.GR.ALANOCLUB.ORG

SUNDAY 9:30 am Balcony Sunday Morning Group 9:30 am 1 Expect A Miracle - C 9:30 am 2 Al-Anon Sun A.M. 9:30 am 3 Breakfast Group - C n No Noon Meeting On Sundays 2:00 pm A Sunday Serenity Group 5:30 pm Balcony Friendship Group 8:00 pm Balcony Young People’s AA 8:00 pm A Sun Night Men’s Stag - C 8:00 pm B Sun Night Beginners Group 8:00 pm 2 Sunday Night Al-Anon 8:00 pm 5 AA 12 & 12

MONDAY 9:00 am A Eye Opener Group 9:00 am 2 Al-Anon Step To Serenity 9:00 am 1 Breathe Easy Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group Noon A AA Lunch Group - C Noon 1 Surrender Group Noon 3 No First Drink Noon B NA–Keep Coming Back Noon 4 Noon Promises Group Noon 5 Keep On Growing Womens Stag Noon * AA in the Country 5:30 pm 1 Friendship Group - C 5:30 pm A Unwinder’s Group 5:30 pm B Free Pizza Group

8:00 pm Balcony Life Club 8:00 pm 3 NA Open To Change

TUESDAY 9:00 am A Eyeopener Group 9:00 am 1 Breathe Easy Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group Noon B AA Beginners Group - C Noon A AA Group -Issues & Tissues Noon 1 Surrender Group Noon 2 Al-Anon Noon 3 No First Drink Noon 4 Noon Promises Group 4:00 pm Balcony Food Addicts 5:30 pm 1 Friendship Group - C 5:30 pm A Unwinder’s Group 5:30 pm B Free Pizza Group 6:00 pm 3 Womens Way Thru Steps 8:00 pm 2 Al-Anon Tues Step Mtg 8:00 pm 3 24 Hours Group

WEDNESDAY 9:00 am A Eyeopener Group 9:00 am 2 Courage To Change (Al-Anon) 9:00 am 1 Breathe Easy Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group Noon A Men’s Stag Lunch Group - C Noon 1 Surrender Group Noon 3 No First Drink

Noon 2 Al-Anon Noon B NA-Keep Coming Back Noon 4 Noon Promises Group Noon * AA in the Country 5:30 pm Balcony Friendship Group - C 5:30 pm B Free Pizza Group 6:00 pm 2 Al-Anon 8:00 pm 3 Barefoot Group 8:00 pm B Bond Street (Men’s Stag) - C 8:00 pm B Bond Street Group - C 8:00 pm A Women’s Big Book Study 8:00 pm 1 Men’s Stag - Exp Str, Hope 8:00 pm 2 Al-Anon Wed Men’s Stag

THURSDAY 9:00 am A Eyeopener Group 9:00 am 1 Breathe Easy Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group Noon A AA Lunch Group - C Noon 1 Surrender Group Noon 3 No First Drink Noon 4 Noon Promises Group Noon 2 Al-Anon 5:30 pm Balcony Friendship Group - C 5:30 pm B Free Pizza Group n Club Closes At 7:00 pm

FRIDAY 9:00 am A Eyeopener Group

9:00 am 1 Breathe Easy Group 9:00 am 2 Stepping Stones (Al-Anon) Noon 2 Al-Anon Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group Noon A AA Lunch Group - C Noon B NA-Keep Coming Back Noon 1 Surrender Group Noon 3 No First Drink Noon 4 Noon Promises Group Noon 5 Big Book Study Noon * AA in the Country 5:30 pm 1 Friendship Group - C 5:30 pm B Free Pizza Group 7:00 pm Balcony KCCO Speakers Meeting 8:00 pm 1 Men’s Stag- Honesty Group 8:00 pm A Fri Night AA (Mixed) 8:00 pm 2 Fri Night Open Al-Anon

SATURDAY 8:00 am Balcony Food Addicts 9:00 am A Eyeopener Group 9:00 am 1 Breathe Easy Group 9:00 am 3 John Wayne - Men’s Stag - C Noon A Heavy Smokers Noon 1 Saturday Surrender Group Noon Balcony Men’s Stag Noon 2 Al-Anon Sat Sunshine Noon 3 Sat Noon Men’s Stag n Club Closes At 2:00 pm

