SITE UPDATESADMIN OFFICE

CHILLICOTHE STEP HOUSE & TRANSITIONAL

COMPLIANCE

JOHNSON HOUSE

KENT’S PLACE

PREVENTION

WAVERLY OUTPATIENT

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORBIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES MEETING INFORMATIONCONTACT US

RECOVERY JOURNALRECOVERY JOURNAL

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ADMIN SITE SUBMITTED BY: MARCIA HALL

December has ended and so has 2 0 1 9 . Welcome 2 0 2 0 !!

In December, The Recovery Council hosted an agency- wide lip sync battle. This was followed by Admin’s Christmas luncheon at Ritchie’s. Everyone enjoyed the awesome acts and great food. This has been just one of the many events held throughout the year that makes The Recovery Council a great place to work.

Right before the lip sync competition, M ichael collapsed and was rushed to the emergency room. After surgery along with rest and care in the hospital, we are relieved to report M ichael is on the mend!!

We will be CL OSED M onday, J anuary 2 0th in observance of M artin L uth er K ing , J r. D ay.

ADMIN SITE December has ended and so has 2 0 1 9 . Welcome 2 0 2 0 !!

In December, The Recovery Council hosted an agency- wide lip sync battle. This was followed by Admin’s Christmas luncheon at Ritchie’s. Everyone enjoyed the awesome acts and great food. This has been just one of the many events held throughout the year that makes The Recovery Council a great place to work.

Right before the lip sync competition, M ichael collapsed and was rushed to the emergency room. After surgery along with rest and care in the hospital, we are relieved to report M ichael is on the mend!!

We will be CL OSED L uth er K ing , J r. D ay.

It is the first month of a new year with the excitement of new beginnings. L et’s all make this the best year yet!

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G reetings to AL L ! M erry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

It has been extremely busy and fun at Chillicothe Transitional over the past month. We would like to publicly congratulate five of our ladies who successfully graduated our program and are on to the next chapter of their recovery journey. We wish them the very best of luck in all they do, hope and pray they utilize all the coping skills they have developed, and continue to grow and learn.

The Holiday season encouraged us to tap into our creativity and imagination. Our ladies made cute little snowmen using socks, rice, ribbon and buttons.

Our staff and clients celebrated Christmas together with plenty of food, fun and fellowship. We ate and ate until we couldn’t eat any more and then we put our Christmas Recovery Shirts on and posed for a group photo in the beautiful sunshine.

Christmas parties usually are visited by Santa Claus. Not our Christmas party. We were extra super good this year so we were visited by M ogan and Tracy!!! M erry Christmas to AL L !!!

CHILLICOTHE STEP HOUSE AND TRANSITIONAL SUBMITTED BY: TAMMY HETTINGER

little snowmen using socks, rice, ribbon and buttons.

When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.”

~Napoleon Hill

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~Napoleon Hill

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You weren't an accident. You weren't mass

produced. You aren't an assembly-line product. You were

deliberately planned, specifically gifted,

and lovingly positioned on the

earth by the Master Craftsman.

~Max Lucado, The Christmas Candle

“

”

IMPORTANTCOMPLIANCE CONTACT INFO

Contact your on-site safety team member for info or q uestions on monthly and site- specific training.

Anita Huffman, safety director a.huffman@ therecoverycouncil.org F ax your drills/ training and house- keeping safety checks to Anita at 740-835-8439.

Brenda Scowden, compliance directorb.scowden@ therecoverycouncil.org Happy to help with all compliance issues.

IMPORTANTCOMPLIANCE CONTACT INFO

Contact your on-site safety team member for info or q uestions on member for info or q uestions on membermonthly and site- specific training.

Anita Huffman, safety director a.huffman@ therecoverycouncil.orgF ax your drills/ training and house- keeping safety checks to Anita at 740-835-8439.

Brenda Scowden, compliance directorb.scowden@ therecoverycouncil.orgHappy to help with all compliance issues.

COMPLIANCE CONTACT INFO

on-site safety team

COMPLIANCE SUBMITTED BY: BRENDA SCOWDEN

As we say goodbye to Christmas 2 0 1 9 and New Year’s 2 0 2 0 we start a new year with a new opportunity to be the best you that you can be. I always look forward to new occasions to be better, to be available, to improve and enjoy life, work, and the people that go with each. So happy January and welcome to 2 0 2 0 !

Please log on to Relias and make sure your training is up to date. I will be sending out a late report to the supervisor in January or talking with them in the performance improvement meeting.

