Odyssey House

Our Spring 2017 newsletter is now available!

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News opioid recovery programThe Spring 2017 edition of Odyssey House News is now available online. Read about our new street outreach grant in Harlem, how we’re expanding recovery services in the Bronx, and more. You can even get a sneak peek inside the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery, opening in May on Wards Island. 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.

Welcome to our new website!

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We are delighted to introduce you to our new website.

Our aim with this new site is to present Odyssey House through the experiences, hopes, and achievements of our clients. We talked to clients and staff from every program, listened carefully to what they had to say, and wove their stories into a narrative that proudly presents Odyssey House as an organization that offers hope and opportunity to all New Yorkers.

And then we went further.

For 50 years, Odyssey House has been helping New Yorkers start their lives over again. Not just clean, but with a clean slate. We call it “getting real” about recovery. And that’s more than a slogan. “Where recovery gets real” is Odyssey House’s way of supporting total well-being, so clients can live healthy, happy and substance-free lives.

Getting real means understanding the unique problems of New Yorkers because we’re New Yorkers, too.

Getting real means providing integrated, personalized treatment plans that address all of our clients’ needs — physical and mental health, home and family, and job and education.

Getting real means providing a support network of people who understand our clients and their challenges — for life.

We invite you to explore the website and let us know what you think on our Facebook or Twitter pages!

Investing in a Professional, Caring, and Mission-driven Workforce

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BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEWS

 By Staff Writer Odyssey House

The behavioral health care workforce is one of the fastest growing in the country. Projections for 2020, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, forecast a significant rise in employment for substance abuse and mental health counselors with a 36% increase from 2010-2020 – greater than the 11% projected for all occupations.

This increase, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Workforce Issues Report of 2013, is based on an expected increase in insurance coverage for mental health and substance abuse services brought about by passage of health reform and parity legislation; the rising rate of military veterans seeking behavioral health services; and the growing opioid epidemic.

SAMHSA’s prediction both confirms the value of our talented workforce and presents challenges for under-resourced social services to meet the increased demand.

As behavioral health care providers, we are confronted with a range of expectations: ensuring our services meet the needs of diverse populations with a complex set of problems; satisfying increased demands for demonstrated outcomes; and doing more with shrinking resources.

Helping us rise to these challenges at Odyssey House is our professional and dedicated workforce. This broad staff of 350 employees include licensed counselors, social workers, doctors, nurses, and dentists, wellness and recreational coordinators, facility and housing managers, educators, administrative, communications and financial managers, maintenance, nutrition, security and transportation coordinators. All of these staff perform essential roles that keep our clients moving forward in their journey towards health and recovery.

While the roles our staff fulfill each day are quite different, the expectations are the same across the organization: that clients come first; policies and procedures are strictly adhered to; and our resources are tightly managed to be cost-effective and outcome driven. Accomplishing these tasks in a challenging human services environment where clients require intensive care for a myriad of emotional, mental, and physical health deficits, demands practice and training.

Investing in Training

Training is an integral part of ongoing performance management at Odyssey House. We encourage our clinical and administrative staff to take advantage of inhouse training opportunities and offer tuition reimbursement towards the cost of professional accreditations and courses. In 2015, our employees earned 35 professional awards ranging from Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) and Certified Addiction Recovery Coach, to Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in social work and accounting.

The Odyssey House training department offers a range of professional development options that support direct service and management staff in both progressing their careers and delivering the highest quality care to our clients. Workplace trainings are adaptive to our service environment, track trends and study client profiles, monitor client management systems, and review incidents, chart audits, and quality assurance activities. Training is delivered by experienced licensed staff including medical doctors, clinical social workers, mental health counselors, and certified rehabilitation recreation counselors.

In 2015, clinical staff participated in one or more training sessions that included both group workshops and online individual courses that focused on motivational interviewing, opioid overdose prevention, level of care placement, diagnosis using DSM-5 criteria, ethics and boundaries, safety and crisis management for mental health workers, and cultural diversity and competency.

And we also offered administrative trainings including clinical recordkeeping, documenting medical necessity, fire safety, workplace safety, electronic health record keeping, incident reporting, HIPAA and other confidentiality rules, and basic writing skills.

