TAADAS advocates for meaningful and appropriate access to high quality addiction care and the tools to achieve these goals. Currently, TAADAS is concerned with the need for more state-funded substance abuse treatment options to serve those without any source for accessing recovery. We support both providers and consumers with these efforts, striving to influence and shape the available delivery system of health care services. In support of these goals, TAADAS secured an advocacy grant from the Healing Trust which will enable stronger more collaborative approaches.
TAADAS monitors state and national policies on addictions, co-occurring, prevention, and recovery-support services. If TAADAS determines the treatment and recovery communities are or will be negatively affected by existing or potential legislation or policy initiatives, we strive to reach out to our collaborative partners to address any barriers to service. Often, TAADAS is the voice for those who can no longer speak for themselves or who have simply given up on receiving help for substance use disorder or mental health treatment services.
TAADAS and TAMHO members met with Governor Bill Haslam on October 17, 2016 to discuss needed funding for addiction services in Tennessee. The delegates included the following members pictured (from left to right) Paul Fuchcar, CEO of CADAS in Chattanooga; Barry Cooper, CEO of JACOA in Jackson; Governor Bill Haslam; Jerry Vagnier, CEO of Helen Ross McNabb in Knoxville; and Jimmie Jackson, CEO of Professional Care Services in Covington. The group was joined by Marie Williams, Deputy Commissioner of TDMHSAS.
The delegation described the need for a distinct and clear pathway to access treatment for those without insurance. Such a pathway would positively impact Tennesseans, their family members and communities. The delegation described ways to improve access to treatment and to double the available treatment capacity to help more than 10,000 Tennesseans in a multi-year initiative. (see attachment) TAADAS will provide further updates on this initiative as they become available.
The first-ever Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health reviews what we know about substance misuse and how you can use that knowledge to address substance misuse and related consequences. The last chapter of the Report presents a vision for the future, five general messages, their implications for policy and practice, and recommendations for specific stakeholder groups.
Freeman Recovery Center Open House
Freeman Recovery Center in Dickson, Tennessee has a remarkable his-tory and legacy. Built in the early 1900s, the Freeman house is a two-story colonial home (about 4,700 square feet) that housed both the first mayor of Dickson as well as be-ing the childhood home of their cur-rent state representative. The home has been restored to showcase many fine details and to provide a welcoming environment.
The home now houses eight men in the residential program of Freeman Recovery. An Open House was held June 22, 2016 to highlight the renovations of this site as well as a newer site downtown. The second site is located in downtown Dickson and houses an intensive outpatient program as well as administrative offices.
Shawn E. Baker. President and CEO (pictured left) , started the program in 2012 after finding his own recovery from addiction. The program has achieved notional recognition as a Joint Commission accredited pro-gram.
The Dickson County Chamber of Commerce officiated the ribbon cutting ceremony. Participants included many former residents, local prevention coalition members, local Re-covery Court staff and Marie Crosson, Executive Director of the TN Association of Drug Court Profession-als. Mary Linden Salter, Executive Director of TAADAS also participated along with TAADAS staff mem-bers Kathleen Kennedy and Anthony Pugh.
Patriot Place Open House
Buffalo Valley Opened Patriot Place housing for Veteran’s in Clarksville, TN on June 13, 2016 . Debbie Hillin and Jerry Risner of Buffalo Valley were joined by Mayor Kim McMillan, TN Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs Com-missioner Many Bears Grinder, Bob Currie from TDMHSAS, and the City of Clarksville’s Office of Housing & Community Development (see digni-tary photo right) for the opening. Patriot Place is an affordable housing program available to homeless men and women veterans. This is a drug-free, transitional housing pro-gram where “veterans are helping veterans.” It provides the ca-maraderie of living in a structured, substance-free environment. Buffalo Valley offers many resources, such as case management, relapse prevention, vocational rehabilitation, job readiness/placement, housing, and transportation. Their goal is to help cli-ents achieve lifelong recovery from addiction and homelessness through residential stability, increased income/skills and greater self- determination.
Aspell Recovery Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening
Aspell Recovery held an event for their new Men’s Residential Dorm on May 6, 2016. Les Jaco, Board President, welcomed those gath-ered for the event. Mayors Jimmy Harris and Jerry Gist for Jackson and Montgomery County spoke as well along with Deann Thelen from West Tennessee Healthcare. Richard Barber, Executive Director of Aspell, spoke about this new resource and how the plans for it developed and came to fruition (see dignitaries photo left). Aspell programs include residential treat-ment, intensive out-patient and so-ber living.
