Category: mothers

“I am here to rebuild my life”

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At the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery dedication ceremony, Amy, a 29-year-old Family Center client spoke about her experience at Odyssey House. Below is the text of her speech.

Mother opioid recoveryGood morning, my name is Amy. I am 29 years of age. I am the mother of a beautiful 1-year-old girl. I am here to rebuild my life for both of us.

At 22 I didn’t see my life being taken down by a medication that was supposed to help me. I had just graduated from an excellent college with a degree in psychology and sociology. My future was ahead of me and it looked bright.

Soon after I graduated college, I developed some health issues that needed surgery.  The procedures were routine and I expected to make a full recovery. Little did I know then, this would be a turning point in my life.

While I was recovering from surgery, I was given opiates to manage the pain and help me recover.  They did that and I definitely needed them.  What happened next was so fast I didn’t see it coming – soon I was dependent on opioids for more than just physical pain – they had become my emotional support. I was addicted.

Life quickly became a wild ride of juggling jobs, losing jobs, going into short-term rehab, getting out and doing the same thing again. Each time my addiction got more serious and more damaging. I lost sight of myself, of my values, and I hurt and disappointed my family.

Within a few short painful years, I started using heroin. Heroin took over my life completely. Everything I did, every day, was to support my growing habit. Eventually, this led to an arrest and I was sitting in jail in full withdrawal. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. It was also a life-changer.

I was fortunate that my family was still willing to help me get treatment – and I needed it more than ever. Shortly after I left, I found out I was pregnant.

After speaking to countless medical professionals, I understood the only way I was going to have a healthy baby and get off heroin safely was with medication. That medication is methadone. My daughter was born with methadone in her system but she was also born 7lbs and healthy. She stayed in the hospital for a month while they weaned her off. It wasn’t easy watching her go through the pain of withdrawal, but the doctors and nurses got both of us through it. I am so grateful to them.

I am also grateful to Odyssey House and its program for women with children. It is saving my life and giving us a future. For the first time in a long time, I am incredibly hopeful, and that is because of this program. I am so thankful to be talking to all of you today on this important occasion. Thank you for supporting me, for supporting Odyssey House, and caring about the young mothers who are here now and those who will be here after me.

Thank you.

In just one week…

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THE GRAND OPENING OF THE GEORGE ROSENFELD CENTER IS ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY!

We invite you to join us on Thursday, May 11th to celebrate the grand opening, tour the campus, and learn more about the services we offer. Click here for more information and to register. See below for directions.

The George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery (GRCR) is a residential behavioral health treatment center for women, families, and older adults located on Wards Island. Since 1967, Odyssey House has established a strong tradition of providing a place of sanctuary for clients and families to focus on overcoming addiction, develop coping skills, and build lifelong recovery.

In keeping with this tradition, and the treatment services offered throughout the Odyssey House system, residential care at GRCR embraces a holistic continuum of evidence-based behavioral health care, including medication-assisted treatment; counseling, group therapy, and case management services; educational and vocational training; and peer-supported recovery and housing programs.

 

Directions to the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery

By public transportation: Take the Lexington Avenue 4/5/6 to 125th Street and transfer to the M35 bus at 125th Street and Lexington Avenue (in front of Duane Reade). Download the bus schedule here.

By car: All vehicular access is via the RFK Triborough Bridge. Once on the Queens-bound leg of the RFK Triborough Bridge, stay to the far right and follow signs to Randall’s Island.

If navigating with Google Maps, please use “13 Hells Gate Circle, New York, NY 10035″ as your destination or click here for the GPS coordinates. MTA Bridges & Tunnels charge a toll of $8.50 to access the Island, but there is no toll upon exiting.

Download maps of our location and parking areas.

By foot: The 103rd Street Footbridge in Manhattan is open to pedestrians and cyclists 365 days per year, 24 hours per day, and connects the East River Esplanade/FDR Drive at 103rd Street with the southern end of Randall’s Island Park.