Focused and Flexible Online Training

We recently enhanced our capabilities with the addition of flexible web-based training. This online system, offered by Relias Learning Management Systems (RMS), further allows staff to refresh their skills and stay up-to-date with regulatory changes ushered in by the 2010 Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act of 2008. Topics covered include general administrative management requirements like corporate compliance and ethics, fire safety, HIPAA overview, sexual harassment/discrimination prevention, hazardous chemicals, infection control, quality improvement, blood-borne pathogens, and first aid refresher.

We are also utilizing RMS to deliver a range of clinical management trainings including: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for individuals with substance use issues, domestic and intimate partner violence, overview of clinical supervision, best practices in substance use treatment engagement, structured group therapy approaches, co-occurring disorders, and HIV/AIDS.

Odyssey House is committed to developing and maintaining a professional behavioral health care workforce. The clinically focused in-service trainings we offer can be used towards CASAC continuing education credits and many are also approved for New York State Social Work continuing education hours.

By making training a priority, our staff can work in confidence, assured they have the resources and skills they need to succeed in a demanding and rewarding workplace. 

Merging Missions: Building a Staff Wellness Program

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BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEWS

By Colleen Beagen

Bringing wellness into the workplace is a natural development for Odyssey House where the mission of the organization is to promote a healthy recovery for individuals and families facing a range of life challenges from substance use disorders, mental illness, homelessness and chronic medical conditions. In 2011, we introduced a free, voluntary program called R U Fit?! to offer employees the resources they need to improve their own health via education and a supportive work environment.

This staff wellness initiative is a continuation of our commitment to support and promote good health among program participants. It takes a similar positive reinforcement approach to the proven model Odyssey House developed with clients and provides staff with group support, free on-site fitness facilities, and access to an employee-only online health coaching service.

Our objective in implementing a wellness initiative is to help workers make changes in their lives that undermine their health, thereby boosting morale and productivity, improving employee recruitment and retention, and reducing health care costs.

The development of the program was spurred by Odyssey House president, Dr. Peter Provet, who has made wellness a top priority, based on his firm belief that “ultimately, it is the clients we serve who will be the beneficiaries of healthier, happier staff members.

“Given the steep rise in health care costs coupled with increased awareness of the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise,” he added, “we looked at what we could do to both help staff improve their overall health and impact our bottom line. We found that a program that offered personalized and confidential coaching was a sound investment in our most valuable resource, the 350 counseling, educational, medical, and administrative staff who dedicate themselves to the mission of Odyssey House.”

A survey of American workers backs this up. The survey found that 51 percent of workers agree that having a wellness program encourages them to work harder and perform better at work; 59 percent said they have more energy to be productive; and 43 percent said that they have missed fewer days of work.

Conducted by The Principal Financial Well-Being Index in 2013, the survey further found that the incentive-driven and ease-of-access approach Odyssey House offers – an enhanced program that includes fitness center discounts, on-site prevention screenings, access to health experts, and onsite fitness facilities – is on target with wellness benefits most desired by employees.

Incorporating Wellness Into Company Culture

Fitness has long been a priority at Odyssey House. All staff are encouraged to practice healthy habits at work and have access to exercise equipment at Odyssey House treatment centers. The emphasis on diet and exercise is foremost in a number of events we host, including our annual 5K fundraiser, Run for Your Life, intramural sports leagues, and rigorous training with the Odyssey House Marathon Team (since 2002 more than 400 clients and former clients, staff, board members and other supporters have completed the New York City Marathon).

The purpose of R U FIT?! is to complement these activities with free, online, confidential health coaching and personalized programs to promote weight and nutrition management, encourage regular exercise and stress reduction, and support smoking cessation. All employees who enroll have access to health coaches, agencywide competitions, online workshops and more.

To allay any concerns staff may have about confidentiality and to encourage trust in disclosing personal information, Odyssey House provides these services via an outside company called Health Advocate. Data collected by the service is anonymous and in the aggregate, and only collated to monitor overall participation and refine services.