Our safety training this month is F ire Safety and Exits. Your safety staff is available to answer q uestions and to help you be safe every day. If you want to send q uestions to Compliance / Safety please do so…. we love hearing from you. b.scowden@ therecoverycouncil.org or a.huffman@ therecoverycouncil.org

As we say goodbye to Christmas 2 0 1 9 and New Year’s 2 0 2 0 we start a new year with a new opportunity to be the best you that you can be. I always look forward to new occasions to be better, to be available, to improve and enjoy life, work, and the people that go with each. So happy January and welcome to 2 0 2 0 !

Please log on to Relias and make sure your training is up to date. I will be sending out a late report to the supervisor in January or talking with them in the performance improvement meeting.

NEXT BACKFIRST

January Safety Training

FIRE SAFETYAND EXITS

JOHNSON HOUSE SUBMITTED BY: PAIGE JACOBS

December was an exciting month here for us at The Johnson House! This month our ladies visited The Christmas Cave in M inford and were able to enjoy a carriage ride at Winterfest in Portsmouth along with all the festive and fun events going on there. Santa left them some goodies to unwrap on Christmas morning, as well as some for their kids. Our Johnson House staff were busy elves, as well, helping our clients through the difficult holiday time.

Speaking of staff, we enjoyed each other' s company and the delicious food of the Olive G arden at our holiday party. Way too much fun and shenanigans were had playing our version of Dirty Santa.

Happy New Year! We hope yours is the best yet!

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KENT’S PLACE SUBMITTED BY: WADE COTTRELL

M erry Christmas from all of us here at K ent’s!!! It is indeed “ The M ost Wonderful Time of the Year!”

Recovery is still front and center of everything we do here, but we have taken the time to step back, ensuring all can experience a break from the stress of work this season.

We recently held an outing at Shawnee L anes in Chillicothe to enjoy an afternoon of bowling. We have several excellent bowlers among our residents; 2 4 0 was our highest score that day! But the fun did not stop there. L ater in the month, we held our client/ staff Christmas party. Everyone enjoyed

great food and conversation. The residents made thoughtful family crafts to send home for the holidays. We also had a karaoke machine ( thanks M ary!) , so the halls were filled with song the entire afternoon.

Our clinical staff gathered on a separate occasion for a private Christmas party. We played games and listened to Christmas music while dining on barbeq ue & sides from 7 M ile Smokehouse in Chillicothe. We also had a white elephant gift exchange. I’ve never seen my fellow co- workers fight so much over lottery tickets and a blue tooth tower!!! It was definitely memorable; it’s always great to share times like these.

During this time, it’s important to remember how we can share the ultimate gift with others by simply being ourselves. All is well here; we hope you enjoyed the miracles of the season and experience joy in the New Year.

We recently held an outing at Shawnee L anes in Chillicothe to enjoy an afternoon of bowling. We have several excellent bowlers among our residents; 2 4 0 was our highest score that day! But the fun did not stop there. L ater in the month, we held our client/ staff Christmas party. Everyone enjoyed

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Happy Holidays from the Prevention Team! We hope you all have enjoyed your holidays and time spent with loved ones… and this AWESOME weather we have had!

Working in the schools throughout the holidays is such a blessing. We get to experience the joy of Christmas all month long. Nothing beats the excitement and anticipation leading up to Christmas break. We attended Christmas dodgeball tournaments at our schools, helped deliver and wrap presents for needy families, and watched our students participate in Christmas plays.

Over Christmas break, we have been grading post-tests and gathering data as we prepare for our next round of students. We had an average student growth of 20% on our post-tests! WOO-HOO!

We feel extremely blessed to work and serve the youth of our area. Thank you for your continued support all year long!

PREVENTION SUBMITTED BY: KAYLA HAMLIN

WAVERLY OUTPATIENT SUBMITTED BY: WILLA BOWMAN

Happy New Year Everyone! We hope everyone has a very successful year!

In December, clients enjoyed a week of treats each day and a delicious Christmas meal during Client Appreciation Week! They also made Christmas ornaments during that week. Waverly Outpatient, Peer Support, and Prevention chose Rooster’s for their Christmas staff lunch and gift exchange. Everyone had a great time eating good food, laughing, exchanging gifts and being all together. We especially liked making fun of Jessie Cook’s amazing gift wrapping skills. Can you guess which gift she wrapped?!

We’d like to applaud our WOP staff. Both our case managers were off and the counselors and supervisors took up the slack by transporting and performing all the case management duties for our clients, as well as doing assessments for Admissions. We really have the best bunch of people around at WOP.

