Category: 50th anniversary

“I can find joy in life again.”

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In celebration of our 50th anniversary, each month we will be sharing a story that highlights one of our programs or treatment populations. Below is Kenneth’s story, who found creating art helped keep him focused on his recovery.

Kenneth eldercare profileArt has been a part of Kenneth’s life for more than 40 years. Growing up, the comfort of creation helped distract Kenneth, 55, from the stresses of growing up in the projects with a single mom raising him and his siblings. As Kenneth reached his teenage years, art gave way to drugs and alcohol as a means of escape. For the next twenty-five years, Kenneth struggled with his addiction to cocaine and alcohol and found himself in and out of treatment programs.

A few years ago, Kenneth became homeless after he lost his job, and he had no money to pay his rent. Feeling hopeless about his future, Kenneth isolated himself. He relapsed, and knowing he needed to make a change, he entered residential treatment at Odyssey House.

In treatment, Kenneth found sanctuary by participating in workshops at the Odyssey House expressive arts studio. Kenneth says creating art allows him to express himself in ways he cannot verbally, and supports his recovery in a safe and sober environment. “The Odyssey House Art Project helped me find myself. I can find joy in life again.” This July, Kenneth celebrated one year of sobriety, giving him a more hopeful outlook on his life: “Now that I’ve reached this milestone, it’s going to be a brighter future for me.”

For more than a decade, our expressive arts studio has been a therapeutic oasis for clients of our residential treatment and housing programs, enabling them to find new ways to exercise their creativity and communicate their feelings. Art helps clients to open up, which also opens doors to improved treatment and healing.

Run for Your Life registration is now open!

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Recovery run 2016Registration is now OPEN for our 11th Annual Run for Your Life 5K Run & Recovery Walk! Register by Friday, July 29th for a special early bird rate and celebrate recovery with Odyssey House on September 24th.

The theme for Recovery Month 2016 is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Our Families, Our Stories, Our Recovery,” which highlights the value of peer support by educating, mentoring, and helping others. It invites individuals in recovery and their support systems to be change agents in communities, and in civic and advocacy engagements.

Get more information.

Register Now!

I can’t make it but I would like to support recovery.

We hope to see you in September!

“Focus and persistence is a powerful tool”

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In celebration of our 50th anniversary, each month we will be sharing a story that highlights one of our programs or treatment populations. With high school graduations happening throughout June, we are highlighting one of our very own graduates this month. Chane, a resident of the Leadership Center for transitional-age men, recently passed his Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) and is now looking forward to a brighter future.

Recovery GED graduateFrom a very young age, Chane let his opioid addiction dictate his actions, leading to expulsion from high school and involvement in the judicial system. After being arrested for stealing to fund his drug habit, he was offered treatment at Odyssey House as an alternative to incarceration. Seeing an opportunity, Chane knew it was time to take control of his future.

When Chane, 29, entered the Leadership Center in June 2015, he struggled with the structure of the program. “When I came in, I was bitter and angry, and I wasn’t ready to change.”

But he quickly realized that this was his last chance to turn his life around, and he began to trust the process and found the support he needed through the staff. “The counselors care and want to see you do something productive for your life,” he says.

While in treatment, he dedicated himself to finishing his high school education and passing the TASC. Chane was nervous about how he would do, as he hadn’t been in a classroom in more than 10 years and had always struggled with math. Discussing his concerns with his vocational counselor gave Chane the confidence he needed to succeed as long as he worked hard and applied himself.

The breakthrough came from his math teacher. Chane says, “My teacher’s unique way of looking at math problems made problems that looked difficult become really simple.”

Chane not only passed the TASC but received the second highest score among his peers.

Since then, he has proven that his focus and persistence is a powerful tool that he can use for both his recovery and his career.

Chane is now training to be a plumber and plans to continue advancing his skills by working towards additional certificates.

Taking the first step to putting her family back together

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In celebration of our 50th anniversary, each month we will be sharing a story that highlights one of our programs or treatment populations. Here is Joi’s story, who recently completed residential treatment at our Family Center of Excellence in East Harlem.

Mother in recoveryWhen Joi entered the Manor Family Center in August 2015, she was lost. Struggling with depression, low self-esteem, and alcoholism, she needed a “new beginning” – an opportunity to turn her life around and regain custody of her children.

The 31-year-old mother of four had experienced a number of difficulties, including domestic violence and homelessness, but it took the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) removing custody of her baby to underscore the urgency of her situation.

Though ACS recommended an outpatient program, Joi chose residential treatment. She knew the more intensive therapy would get her on track to get her baby back faster. With Joi’s father taking care of her older three children, there were no more excuses. “I knew I had to turn my life around and set an example for my children,” she says.