Each year we offer all staff on-site biometric screenings and confidential consultations with health educators. The screenings measure cholesterol levels, glucose readings, blood pressure and BMI (Body Mass Index). Using their results, employees complete an online Personal Health Profile (PHP), which provides a customized report containing overall wellness scores, identifying high risk areas, and describing steps that can be taken to reduce future health risks. In its first five years, R U Fit?! has contributed to a shift in culture toward a healthier overall lifestyle, and we have seen improvements in the health of our employees. Between 2013 and 2014, we found the following year-over-year improvements for all participating staff:

  • 50% improvement in average blood pressure
  • 55% improvement in average cholesterol ratio
  • 100% improvement in average glucose levels

For employees with at least one risk factor (e.g., BMI over 25, elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol) over the same period:

  • 55% improvement in average BMI
  • 45% improved average waist circumference
  • 70% improvement in average blood pressure
  • 75% improvement in average cholesterol

Our goals now are to continue to improve biometrics numbers for high-risk employees; maintain nonrisk employees in the healthy range; increase both participation and engagement in the R U Fit?! program; and expand the stress reduction program.

Sound Bodies, Sound Minds

To aid in managing R U Fit?!, we hired a nutritionist and wellness coordinator to act as a liaison between employees and Health Advocate. A registered dietician and certified Pilates instructor, the coordinator has been instrumental in promoting the program and encouraging staff participation.

She has made it her mission to build a wellness program that expands beyond the standard biometric screenings, gym discounts, health competitions, and cooking workshops. Her first order of business was to build trust with the community of employees that span across 13 locations from downtown Manhattan to the Bronx. By establishing rapport with the employees, the doors of communication were opened and she was able to carry on her mission within the agency.

Our coordinator used her expertise to develop nutrition and exerciserelated initiatives, such as agency-wide competitions like 10,000 steps, Pilates and yoga classes, and lunch and learn seminars. However, due to the fact that depression now costs employers more money than smoking does, she made it a goal to reach employees at a deeper level. Her latest initiatives focus on meditation, mindfulness, yoga and Pilates. She is also planning programs targeting compassion, gratitude, and self-esteem.

Employees often share their stories about how one or more aspects of R U Fit?! helped them in their lives, both professionally and personally. Whether it was the impact a nutrition seminar had on them, the weekly meditation classes, or the free gyms we have at six of our facilities, staff have been able to make changes to their lifestyle and create healthier habits that ultimately lead to a higher quality of life.

Preparing for Managed Care: Staff Credentialing, Evidence-Based Practices, and Fiscal Systems

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BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEWS

By Gary Harmon, PhD Vice President, Director of Research & Grants, and Peter Provet, PhD President & CEO, Odyssey House

For decades, behavioral health (BH) professionals have fought for the right to have mental health (MH) and substance use disorders (SUD) regulated in a similar manner as medical/surgical conditions. First the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and more recently the 2012 Affordable Care Act (ACA) have begun to make parity a reality. However, with parity has come an entire new set of challenges that BH providers must traverse to ensure that the specialized treatment offered by MH and SUD providers does not become diluted in a managed care model.

Here in New York, Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) initiatives have piggy-backed on parity laws to begin to reform the BH landscape. No longer will BH agencies exist in a world of “carve-outs” and specialty populations funded through large state contracts. Rather, they will have to navigate new relationships with Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), Behavioral Health Organizations (BHOs), and private insurers for reimbursement while being held to a higher standard of care.

Although all in the BH field will agree that improved outcomes for our clients is the ultimate goal, the process of getting there in a new system will be complex and require the following changes for both organizations and the clinicians they employ.

Credentialing/Licensure 

While the MH treatment community has embraced licensed professionals for treatment of mental health conditions, the SUD community is often seen as employing “para-professionals” and clinicians that have little training and education beyond life experiences of SUD treatment and recovery. Whether or not this perception had any merit in the past, the SUD community has embraced education and training to ensure that clients (many of whom have co-occurring mental health conditions) are receiving optimal care. MCO/BHO contracting will be the final step in ending the old stigma of semiprofessionals providing care, as they will require that anyone billing for BH services is properly credentialed and/or licensed. While most SUD providers will have no issues with this and have been hiring only credentialed and licensed staff for many years, some agencies will need to figure out how they can direct current staff to continue education and training. However, one major challenge will be the increased salary requirements that credentialed and licensed staff will demand, and how these costs can be absorbed or shared by MCOs/BHOs, without increasing costs for the already vulnerable clients we serve.