We also want to thank Pam Johnson and The Recovery Council executive team who are so caring of their employees. The Christmas gifts from the agency were unexpected and awesome. The Recovery Council is a great place to work!

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have the best bunch of people around at WOP.

We also want to thank Pam Johnson and The Recovery Council executive team who are so caring of their employees. The Christmas gifts from the agency were unexpected and awesome. The Recovery Council is a great place to work!

In December, clients enjoyed a week of treats each day and a delicious Christmas meal during Client

Christmas staff lunch and gift exchange. Everyone had a great time eating good

making fun of Jessie Cook’s amazing gift wrapping skills. Can you guess which

counselors and supervisors took up the slack by transporting and performing all the case management duties for our clients, as well as doing assessments for Admissions. We really

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

― Abraham Lincoln

NEXTBACKFIRST

― Abraham Lincoln

“

NEXT BACKFIRST

– all support healing and improvement of executive function.

It doesn’t happen overnight, though. It takes a while. This is why it’s so important to keep clients engaged in treatment, at some level, for as long as possible.

L et’s make an agency wide resolution! L et’s be patient with our clients during this long brain healing process! L et’s teach them the skills to manage their emotions and behaviors. L et’s gently remind them when they are frustrated and acting out.

L et’s go over the rules and expectations EV ERY WEEK ! L et’s write the concept of the day on the board and refer to it throughout the day. L et’s praise them when we start to see the little improvements and point it out so they see that they are changing and getting better!

While we’re at it, let’s take care of our own broken

assignments. L earning takes place differently for different people. U sing a variety of methods to present information helps individuals learn in a manner that works best for them. In addition, when people use a variety of senses in the learning process ( sight, hearing, writing, speaking) their learning increases. Just the act of taking notes while listening can increase memory and learning.

6 . L ife skills: We back up and teach basic life skills. We teach time management and scheduling. We teach basic cleaning and self- care. We teach how to follow- through on assignments.

7 . Physical activity: Physical activity and exercise helps the brain heal more q uickly.

8 . Nutrition: We provide regular meals and nutritious food.

All the things we do in the day – consistent time to wake up, routine of getting dressed, scheduled groups and breaks, rules for conduct, meetings, wrap- ups, assignments, regular meals

evening wrap up at night. This is why it’s important that we adhere to a schedule, even on holidays and weekends. Again, the founders of AA got this right, too. They have the same routines. People introduce themselves the same way and the others respond in the same way. Each meeting, although maybe different from each other, has a pattern and a routine.

4 . Blurbs: M any staff probably think the blurb we have clients do at the end of

each group is for the benefit of the staff person when they write the progress note! That’s not the only reason for the blurb. The blurb helps the client focus and clarify what they are learning. It’s a strategy to help them make progress.

5 . Synthesis: We present information in a variety of ways – visual, video, lecture, meetings, readings,

are pretty darn difficult to be around!

It’s our job to remember this but we often forget and get frustrated. This is the reason why we ask everyone to talk to others before discharging a client. Oftentimes, we are punishing clients for having broken brains.

Things we do to help clients heal the executive functioning part of their brains:

1 . Rules: We have rules. We go over those rules. We post those rules.

2 . Repetition: We repeat basic concepts over and over! We have videos and worksheets and readings that talk about the same basic concepts. The founders of AA knew the importance of repetition, too. They repeat the meeting literature every single meeting. People repeat their names over and over! Those AA people knew that pickled brains are broken brains!

3 . Routines: We develop routines as a foundation for recovery. This is why we do morning meditation every day and

trauma. They might have been born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Their brains are broken because of trauma and neglect. They are broken because of their early use of substances. They are broken because they have used substances for many years. They are broken because they have had physical trauma and brain injuries. They are broken because they have had ongoing spiritual, emotional, and sexual trauma. And part of their brains that is most broken is the part connected to executive function.

When they come to us, they are not capable of doing all the things listed above – rational decisions, good memory, managing behaviors and emotions, following through on assignments, following rules consistently, shifting gracefully between tasks and expectations. They are not capable of being responsible, reliable, trust- worthy, dependable, or productive. Overall, they

monitoring behaviors that facilitate the attainment of chosen goals.

It allows us to follow rules, make rational decisions, and regulate our emotions and behaviors. It allows us to plan and follow through on tasks and assignments. It allows us to manage life and all the tasks associated with it. It lets us stop inappropriate and unproductive behavior. It allows us to shift and transition between settings and tasks. It is connected to our working memory and our ability to organize. It’s connected to our social and self- regulation skills. It allows us to be a reliable, responsible, trust- worthy, dependable, and productive person!

L et’s shift our focus to our clients.