“Since being here at Odyssey House, I’m responsible, independent, motivated, and a role model in my community.” While in treatment, Joi regained custody of her youngest child in only four months, and with the support of their grandfather, repaired her relationship with her older children. Joi also successfully completed vocational training and earned a security guard license.

Joi completed treatment in early May and is continuing to work on her recovery at our Outpatient Services in the Bronx. With help from her counselors, she found an apartment to move into after treatment and now lives with her youngest child, with regular visits from her older children.

“I accomplished all the goals I set out to achieve. Odyssey House will help you every step of the way, but you have to take the first step. If you don’t take the initiative, you won’t accomplish anything.”

“Every minute I spent at Odyssey House was worth it.”

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In celebration of our 50th anniversary, each month we will be sharing a story that highlights one of our programs or treatment populations. Below is Ashley’s story, who recently completed residential treatment at Lafayette Avenue, our young women’s program in the Bronx.

Ashley 50th anniversaryAshley, 28, started using drugs and alcohol after graduating high school in Long Island. It started with the occasional use of marijuana and alcohol, mostly as a means of fitting in with her friends and dealing with low self-esteem. It also made it easier to ignore that she was directionless, in and out of college, unable to decide what to study or do with her life.

Her drug use developed into a full-fledged problem when she was 23. By then she was a new mother. To manage the trauma of escaping an abusive relationship with her daughter’s father and the stress of single parenthood Ashley, turned to cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol.

Her life became chaotic. She regularly left her daughter with her parents to go out with friends and started selling drugs. At various points, Ashley realized she had a problem and struggled to get help: she tried three different outpatient clinics over two years, but she never stayed clean for long.

Recognizing the dangers of her lifestyle, she sent her daughter to South Carolina to live with her grandmother for a little while. Shortly after, events took a serious turn. She was arrested for selling drugs. Because it was her first offense, the judge recommended Ashley get residential treatment and referred her to Odyssey House.

Ashley was admitted to the young adult women’s program in the Bronx last October. It took time, but once she adjusted to the structured environment, she began to feel herself change. Being in treatment “helped me open up to others, understand that the way I was living was wrong, and bridge the gap between me and my family,” she says. The groups were particularly beneficial in helping Ashley find peace. “The more I talked to my peers, the lighter my burden felt.”

Ashley says she now has better coping and communication skills and, thanks to vocational training, has a clearly defined career track she is passionate about. She was always interested in cooking – as a child, she could often be found helping her mom in the kitchen – so when it came time to choose a vocational training track, the culinary arts program was a natural fit. “My mom and I used to talk about opening a family-run Italian restaurant, so that’s what I’m working towards.”

Though she’s nervous about leaving treatment, Ashley has a few strategies to help ease the transition, by continuing treatment at a local outpatient program and finishing her culinary training. “I really benefited from the structure of the program, so I’m going to incorporate that into my day,” she says. Mostly, she’s motivated by the prospect of seeing her daughter again, and finally being the mother she deserves.

“I wish I could go back in time and tell my 18-year-old self ‘Slow down! There’s nothing but trouble ahead if you keep living like this.’ But all I can do is keep working on my recovery, and focus on my daughter. I can’t let her down again.

“If you have a problem, it’s okay to come to treatment. It gives you hope. Once you address certain issues, the pain goes away. You’ll come out a better person. I know I’m coming out a better person, a better mother. Every minute I spent at Odyssey House was worth it.”

Celebrating 50 years of service

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This spring, Odyssey House celebrates 50 years of service to New Yorkers in need of substance abuse and mental health treatment. In 1967, Odyssey House opened its doors as a drug-free Therapeutic Community (TC). The first Odyssey House program was located at Metropolitan Hospital in East Harlem and provided treatment for 17 ex-addicts; it quickly grew into one of the country’s preeminent therapeutic communities – catching the attention of public policy and medical experts.

Today, our programs span a range of populations and services for parents and families, youth and young adults, senior citizens, people with mental health and/or medical disabilities, the formerly homeless, and parolees transitioning back into society. We offer 24/7 intensive residential treatment, outpatient services, supportive housing, educational and vocational support, medical and dental care, health and wellness programs, and arts and recreation opportunities.

In 50 years, Odyssey House has grown into a multi-service behavioral health care organization recognized for its evidence-based, comprehensive services for New York’s most vulnerable individuals and families, advocacy in fighting the stigma of addiction, and leadership in securing on-going support for the recovery field.

As the year unfolds, we will be celebrating our 50th birthday in various ways, including our signature “Run for Your Life” recovery event on Saturday, September 24th and sharing monthly stories that highlight one of our special populations or programs. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this significant milestone. Stay tuned for more!