The Fall 2016 edition of Odyssey House News is now online. Read about our 50th-anniversary celebrations, our new website, graduation ceremony, and more! Check it out (pdf) and let us know what you think on our Facebook page or on Twitter.
And don’t forget to join us on Saturday, September 24th for our 11th Annual Run for Your Life event!
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.
From 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.
The Summer 2015 edition of Odyssey House News is now available online. Read about our renovated medical clinic, latest art show, new services and more. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments or on our Facebook wall. Click here to read it (pdf). If you’d like to receive a copy in the mail, please email your contact information to info(at)odysseyhousenyc.org.
Don’t Forget to join us for our Run For Your Life this Fall!
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April (left) credits her support system, including friends like Cheryl (right), for encouraging her to work on her recovery and pursue a high school equivalency diploma.
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The Fall 2013 edition of Odyssey House News is now available! Read about our recovery month events, how our corporate partners are supporting recovery, and more. Click here to read it (pdf). Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments or on our Facebook wall. If you’d like to receive a copy in the mail, please email your contact information to info(at)odysseyhousenyc.org.
The Spring 2012 edition of Odyssey House News is now available online! Read about our new housing programs, get an update on OHROCS (Odyssey House Recovery Oriented Care System), and more. Check it out (pdf) and let us know what you think in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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| From left: Odyssey House COO John Tavolacci, Andre Matthews, Commissioner Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, and Dr. Peter Provet |
In his address to the graduates, their families, staff, and supporters, Dr. Provet called the event “a night of achievement,” both for the men and women who have overcome addiction and are now pursuing healthy and productive lives, and the continued role of long-term residential treatment in saving the lives of individuals with life-threatening substance abuse problems.
“With national healthcare reform well underway, all forms of substance abuse treatment are under review and discussion … there must always be a place for intensive residential treatment. You here today are living examples of its life-saving value.” (To read the full text of Dr. Provet’s remarks, click here.)