Our clients have broken brains. Their brains were broken as a result of early childhood

January is often a time of reflection and planning. We look at our lives and evaluate our goals. We decide what we want to improve or change in our lives and develop a plan. Sometimes we follow through on it and sometimes we don’t. The ability to evaluate and plan is brought to us by the executive function process of our brain. This month, we are going to focus on executive function ( EF ) and how all the things we do in our programs promote the improvement of EF .

By definition, and according to Wikipedia, executive functions are a set of cognitive processes that are necessary for the cognitive control of behavior: selecting and successfully

brains! L et’s eat healthier and move a little more. L ove your co- workers and just want to spend time with them? G o for a walk during lunch, have a healthy carry- in or meet at the gym for lunch instead of socializing during smoke breaks or eating out! L et’s cut down on smoking a bit – just a 1 0 % reduction can help! If you’re in recovery, go to some meetings! If you’re not in recovery, go to some meetings! ( I promise it won’t hurt you and I promise it will actually make you better in all of your relationships and in your job.)

L et’s get our own EF in high gear and get our notes done on time. L et’s use our time management skills to be productive so when we leave for the day, we don’t have work hanging over our heads undone. L et’s be kind to ourselves by relieving the anxiety of being behind and worrying about when your supervisor is going to call you into her office.

Happy New Year! I hope 2 0 2 0 brings your health and happiness and healing. Be kind, love yourself 1 0 0 % and take care!

Pam

January is often a time of reflection and planning. We look at our lives and evaluate our goals. We decide what we want to improve or change in our lives and develop a plan. Sometimes we follow through on it and sometimes we don’t. The ability to evaluate and plan is brought to us by the executive function process of our brain. This month, we are going to focus on executive function ( EF ) and how all the things we do in our programs promote the improvement of EF .

By definition, and according to Wikipedia, executive functions are a set of cognitive

NEXT BACKFIRST

– all support healing and improvement of executive function.

It doesn’t happen overnight, though. It takes a while. This is why it’s so important to keep clients engaged in treatment, at some level, for as long as possible.

L et’s make an agency wide resolution! L et’s be patient with our clients during this long brain healing process! L et’s teach them the skills to manage their emotions and behaviors. L et’s gently remind them when they are frustrated and acting out.

L et’s go over the rules and expectations EV ERY WEEK ! L et’s write the concept of the day on the board and refer to it throughout the day. L et’s praise them when we start to see the little improvements and point it out so they see that they are changing and getting better!

While we’re at it, let’s take care of our own broken

assignments. L earning takes place differently for different people. U sing a variety of methods to present information helps individuals learn in a manner that works best for them. In addition, when people use a variety of senses in the learning process ( sight, hearing, writing, speaking) their learning increases. Just the act of taking notes while listening can increase memory and learning.

6 . L ife skills: We back up and teach basic life skills. We teach time management and scheduling. We teach basic cleaning and self- care. We teach how to follow- through on assignments.

7 . Physical activity: Physical activity and exercise helps the brain heal more q uickly.

8 . Nutrition: We provide regular meals and nutritious food.

All the things we do in the day – consistent time to wake up, routine of getting dressed, scheduled groups and breaks, rules for conduct, meetings, wrap- ups, assignments, regular meals

evening wrap up at night. This is why it’s important that we adhere to a schedule, even on holidays and weekends. Again, the founders of AA got this right, too. They have the same routines. People introduce themselves the same way and the others respond in the same way. Each meeting, although maybe different from each other, has a pattern and a routine.

4 . Blurbs: M any staff probably think the blurb we have clients do at the end of

each group is for the benefit of the staff person when they write the progress note! That’s not the only reason for the blurb. The blurb helps the client focus and clarify what they are learning. It’s a strategy to help them make progress.

5 . Synthesis: We present information in a variety of ways – visual, video, lecture, meetings, readings,

are pretty darn difficult to be around!

It’s our job to remember this but we often forget and get frustrated. This is the reason why we ask everyone to talk to others before discharging a client. Oftentimes, we are punishing clients for having broken brains.

Things we do to help clients heal the executive functioning part of their brains:

1 . Rules: We have rules. We go over those rules. We post those rules.

2 . Repetition: We repeat basic concepts over and over! We have videos and worksheets and readings that talk about the same basic concepts. The founders of AA knew the importance of repetition, too. They repeat the meeting literature every single meeting. People repeat their names over and over! Those AA people knew that pickled brains are broken brains!