ALANO CLUB MEETINGS – NORTH NON-SMOKING FACILITY. CLOSED MEETINGS – C. 1020 COLLEGE NE, GRAND RAPIDS – *GR.ALANOCLUB.ORG

• Learning Objectives for the Recovery Coach Academy: • Describe the roles and functions of a Recovery Coach• List the components, core values and guiding principles

of recovery• Build skills to enhance relationships

• Discuss co-occurring disorders and medicated-assisted recovery

• Describe stages of change and their applications• Address ethical issues• Experience wellness planning• Practice newly-acquired skills

SUNDAY 9:00am 7:00pm

MONDAY 7:00pm -

Women Only 7:00pm - Men Only

TUESDAY 6:30am NOON 7:00pm

WEDNESDAY 7:00pm

THURSDAY 6:30am NOON 7:00pm

FRIDAY 7:00pm

SATURDAY 10:30am 7:00pm

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 n Living Large 8

“The roads to recovery are many and that the resolution of alcoholism by any

method should be a cause for celebration by A.A. members.” – Bill Wilson, 1944

Recovery Allies recognizes that there are many pathways to recovery. Below are some that we know of. One way to advocate is to start one in your community!!

Some of the many pathwaysn Alcoholics Anonymous – www.aa.orgn Narcotics Anonymous – www.NA.orgn Al-Anon – www.ola.is.orgn Other A’sn Women in Sobriety – www.womenforsobriety.orgn Men for Sobriety – www.womenforsobriety.orgn Rational Recovery – www.rational.orgn Moderation Management – www.moderation.orgn HAMS – Harm Reduction Abstinence and

Moderation Support – http://hamsnetwork.orgn White Bison – www.whitebison.orgn S.O.S Secular Organization for Sobriety –

www.sossobriety.org

n Life Ring – www.unhooked.comn SMART Recovery: Self-Management and

Recovery Training-www.smartrecovery.orgn Celebrate Recovery – www.celebraterecovery.comn HAHA – Health and Healing Advocate'sn Pagans for Sobriety

Online Resourcesn Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Administration (SAMHSA) – www.samhsa.govn U.S. Department of Health and Human Services –

www.hhs.govn National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) –

www.drugabuse.govn 24/7 Help Yourself – www.24/7helpyourself.comn Sober Recovery – www.soberrecovery.comn Cyber Recovery – www.cyberrecovery.netn Addiction Tribe – www.addictiontribe.net

FEATUREDBOARD MEMBER

Heather Greko

Meet Our Board Members & Staff

Mark Thomson

Director of Special Projects D.A. Blodgett -

St John’s

Crystal KingCase Manager/Advocate

& Certified Peer Recovery Coach for

Arbor Circle

Catherine VanDe Wege

President of Promises of Hope Inc

Nonprofit

Scott Swinburne

Program Director at West Brook

Recovery Center

Heather GrekoExecutive Director for The Salvation Army

Turning Point Programs

Mark VandenBosch

Owner VandenBosch Counsel-ing Services, PLC

Kristin ReininkIntake Coordinator and

Recovery Coach Sanford House

Karima Diggs- Holmes

Recovery CoachArbor Circle

Steve AlsumExecutive Director

Grand Rapids Red Project

John RhodesCADC

Juvenile Court

Call or email for information on how

YOU CAN GET INVOLVED with Recovery Allies!

GET INVOLVED!!

Heather Greko is the Executive Director for The Salvation Army Turning Point Pro-grams. She first obtained a Bachelor of Sci-ence in Biology with a pre- med focus from Aquinas College, where she played basket-ball and was an Academic All- American. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselor Education from Western Michigan Univer-sity and is a Licensed Professional Coun-selor. Heather has specialized training in the areas of addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She also is a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Coun-selor and a Certified Clinical Supervisor. Heather began her professional career in addiction treatment as a therapist at Our Hope Association. She moved from Our Hope to The Salvation Army Turning Point Programs and was quickly promoted from therapist to Operations Manager. Heather moved into the role of Executive Director in 2013. During her time at Turning Point, Heather has excelled in program develop-ment as she created and implemented a Relapse Prevention Program and an Inten-sive Stabilization Program. She has helped Turning Point relocate to a new facility and successfully executed the implementation of a new Electronic Health Record. Heath-er is also a board member for The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center and she is a member of the National Association of Professional Women. Heather is passionate about helping the recovering community, and she strongly be-lieves in the core mission of Recovery Allies of West Michigan: To be a voice for the re-covery community, who work to reduce stig-ma, and help shape public attitudes towards individuals and families who are living with a substance use disorder.

from the FUNNY files