Addressing Addiction As a Family Disease See Story on Page 4
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wintervol. 23, issue 1 2012 Addressing Addiction as a Family Disease See story on page 4. FROM THE CEO TABLE OF CONTENTS Landmark addiction report reach published March 2017 is a call to action FEATURE STORY “Substance misuse is one of the critical public health problems of our time.” p.04 Addiction: A family disease Rosecrance program provides healthy techniques for healing and support That introduction from the landmark 2016 Surgeon General’s report on addiction sums up something we here at Rosecrance have known for decades. We recognized it in 1982 when LEADING THE FIELD we started treating teens for chemical dependency—as it was known back then—and again p.06 Fun glimpse at experiential therapies a decade later when we expanded and built a new treatment center for adults. p.07 Around the network Addiction is a complex brain disease with many risk factors, including genetics and age of first use. Rosecrance was founded more than 100 years ago as a children’s home to help p.08 Florian Program expands to serve families in need. Our history of working with kids is why we continue to operate the largest police and veterans residential treatment center for adolescents and young adults in the Midwest and why we specialize our programs to provide clients the best opportunity for lasting recovery. p.09 Alumni Program still going strong The Surgeon General’s report has made diagnosing and treating substance use disorders a p.09 Quitting smoking a target for young clients call to action similar to the report on the dangers of smoking released more than 50 years p. 10 Training helps people respond to mental health Philip W. Eaton ago. I remember my father talking about that report: He quit smoking cigarettes the day it President/CEO came out in 1964. p. 11 Team treatment helps mom find strength This report is certainly an affirmation at a time that is long overdue but still greatly ON THE MOVE appreciated, particularly in these times of uncertainty regarding what will happen p. 12 Rosecrance latest news with health care reform (or re-reform, as it seems). There is greater acceptance of our need to address these substance use issues, but that acceptance is hindered by changing GIVING social attitudes and mixed messages toward youthful substance use caused primarily by widespread legalization and decriminalization of drugs such as marijuana. p. 14 Annual benefit goes ‘country casual’ p. 14 Rosecrance Flower Day Despite the growing uncertainty in our industry, we continue to be focused on the basics of recovery. Rosecrance is grounded in the 12-Step traditions, offering evidence-based p. 15 The Foundation is on the run in 2017 and individualized treatment, medication-assisted therapy where and when indicated, and recovery support posttreatment. We recognize that recovery is a process, not an event. That p. 15 Other up-and-coming Foundation events is why we have the difficult but important conversations about sober living and recovery p. 16 Couple goes form ‘corps’ to core benefactors homes, we organize recovery-focused alumni events, and we keep families engaged. p. 16 The 1916 Society As we continue to grow and take on new responsibilities, providing help, hope, and Director of Communications: recovery to our clients and their families is still at the heart of what we do. This month’s Nancy Chamberlain p. 17 Rosecrance Lakeview campaign achieves goals cover story about our Family Program addresses that addiction is a family disease and offers Sr. Communication Design p. 17 Thank you to our generous donors a glimpse at how the program helps set boundaries and create healthy habits to help the Coordinator: Michelle Francis whole family achieve lasting recovery. Writer: Melissa Westphal OUR DONORS Photographer: Ethan Loomis p. 18 Honorariums and Memorials You will often hear me say that treatment works. I have personally witnessed the miracle of recovery, which allows moms and dads to get their kids back, spouses to begin healing their On the cover: Artwork p.20 2016 Donors broken families, and siblings to repair strained relationships with their sisters and brothers. was created by clients in They can find comfort in knowing that Rosecrance works every day to combat a stigma that Rosecrance substance abuse LEADERSHIP still exists for a disease that affects nearly 21 million Americans. programs. p. 31 Boards of Directors and leadership team This is our purpose, as we all go forward, by the grace of God, one day at a time. 2 reach reach 3 FEATURE STORY Peter Mowris leads the two-day Family Program at the in the community such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon. Harrison Campus, where adults of all ages are served in both residential and outpatient treatment. The audience for that A mother from McHenry County whose son completed program includes parents but also spouses, children, siblings, treatment at Rosecrance shared her story with Family