3 . Routines: We develop routines as a foundation for recovery. This is why we do morning meditation every day and

trauma. They might have been born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Their brains are broken because of trauma and neglect. They are broken because of their early use of substances. They are broken because they have used substances for many years. They are broken because they have had physical trauma and brain injuries. They are broken because they have had ongoing spiritual, emotional, and sexual trauma. And part of their brains that is most broken is the part connected to executive function.

When they come to us, they are not capable of doing all the things listed above – rational decisions, good memory, managing behaviors and emotions, following through on assignments, following rules consistently, shifting gracefully between tasks and expectations. They are not capable of being responsible, reliable, trust- worthy, dependable, or productive. Overall, they

trauma. They might have been born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Their brains are broken because of trauma and neglect. They are broken because of their early use of substances. They are broken because they have used substances for many years. They are broken because they have had physical trauma and brain injuries. They are broken because they have had ongoing spiritual, emotional, and sexual trauma. And part of their brains that is most broken is the part connected to executive function.

monitoring behaviors that facilitate the attainment of chosen goals.

It allows us to follow rules, make rational decisions, and regulate our emotions and behaviors. It allows us to plan and follow through on tasks and assignments. It allows us to manage life and all the tasks associated with it. It lets us stop inappropriate and unproductive behavior. It allows us to shift and transition between settings and tasks. It is connected to our working memory and our ability to organize. It’s connected to our social and self- regulation skills. It allows us to be a reliable, responsible, trust- worthy, dependable, and productive person!

L et’s shift our focus to our clients.

Our clients have broken brains. Their brains were broken as a result of early childhood

January is often a time of reflection and planning. We look at our lives and evaluate our goals. We decide what we want to improve or change in our lives and develop a plan. Sometimes we follow through on it and sometimes we don’t. The ability to evaluate and plan is brought to us by the executive function process of our brain. This month, we are going to focus on executive function ( EF ) and how all the things we do in our programs promote the improvement of EF .

By definition, and according to Wikipedia, executive functions are a set of cognitive processes that are necessary for the cognitive control of behavior: selecting and successfully

brains! L et’s eat healthier and move a little more. L ove your co- workers and just want to spend time with them? G o for a walk during lunch, have a healthy carry- in or meet at the gym for lunch instead of socializing during smoke breaks or eating out! L et’s cut down on smoking a bit – just a 1 0 % reduction can help! If you’re in recovery, go to some meetings! If you’re not in recovery, go to some meetings! ( I promise it won’t hurt you and I promise it will actually make you better in all of your relationships and in your job.)

L et’s get our own EF in high gear and get our notes done on time. L et’s use our time management skills to be productive so when we leave for the day, we don’t have work hanging over our heads undone. L et’s be kind to ourselves by relieving the anxiety of being behind and worrying about when your supervisor is going to call you into her office.

Happy New Year! I hope 2 0 2 0 brings your health and happiness and healing. Be kind, love yourself 1 0 0 % and take care!

Pam

NEXT BACKFIRST

– all support healing and improvement of executive function.

It doesn’t happen overnight, though. It takes a while. This is why it’s so important to keep clients engaged in treatment, at some level, for as long as possible.

L et’s make an agency wide resolution! L et’s be patient with our clients during this long brain healing process! L et’s teach them the skills to manage their emotions and behaviors. L et’s gently remind them when they are frustrated and acting out.

L et’s go over the rules and expectations EV ERY WEEK ! L et’s write the concept of the day on the board and refer to it throughout the day. L et’s praise them when we start to see the little improvements and point it out so they see that they are changing and getting better!

While we’re at it, let’s take care of our own broken

assignments. L earning takes place differently for different people. U sing a variety of methods to present information helps individuals learn in a manner that works best for them. In addition, when people use a variety of senses in the learning process ( sight, hearing, writing, speaking) their learning increases. Just the act of taking notes while listening can increase memory and learning.

6 . L ife skills: We back up and teach basic life skills. We teach time management and scheduling. We teach basic cleaning and self- care. We teach how to follow- through on assignments.

7 . Physical activity: Physical activity and exercise helps the brain heal more q uickly.

8 . Nutrition: We provide regular meals and nutritious food.

All the things we do in the day – consistent time to wake up, routine of getting dressed, scheduled groups and breaks, rules for conduct, meetings, wrap- ups, assignments, regular meals

evening wrap up at night. This is why it’s important that we adhere to a schedule, even on holidays and weekends. Again, the founders of AA got this right, too. They have the same routines. People introduce themselves the same way and the others respond in the same way. Each meeting, although maybe different from each other, has a pattern and a routine.