An advocate for recovery sees dream realized

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In celebration of our 50th anniversary, each month we have been sharing a personal story that highlights one of our programs or treatment populations. This month, as we conclude our anniversary profiles and prepare for the opening of the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery, we are highlighting a very special member of our family: Odyssey Foundation Chairman Mr. George Rosenfeld. George is a tireless advocate for vulnerable New Yorkers who turn to us for help with substance abuse and mental health problems.

Addicton recovery advocateFor more than two decades, George Rosenfeld has helped lead and shape Odyssey House. His visionary and compassionate public service leadership as Chairman of Odyssey House (2002–2012) and then as Chairman of Odyssey Foundation has helped save the lives of thousands of men and women suffering from substance use and mental health disorders.

An advocate for the care and well-being of elderly substance abusers, his far-sighted recognition of their distinct needs led to the founding of the Odyssey House ElderCare Program and its permanent home at our newly renovated family treatment center on Ward’s Island in Upper Manhattan — a center we are proud to name the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery.

We are immensely fortunate and grateful that George chose to join the cause at Odyssey House. He has donated his time and resources to those who often have few friends and allies as they struggle to overcome addiction and mental health challenges.

We cannot imagine a kinder, more thoughtful, or more compassionate leader. He is the cheerleader of cheerleaders. He has guided us through challenges and prepared us to make the most of opportunities to do more for the people we serve, and to do it better.

As we prepare to open the 231-bed residential treatment center for women, mothers with children, and older adults, we asked George to share with us how his commitment to public service evolved into championing the cause of underserved and stigmatized substance abusers:

 

Before I joined Odyssey House I had been closely involved in developing a hospice for AIDS patients, Rivington House in New York’s Lower East Side, which opened in 1993 at the height of the epidemic. Once the hospice opened and I felt that the project was in good hands, I was inspired to look further afield for other causes I could get involved with.

It didn’t take long. I heard a testimony at a New York City Council meeting, which gave statistics on the number of people in NYC addicted to drugs and alcohol and talked about an organization that was making a dent in these numbers — Odyssey House.

I wanted to hear more, and in 1997 I was introduced to the organization, met with the board, and they invited me to join them.

Early in my role as board member I visited Odyssey House’s treatment centers in New York City. One facility in particular captured my interest, a 100-year-old semi-abandoned former psychiatric hospital perched on a small hill practically underneath the Triborough Bridge. The facility was located on Ward’s Island — a veritable no-man’s land on the East River between East Harlem, The Bronx, and Queens — that is also home to Manhattan Psychiatric Center and other social service agencies.

Despite the dilapidated state of much of the building, the center I visited that day was a thriving treatment community where Odyssey House cared for a variety of recovering substance abusers, including women mandated by family courts, many of whom were pregnant, or caring for young children. At this center (known then as the MABON for Mothers And Babies Off Narcotics since its founding in 1973), Odyssey House not only provided essential shelter and therapy for women who were vulnerable and often abused, but it also cared for their babies and toddlers. When I saw the babies asleep in their cribs next to their moms, I knew I had joined a very special organization.

It was my dream to someday persuade the State of New York to help us renovate the entire building and provide this service to more young families. It took 20 years, but today that dream has come true.

I couldn’t be prouder of Odyssey House and more grateful to our many supporters who made this dream a reality.

 

Odyssey House shares George’s pride in this new family center, GRCR, which brings together elders, women, and mothers with young children and establishes a multigenerational community dedicated to forging a healthy future together.

Treating the whole person

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HEALTH & WELLNESS SERVICES AT THE GEORGE ROSENFELD CENTER FOR RECOVERY

For more than 50 years, Odyssey House has embraced total wellness as a key to lifelong recovery from substance use disorders. When the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery (GRCR) officially opens this spring, women, and seniors will have access to the innovative health and wellness services stemming from this approach, including primary medical and dental care and physical fitness programs.

Clients in treatment at the GRCR receive a broad range of medical and dental care at our on-site clinic run in partnership with a nationally recognized Federally Qualified Health Center. Board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners conduct comprehensive medical exams, treat any unmet medical needs, and work with the behavioral health treatment team on the management of medication-assisted treatments (such as buprenorphine, Vivitrol, and methadone maintenance).