Evidence-Based Practices 

The term “Evidence-Based Practice” (EBP) has been the buzz-word in the BH community for quite some time, and is often used anytime someone questions what type of treatment is being provided to BH clients. In the new managed care environment, simply saying that the treatment provided is “Evidence-Based” will not be sufficient. Providers will need to evaluate staff training and monitor fidelity to guarantee that interventions are being delivered in a manner where outcomes are optimized. The days of saying an organization practices “Motivational Interviewing – Type Services” for example, will be over, and the exact EBP will need to be manualized, delivered with consistency, with prescribed outcomes that can be directly attributed to the intervention. This will be a challenge for many organizations, as BH agencies often struggle with staff turn-over and issues related to the competency of staff to deliver complex EBPs.

Fiscal Preparedness

Most not-for-profit BH agencies were begun as charities, often founded and operated by individuals who were champions of client rights and wanting to make a difference for individuals afflicted with SUD and/or MH conditions. Through the years, many of these agencies have evolved into corporate-like structures in an attempt to adapt to regulatory changes requiring agency and facility licensure and managing of state, federal, and city contracts. The managed care environment will require additional transformation, where fiscal preparedness and operations will be as key to agency survival as clinical services have been. For example, smaller agencies with little or no experience billing Medicaid or private insurers will undoubtedly struggle initially with the complex billing and justification requirements set forth through MCO/BHO contracts.

Additionally, many smaller agencies may not have the administrative/fiscal staff available to re-bill rejected claims, analyze and implement regulations, and adequately justify the reauthorization of treatment. Recent requirements by New York State related to the maximum percentage of costs that can be expended on administrative staff will further limit the number of staff that agencies can hire to navigate reimbursement, which will undoubtedly lead to mergers for a necessary “economy-of-scale.”

These three challenges are only a few among the countless that will be encountered over the coming years. BH agencies will need to begin to work together through this process to maximize the success that can be achieved. As many large and established BH organizations are poised for success in this new landscape, they must work together will smaller agencies to help them survive and thrive. Recent data from SAMHSA showing that 18.9 million adults in the US had a past year SUD, and 41.4 million adults had mental illness in the past year underscores the need for more treatment options for clients (SAMHSA NSDUH 2011). The survival of all quality BH agencies, both big and small, is key to a strong BH system where help is available to those who need it.

Odyssey House is a not-for-profit, comprehensive, social services organization. Based in New York City, Odyssey House offers residential, outpatient, and family-based substance use disorder and mental health treatment, supported housing, medical, dental, vocational and educational services. For treatment referrals, admissions, and program services, please call: 212-987-5100, email: info@odysseyhousenyc.org, or visit us online at: www.odysseyhousenyc.org 

Total Wellness: The Key to Behavioral Health

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BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEWS

By Peter Provet, PhD President & CEO Odyssey House

The term “behavioral health” is often used to describe the connection between behavior and the health and well-being of the body, mind, and spirit. Substance use disorders, mental illness, homelessness – these are all behavioral health problems that need a multi-faceted treatment approach. The path to recovery requires us to see the connection between substance abuse and related problems and to take the necessary steps to address these issues in a comprehensive and effective way. That is why Odyssey House provides high quality, holistic treatment impacting all major life spheres: psychological, physical, social, family, educational, and spiritual.

Established in 1967, Odyssey House is a nonprofit behavioral health care organization with a mission to provide comprehensive and innovative services to New Yorkers struggling with substance use disorders, mental illness, and homelessness. With 10 substance abuse, mental health and supportive housing facilities located in East Harlem and the South Bronx, Odyssey House provides a range of direct and supportive services, including residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment, trauma-informed services, case management, primary health care, dental care, mental health care, supportive housing, recovery coaching, housing assistance, vocational and educational support, and more.

Treating the Whole Person

At any one time, Odyssey House is home to more than 1,000 men, women, and children. Some of these residents are young mothers who enter treatment with their children, seeking a drug-free life for themselves and a brighter future for their families. Older men and women come into treatment to break a lifetime habit of addiction, while teens are attempting to get back on track and succeed in school and at careers. For all of these clients, Odyssey House provides a chance to recover from addiction and mental illness and, along with that, to experience the psychological and physical well-being that comes with recovery.

Throughout all programs, Odyssey House provides holistic care with wraparound services. Recognizing that there is no “one size fits all” treatment model, Odyssey House does not simply place clients in housing or treat them for their substance use disorders or mental illness. We provide ongoing, personalized support to teach daily life skills, reunite families through NYC Administration for Children’s Services mediation and family therapy, attend to educational needs through GED preparation and classes, and care for the body through our health clinics and on-site gym facilities.