4 . Blurbs: M any staff probably think the blurb we have clients do at the end of

each group is for the benefit of the staff person when they write the progress note! That’s not the only reason for the blurb. The blurb helps the client focus and clarify what they are learning. It’s a strategy to help them make progress.

5 . Synthesis: We present information in a variety of ways – visual, video, lecture, meetings, readings,

each group is for the benefit of the staff person

are pretty darn difficult to be around!

It’s our job to remember this but we often forget and get frustrated. This is the reason why we ask everyone to talk to others before discharging a client. Oftentimes, we are punishing clients for having broken brains.

Things we do to help clients heal the executive functioning part of their brains:

1 . Rules: We have rules. We go over those rules. We post those rules.

2 . Repetition: We repeat basic concepts over and over! We have videos and worksheets and readings that talk about the same basic concepts. The founders of AA knew the importance of repetition, too. They repeat the meeting literature every single meeting. People repeat their names over and over! Those AA people knew that pickled brains are broken brains!

3 . Routines: We develop routines as a foundation for recovery. This is why we do morning meditation every day and

trauma. They might have been born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Their brains are broken because of trauma and neglect. They are broken because of their early use of substances. They are broken because they have used substances for many years. They are broken because they have had physical trauma and brain injuries. They are broken because they have had ongoing spiritual, emotional, and sexual trauma. And part of their brains that is most broken is the part connected to executive function.

When they come to us, they are not capable of doing all the things listed above – rational decisions, good memory, managing behaviors and emotions, following through on assignments, following rules consistently, shifting gracefully between tasks and expectations. They are not capable of being responsible, reliable, trust- worthy, dependable, or productive. Overall, they

monitoring behaviors that facilitate the attainment of chosen goals.

It allows us to follow rules, make rational decisions, and regulate our emotions and behaviors. It allows us to plan and follow through on tasks and assignments. It allows us to manage life and all the tasks associated with it. It lets us stop inappropriate and unproductive behavior. It allows us to shift and transition between settings and tasks. It is connected to our working memory and our ability to organize. It’s connected to our social and self- regulation skills. It allows us to be a reliable, responsible, trust- worthy, dependable, and productive person!

L et’s shift our focus to our clients.

Our clients have broken brains. Their brains were broken as a result of early childhood

January is often a time of reflection and planning. We look at our lives and evaluate our goals. We decide what we want to improve or change in our lives and develop a plan. Sometimes we follow through on it and sometimes we don’t. The ability to evaluate and plan is brought to us by the executive function process of our brain. This month, we are going to focus on executive function ( EF ) and how all the things we do in our programs promote the improvement of EF .

By definition, and according to Wikipedia, executive functions are a set of cognitive processes that are necessary for the cognitive control of behavior: selecting and successfully

brains! L et’s eat healthier and move a little more. L ove your co- workers and just want to spend time with them? G o for a walk during lunch, have a healthy carry- in or meet at the gym for lunch instead of socializing during smoke breaks or eating out! L et’s cut down on smoking a bit – just a 1 0 % reduction can help! If you’re in recovery, go to some meetings! If you’re not in recovery, go to some meetings! ( I promise it won’t hurt you and I promise it will actually make you better in all of your relationships and in your job.)

L et’s get our own EF in high gear and get our notes done on time. L et’s use our time management skills to be productive so when we leave for the day, we don’t have work hanging over our heads undone. L et’s be kind to ourselves by relieving the anxiety of being behind and worrying about when your supervisor is going to call you into her office.

Happy New Year! I hope 2 0 2 0 brings your health and happiness and healing. Be kind, love yourself 1 0 0 % and take care!

Pam

NEXT BACKFIRST

– all support healing and improvement of executive function.

It doesn’t happen overnight, though. It takes a while. This is why it’s so important to keep clients engaged in treatment, at some level, for as long as possible.

L et’s make an agency wide resolution! L et’s be patient with our clients during this long brain healing process! L et’s teach them the skills to manage their emotions and behaviors. L et’s gently remind them when they are frustrated and acting out.

L et’s go over the rules and expectations EV ERY WEEK ! L et’s write the concept of the day on the board and refer to it throughout the day. L et’s praise them when we start to see the little improvements and point it out so they see that they are changing and getting better!

While we’re at it, let’s take care of our own broken

– all support healing and improvement of executive function.

It doesn’t happen overnight, though. It takes a while. This is why it’s so important to keep clients engaged in treatment, at some level, for as long as possible.