Addiction recovery center gymPromoting physical health is a key component of treatment at Odyssey House. The fitness services include a gym with exercise equipment and weights and a regular schedule of organized activities from running programs to yoga and movement exercises. A certified trainer is available to work with residents to plan and track their progress and develop fitness goals, including weight loss and improved stamina, that help restore energy and reduce the risk of diabetes and other diseases.Addiction recovery center kitchen

Kitchen and dining facilities support clients’ health and wellness goals with nutritionally balanced meals prepared daily on-site. Alcohol and drugs can prevent the body from absorbing essential nutrients and expelling toxins. Access to regular healthy meals help repair those damaged functions, restore energy, and help clients in recovery feel stronger and think more positively.

Wellness services for women and seniors

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At the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery (GRCR), women and older adults live and learn in a peer-driven environment that provides family-like structure and support. Supervised by a caring team of counselors, teachers, and health care personnel, clients receive the individualized support and attention they need to live a healthy life—free of drugs and alcohol.

Once clients complete our residential program, we work with them to find transitional or permanent housing, stay connected to an Odyssey House peer support group, and access outpatient services. The continuum of care services help women and older adults develop sustainable connections and maintain their recovery.

TREATMENT SERVICES FOR WOMEN

Mother addiction recoveryHelping women and families rebuild their lives is a priority. Our gender-specific treatment programs for women (including pregnant women and mothers caring for young children) feature a range of services that strengthen the family unit while supporting individual recovery.

For women with children, the GRCR features a Department of Health-licensed early educational center capable of providing services to children up to 6 years old.  The center has five classrooms, two of which offer Early Head Start Services through a collaboration with Northside Center for Child Development, a playroom, and a library.

Learn more about the range of comprehensive recovery services for women.

TREATMENT SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS

We created the Odyssey House ElderCare Program to address the behavioral health care needs of men and women 55 years old and older. Older adults with substance use disorders often face unique challenges. Some of our clients have tried to hide their addiction their whole lives. Others turned to drugs or alcohol in the face of later-life challenges—from losing jobs or spouses to dealing with the physical pain and loneliness of getting older.

However their lives got off track, Odyssey House helps older people find a better way forward. As part of our ElderCare residential program at the GRCR, clients live and work with older New Yorkers who have said enough is enough. Family members are encouraged to participate in group sessions, seminars, and other therapeutic activities to help rebuild relationships.

Learn more about the range of comprehensive recovery services for seniors.

Opening soon: The George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery

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WELLNESS SERVICES FOR WOMEN & OLDER ADULTS

 

Recovery happens in a dignified setting

The George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery (GRCR) is a multi-generational behavioral health treatment center with a focus on intensive substance abuse services for women and older adults. The 231-bed residential complex is located on Wards Island, within a 480-acre city park that, conjoined with Randall’s Island, lies in the East River between East Harlem, the South Bronx and Astoria, Queens.

The GRCR officially opens in spring 2017 following a major restoration undertaken in partnership with New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). The renovation project reclaimed and enhanced the original historic structure, built in 1915 as a hospital for psychiatric patients, to create a modern family treatment center for women and children and older adults 55 years of age and older.

In keeping with treatment services offered throughout the Odyssey House system, residential care at GRCR embraces a holistic continuum of evidence-based behavioral health care. Individually developed treatment plans incorporate a range of services including medication-assisted treatment; counseling, group therapy, and case management services; educational and vocational training; and peer-supported recovery and housing programs.

 

Just as everyone’s life journey is different, so is finding the best path to recovery.

Odyssey House has a strong tradition of providing a place of sanctuary for clients and families to focus on overcoming addiction, develop coping skills, and build lifelong recovery. And because everyone has different needs, we personalize our residential and outpatient treatment programs to each person who walks through our doors.

We believe that integrated behavioral health care—a holistic form of treatment that addresses physical, psychiatric, social, and spiritual well-being, as well as family relationships and education—is the most effective approach to achieving a healthy recovery.