Program and other relatives. participants in the fall. She stressed the importance of finding a support system at home; she attends Al-Anon meetings and has Both programs begin with introductions, where participants tell a sponsor she can talk to during good times and bad. their stories. Just having a safe space to talk about their loved ones provides some immediate relief. “I got my son back,” she told the group. “And I’m better because I’m using the tools and I have more confidence. “I remember “That basic introduction to empathy that lies behind recovery coming here … I was dreading it. I was so afraid. But listening is probably my favorite part of the whole experience,” Mowris to someone else’s story helped me so much.” said. “Typically, families have two to three giant questions; as they’re talking, I’m taking notes and I make sure to address the Helping families in Chicago Peter Mowris (left) and Kathleen Wolf lead Family Program at the Rosecrance Harrison and Griffin Williamson campuses, respectively. The programs are an things they bring up so they’re being heard.” immersive experience for parents, spouses, siblings, and other relatives who want to learn more about the disease of addiction and how it affects their loved ones. A natural expansion of the Family Program occurred when Sometimes, the questions are tied to specific events or times Rosecrance Lakeview opened in July 2016 in Chicago. of the year. During Family Program sessions this past fall, Lakeview’s first floor houses an outpatient substance abuse participants at both sites shared concerns about how to talk counseling center, and the second through fourth floors offer Addiction: A family disease about their loved ones in treatment at Thanksgiving and recovery housing for adults. Rosecrance program provides healthy techniques for healing and support Christmas. Two counselors facilitate the Lakeview program, which takes “Families are traumatized, and we’re responding to that,” Wolf place on the second and fourth Saturdays each month over Common themes of pain, heartache, and frustration often “Family is an important part of recovery. Parents, spouses, said. “This is their time, whereas so much of their time outside three hours. It’s open to clients in the outpatient program and surface as family members share stories about their loved ones siblings, and other partners are integrated into the treatment of here is spent worrying about the person with the addiction. to those who live in the recovery housing at Lakeview. at Rosecrance. process early on at Rosecrance,” said Dr. Thomas Wright, There are common experiences they can learn from and share Rosecrance’s chief medical officer. “Addiction is often a family here.” The setup mirrors programming at the Rockford campuses, said There are stories of drug use, of confusing behaviors that support disease; without addressing that component, sometimes Elizabeth Ellison, clinical coordinator at Rosecrance Lakeview. drug addictions, and of the guilt and shame associated with the recovery is less likely.” Mowris recently added client-specific family support groups to Education includes lessons about communication, relapse stigma of substance abuse. More often than not, there are also the Family Program experience at Harrison. There are groups prevention and how to identify warning signs and triggers. tears. How it works for families of opiate addicts, parents of young adults, families of co-occurring disorder clients, and families of women clients. It’s all part of the healing that begins during Family Program, Support for families goes hand-in-hand with Rosecrance’s The groups are facilitated by primary counselors who work on an essential part of the recovery process that takes place at mission to provide help, hope, and the best opportunity for the specific residential units. the Rosecrance Griffin Williamson and Rosecrance Harrison lasting recovery. campuses in Rockford, as well as at Rosecrance Lakeview in Families can attend the support groups while their loved ones Chicago. Today, the Family Program is similar across locations, but the are in treatment and afterward. Both Wolf and Mowris also programs are tailored to their unique audiences. make themselves available to families as resources outside of the Families gain some of the tools necessary to support their structured setting of the Family Program. loved ones in healthy ways. They learn that addiction is a brain Kathleen Wolf coordinates the three-day program at the Griffin disease, what therapies are used during treatment, and how to Williamson Campus. Participants are typically parents of the Knowing it works begin setting boundaries. adolescent and young adult clients, and education includes A sign directs participants to the Family Program at the Griffin Williamson information about adolescent development, family impact of Family Program coordinators also talk to families about relapse Campus, which specializes in treating adolescents and young adults for substance use disorders.