L et’s make an agency wide resolution! L et’s be patient with our clients during this long brain healing process! L et’s teach them the skills to manage their emotions and behaviors. L et’s gently remind them when they are frustrated and acting out.

assignments. L earning takes place differently for different people. U sing a variety of methods to present information helps individuals learn in a manner that works best for them. In addition, when people use a variety of senses in the learning process ( sight, hearing, writing, speaking) their learning increases. Just the act of taking notes while listening can increase memory and learning.

6 . L ife skills: We back up and teach basic life skills. We teach time management and scheduling. We teach basic cleaning and self- care. We teach how to follow- through on assignments.

7 . Physical activity: Physical activity and exercise helps the brain heal more q uickly.

8 . Nutrition: We provide regular meals and nutritious food.

All the things we do in the day – consistent time to wake up, routine of getting dressed, scheduled groups and breaks, rules for conduct, meetings, wrap- ups, assignments, regular meals

evening wrap up at night. This is why it’s important that we adhere to a schedule, even on holidays and weekends. Again, the founders of AA got this right, too. They have the same routines. People introduce themselves the same way and the others respond in the same way. Each meeting, although maybe different from each other, has a pattern and a routine.

4 . Blurbs: M any staff probably think the blurb we have clients do at the end of

each group is for the benefit of the staff person when they write the progress note! That’s not the only reason for the blurb. The blurb helps the client focus and clarify what they are learning. It’s a strategy to help them make progress.

5 . Synthesis: We present information in a variety of ways – visual, video, lecture, meetings, readings,

are pretty darn difficult to be around!

It’s our job to remember this but we often forget and get frustrated. This is the reason why we ask everyone to talk to others before discharging a client. Oftentimes, we are punishing clients for having broken brains.

Things we do to help clients heal the executive functioning part of their brains:

1 . Rules: We have rules. We go over those rules. We post those rules.

2 . Repetition: We repeat basic concepts over and over! We have videos and worksheets and readings that talk about the same basic concepts. The founders of AA knew the importance of repetition, too. They repeat the meeting literature every single meeting. People repeat their names over and over! Those AA people knew that pickled brains are broken brains!

3 . Routines: We develop routines as a foundation for recovery. This is why we do morning meditation every day and

trauma. They might have been born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Their brains are broken because of trauma and neglect. They are broken because of their early use of substances. They are broken because they have used substances for many years. They are broken because they have had physical trauma and brain injuries. They are broken because they have had ongoing spiritual, emotional, and sexual trauma. And part of their brains that is most broken is the part connected to executive function.

When they come to us, they are not capable of doing all the things listed above – rational decisions, good memory, managing behaviors and emotions, following through on assignments, following rules consistently, shifting gracefully between tasks and expectations. They are not capable of being responsible, reliable, trust- worthy, dependable, or productive. Overall, they

monitoring behaviors that facilitate the attainment of chosen goals.

It allows us to follow rules, make rational decisions, and regulate our emotions and behaviors. It allows us to plan and follow through on tasks and assignments. It allows us to manage life and all the tasks associated with it. It lets us stop inappropriate and unproductive behavior. It allows us to shift and transition between settings and tasks. It is connected to our working memory and our ability to organize. It’s connected to our social and self- regulation skills. It allows us to be a reliable, responsible, trust- worthy, dependable, and productive person!

L et’s shift our focus to our clients.

Our clients have broken brains. Their brains were broken as a result of early childhood

January is often a time of reflection and planning. We look at our lives and evaluate our goals. We decide what we want to improve or change in our lives and develop a plan. Sometimes we follow through on it and sometimes we don’t. The ability to evaluate and plan is brought to us by the executive function process of our brain. This month, we are going to focus on executive function ( EF ) and how all the things we do in our programs promote the improvement of EF .

By definition, and according to Wikipedia, executive functions are a set of cognitive processes that are necessary for the cognitive control of behavior: selecting and successfully

brains! L et’s eat healthier and move a little more. L ove your co- workers and just want to spend time with them? G o for a walk during lunch, have a healthy carry- in or meet at the gym for lunch instead of socializing during smoke breaks or eating out! L et’s cut down on smoking a bit – just a 1 0 % reduction can help! If you’re in recovery, go to some meetings! If you’re not in recovery, go to some meetings! ( I promise it won’t hurt you and I promise it will actually make you better in all of your relationships and in your job.)

L et’s get our own EF in high gear and get our notes done on time. L et’s use our time management skills to be productive so when we leave for the day, we don’t have work hanging over our heads undone. L et’s be kind to ourselves by relieving the anxiety of being behind and worrying about when your supervisor is going to call you into her office.

Happy New Year! I hope 2 0 2 0 brings your health and happiness and healing. Be kind, love yourself 1 0 0 % and take care!