Aspell is grateful for the support of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cin-cinnati and West TN Healthcare.
On Saturday, September 17th The Next Door in Nashville began a new tradition to celebrate sobriety with their first annual Sober Fest. Recovery Services Manager Ramie Siler saw a need for the women in their treatment program to have “sober fun” while recognizing their recovery accomplishments. The women of The Next Door committed to celebrate Sober Fest each year as a part of National Recovery Month.
“Sober Fest is another way for The Next Door to meet their goal of raising awareness about recovery, sharing the transformation of lives, families, and communities. Addiction has the ability to tear families apart. Sobriety and recovery can bring them back together. Sober Fest can help to remove the stigma of addiction and transcend the shame that women often feel when going through the journey of recovery,” said Patience Ruffin, Director of Treatment Services. Dedicated volunteers from The Next Door has made this day a success.
Snow cone and popcorn machines were donated by the First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Off the Row Recording Studio offered sound and talent with musicians Jah-Way, Megan Golden, A&Em Duo, and Jeff Dayton and Scott Barrier lent their voices and their time. Eager children and adults waited in line for a volunteer face painter. Artwork from the women of the program was proudly displayed during the event. Art work goes beyond Sober Fest for these women. “The art work was completed by some of our clients specifically for Sober Fest.
The women worked over a course of two months to create pieces that were special to them and expressed their thoughts and feelings regarding recovery. ‘Art for the Heart’ is the name of our in-house residential art therapy program here at The Next Door. It is another facet in the healing of addiction and on-going recovery. All of our feelings, fears, and emotions that overwhelm us during recovery come from the heart and when verbal expression fails, the creation of art allows us to express ourselves silently through images and symbols. Every picture tells a story. Psalm 139,” said Ruffin. An event must always have good food and Jason’s Deli was there to donate food, time, and encouragement to the women and families of The Next Door.
General Manager and Partner of Jason’s Deli on West End, Dennis O’Keefe, and Catering Business Development Manager, Jamie Helm, attended the event O’Keefe stated, “I'm involved with the recovery community because I am in recovery. It has become part of my giving back to help others reestablish. I also found an untapped resource of quality employees in recovery community that is unlike anywhere else.” Ruffin said, "It is our hope that not only our clients, but their families were able to learn that recovery is a journey and we must celebrate every success along the way. We also wanted to ensure we reached out to the community by inviting alumni of The Next Door and other treatment programs in the area. We wanted everyone to feel empowered and hopeful about recovery. After our first event, we are excited to make this an annual celebration at The Next Door”
RecoveryFest is always scheduled as part of September’s National Recovery Month. This year’s festival was held on Saturday, September 24th at Nashville’s East Park on Woodland Street. The day consisted of something for all ages including great music, recovery speakers, food, games, 9 sponsors, and 51 vendors.
Executive Director Mary-Linden Salter talked about TAADAS services at the event. Reflecting on the day, Spelta said, “Together we are breaking the stigma associated with substance use and mental health disorders which breaks down barriers for those seeking and needing help. Society has seen what addiction looks like, now we are showing them what recovery looks like.
”Serving on the 2016 RecoveryFest Committee are Chair Al Caston, Co-Chair Cindy Spelta, Jennifer Shannon, Jack Dills, Robyn Noble, Hugh Bennett, Cayce Leon, Vanessa Meacham, and Kathleen Kennedy. 2016 saw the largest number of sponsors and vendors in the history of the event, offering a pleasant reminder that one person can make a difference and that coming together to applaud the journey of recovery beats anonymity any day. RecoveryFest Nashville 2016.
Want to learn about affordable health care and the Coverage Gap? Want to teach your friends? This video explains it all!
In the past 2 years, 7 rural hospitals have closed or drastically altered their services. One reason for these changes is because we don't have a plan to close the coverage gap, and they see too much uncompensated care. Watch the video to find out what hospitals have closed, how that community is affected, and then go to www.tnjustice.org/action to take action.
Stories shared by those in recovery help us to understand the challenges faced when seeking treatment and stabilization. We can help others who face these same hurtles, use the link below to let us know your story and what you faced when seeking treatment services and the ultimate outcome of those services.