A safe and supportive environment is a fundamental part of the treatment experience. Residents are encouraged to relate to others and foster a feeling of safety that helps them focus on their recovery and learn about their addiction. An environment that reflects respect and dignity helps clients engage in their community and reduces feelings of institutionalization that can inhibit individual growth and learning.

2 days left to make your year-end donation!

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Every year, hundreds of mothers like Heaven come through our doors looking for help to break the cycle of substance abuse and create a nurturing home for their children.

Please make a year-end gift so more mothers can get the help they need to secure a brighter future for themselves and their children.

Your donation will provide welcome baskets to new mothers entering our Family Center, filled with all the supplies a new mother needs, as well as winter coats and accessories for the children.

Click here to make your tax-deductible year-end donation now and #GiveHope to the mothers in our programs.

Thank you for your continued support. Best wishes for a joyful New Year!

Breaking the cycle of addiction, one family at a time

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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. This month we are highlighting our Early Educational Center.

Moms battling drug and alcohol addiction often face a tough choice: taking care of themselves or taking care of their children. At Odyssey House, they don’t have to make that choice, because pregnant women and parents with children can stay together, helping to build stronger families.

Mothers addiction treatment family servicesIn mid-2016, Jacqueline, 36, pregnant with her third child, nearly had to make that choice. Unable to find a program that could help her in her hometown of Boston, and desperate to get sober, Jacqueline came to New York and began treatment at Odyssey House.

Like other parents in our program, Jacqueline is learning to create a nurturing relationship with her son while addressing a wide array of issues, including managing emotional stress, tackling medical and mental health issues, and identifying safe and secure housing.

While Jacqueline engages in clinical services, our Early Educational Center focuses on assisting children like her son in reaching their full developmental potential in five on-site, licensed daycare and preschool classrooms, serving children from two months to six years of age. “The teachers are wonderful,” says Jacqueline. “They’re great with the kids and very hands-on. It’s reassuring to know that my son is safe and in good hands while I’m in group sessions.”

Being in treatment with her son keeps Jacqueline focused on her recovery. “Having my son with me is so motivating. I’m not sure I could do it without him – thinking about him all the time would be too distracting,” she says. “But here I can work through my issues and work towards my goals, so I can be the best mother I can be. I wasn’t able to raise my two older kids, and I don’t want to lose the chance to raise him too.”

Through the Family Center of Excellence, Odyssey House strives to break the cycle of addiction one family at a time.

‘The Drumbeat of Bad News’ on the Opioid Toll

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In today’s edition of The New York Times, Odyssey House President Dr. Peter Provet comments on “New Mothers Derailed by Drugs Find Support in New Hampshire Home” (News, Dec. 12), on the devastating toll the opioid epidemic is inflicting on families.

The drumbeat of bad news on the toll the opioid epidemic is taking on communities across America just keeps getting worse. But the statistic cited in your article that as of 2012 a baby is born suffering from opioid withdrawal every 25 minutes is most sobering.

We have not seen such a collapse of families since the crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s. What we learned then, and need to remember today, is that when we connect pregnant women with treatment services that keep the mother and child together, we save two lives.

What’s different now is that many of the families affected are from rural and suburban communities, where access to treatment is limited, if not nonexistent. In urban centers like New York City, treatment organizations have developed supportive networks that connect at-risk people with services that both save lives and protect communities.

As we look to a new president with so much unknown about the direction his administration will take on containing the opioid epidemic, we hope that he will be open to listening to lessons learned decades ago: that treatment, not punishment, is the surest and cheapest cure for addiction, and that what works in the cities will also work in the suburbs and rural America.

Happy #GivingTuesday

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gt-mother-childToday’s the day to #givehope to mothers working to rebuild their lives at Odyssey House. It’s the day that you can make a big impact on Odyssey House and on the mothers and children in our programs.

With your help, we’ll raise funds to provide welcome baskets to new mothers entering our Manor Family Center, filled with all the supplies a new mother needs, as well as winter coats and accessories for the children in our programs.

If you make a gift through GoodWorld TODAY, we will earn matching funds – making your support go even further.

There are two ways to get the match:

Only you can help us reach our fundraising goal this #GivingTuesday. Let’s do it together!