Pam

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Shawna Rose ❅ January 2 nd ❅ 1 yearJoshua Adkins ❅ January 7 th ❅ 1 year K athy Conklin ❅ January 7 th ❅ 4 yearsAngela Pemberton ❅ January 9 th ❅ 2 yearsAshley Pennington ❅ January 1 0 th ❅ 9 yearsK rista L eeth ❅ January 1 4 th ❅ 1 yearAndrew Wright ❅ January 1 4 th ❅ 1 yearTiffany Wolford ❅ January 1 8 th ❅ 7 yearsEric Bennett ❅ January 2 2 nd ❅ 1 yearRenee Dunkin ❅ January 2 2 nd ❅ 1 yearRocky Dunkin ❅ January 2 2 nd ❅ 1 yearM onica Chapman ❅ January 2 8 th ❅ 4 yearsAmy F yffe ❅ January 3 1 st ❅ 6 years

Sargina Engle January 1 st

K elly Sheets January 4 th

Rae Heimbach January 5 th

M ary Irwin January 7 th

L ynn M iner January 8 th

Scott Jones January 1 1 th

K ayla Arrowood January 1 3 th

Elizabeth Ward January 1 4 th

Iris Z iegenhardt January 1 9 th

Joseph Perdue January 2 1 st

Danielle Snyder January 2 1 st

K elly Watson January 2 1 st

Clint Williams January 2 4 th

Tristan Barker January 2 8 th

Anita Huffman January 3 0 th

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TRC WOMEN’S RECOVERY SUPPORT MEETINGG race U nited M ethodist Church1 0 4 S. High Street • Waverly, Ohio 4 5 6 9 0 Wednesdays from 1 2 : 1 0 - 1 2 : 5 0 pm.NOTE: The Recovery Council Staff OnlyContact Carly Price 7 4 0 - 7 0 8 - 4 0 1 5 .

GEORGIE HARRIS HOUSE1 4 5 7 4 U S- 2 3 • Waverly, Ohio 4 5 6 9 0 Tuesday 7 : 3 0 – open discussion Thursday 7 : 3 0 – women only NA meeting

GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH1 0 4 S. High Street • Waverly, Ohio 4 5 6 9 0 Wednesday 7 : 3 0 – open discussion

UNDERSTANDING AA’S 12 STEPSWaverly Presbyterian Church 2 1 1 Schmitt Drive ( Behind K roger’s)M onday 7 : 0 0 pm

MONDAY LEAD MEETINGSenior Citizens Building 2 5 E M ound Street • Jackson, Ohio 4 5 6 4 0 M ondays at 7 : 3 0 pm

REJOICING IN RECOVERYCornerstone U M C8 0 8 Offnere Street • Portsmouth, Ohio 4 5 6 6 2 Dinner 5 : 3 0 pmL oved Ones G roup meets 6 : 1 5 pm

LIGHTHOUSE2 9 1 South Paint St. Breakfast L ead M eeting Chillicothe, Ohio 4 5 6 0 1 Doughnuts and CoffeeDaily M eetings at noon 8 : 3 0 am L ead, 9 : 0 0 pm ( Successful Recovery Stories)

NEW COVENANT CHURCH OF CHRIST & CHRISTIAN UNION5 3 5 E. Second St.• Waverly, Ohio 4 5 6 9 0L oved Ones G roup meets first Thursday each month at 7 : 0 0 pmContact L inda G ullion 7 4 0 - 7 0 8 - 0 7 5 1 or M ary Deacon 7 4 0 - 9 4 7 - 0 0 5 0

HANG IN THEREG race U nited M ethodist Church1 0 4 S. High Street • Waverly, Ohio 4 5 6 9 0 Tuesdays at noon. Everyone is welcome!!Contact Jody Colley 7 4 0 - 9 3 5 - 6 0 8 3 or K ayla Havens 7 4 0 - 6 4 8 - 5 1 1 6

C omp l ete AA/ N A meeting l isting s for P ik e & R oss C ounty now av ail abl e in al l treatment facil ities and in th e Administrativ e Buil ding .

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LIGHTHOUSE

G iv e us a cal l for more information about our serv ices and up dates.

The Recovery CouncilP.O. Box 2 2 6 Waverly, Ohio 4 5 6 9 0

( 7 4 0 ) 9 4 7 - 6 7 2 7

V isit us on the web at www.therecoverycouncil.org

www.facebook.com/ therecoverycouncil

The Recovery Council is a Contract Agency of the Paint V alley ADAM H Board and is governed by a Board of Directors as well as community leaders

who give their time and talents to further the mission.

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