This complete continuum of care stabilizes clients and puts them on the path to lasting independence. Through Odyssey House’s licensed medical clinic and dental clinic, clients of all programs are able to access a range of health care services, giving our clients a crucial opportunity to manage their health before their conditions degenerate into an emergency situation.

Managing Mental Illness

Men and women suffering from mental illness are especially prone to substance abuse. The effects of addiction combined with the challenges of chronic mental conditions can be devastating, isolating these men and women from family, making it almost impossible for them to lead productive lives in the community, and often rendering them homeless.

At Odyssey House, case managers and counselors enhance treatment in our supportive housing communities with intensive mental health services and coaching in life skills ranging from personal hygiene to financial management. Up to 250 residents, most referred from city and state psychiatric facilities, partake in supported community living plus group therapy, medication management, vocational counseling and job training—all part of preparing themselves to take control of their lives and re-enter the community.

When the time comes, Odyssey House helps these men and women make the difficult transition into permanent housing. Residents in treatment attend workshops that teach such real-life skills as budgeting, making rent payments on time, and grocery shopping. Once participants have successfully completed the workshops, a placement specialist helps them find affordable housing, accompanies them on interviews with landlords, and helps negotiate rental contracts. In this way, Odyssey House helps break the cycle of relapse and homelessness.

Beyond Treatment

At Odyssey House, recovery is more than just sobriety. Recovery includes engaging in regular physical activity, taking responsibility for your health, and expressing yourself creatively.

Research shows that exercise not only improves cardiovascular function and has other physical benefits but can also elevate mood, alleviate stress, and even improve brain function. Exercise makes us feel better, both mentally and physically, and that is why physical fitness is such a big part of the Odyssey House experience.

Facilities are equipped with exercise equipment and weights, and residents are encouraged to enjoy yoga, Pilates, basketball and other team sports. Especially popular is Run for Your Life, a program that brings residents of all ages together several times a week in New York’s Central Park to walk or run. Many clients also choose to participate in marathons and other races.

Creating art provides a way to access and express feelings, and helps relieve a sense of isolation. Residents at all Odyssey House facilities are encouraged to express themselves through art and writing, and also enjoy readings, film screenings, and museum visits. The Odyssey House Art Project engages residents in painting, sculpture, and other forms of expression. Every year, works by these residents are showcased in the Haven Art Gallery, occupying a handsome, lightfilled space in an Odyssey House facility on East 121st Street in Manhattan.

These activities provide residents with a chance to develop relationships with one another, improve their self esteem, gain control over their bodies, and get a change of pace from the strenuous, day-to-day routine of recovery. Most important of all, they introduce residents to yet another component of a richer, fuller, more satisfying substance-free life.

 

Mail Order Heroin? New Websites Make it a Reality

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NEW YORK (CBS 2)

From clothing to books and groceries, it seems like there isn’t much that you can’t find on the Internet these days.

And that might include illegal drugs.

Cocaine and even heroin are readily available for online purchase and home delivery.


Among the usual bills and junk mail, one woman recently found a strange package in her mailbox addressed to her son. The priority mail envelope contained a shocking special delivery, heroin.

“In a sense the mailman is acting as a courier,” the woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told CBS 2’s Kristine Johnson.

The brazen new black market allows customers to order heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, and even steroids, from the comfort of their own homes, according to experts.

One woman’s 21-year-old son has a history of drug abuse and was under house arrest when he ordered the package. The man showed CBS 2’s cameras one of his favorite drug sites and said that he paid using a money wire transfer.

“Everything on here is generally more expensive than you’d pay on the street,” he said.

More expensive? Yes, but far easier to acquire. Point and click today and the drugs can be delivered within 24 hours.

Experts said that this easy method of scoring drugs makes abuse a much bigger problem.

“How a drug is obtained is very much correlated with how much it is abused,” explained Dr. Peter Provet, president of Odyssey House, a substance abuse treatment center. “We sense that it’s becoming more problematic, particularly due to its anonymity.”

That anonymity has acted as a roadblock for law enforcement agencies trying to crack down on these websites, many of which are suspected to be located overseas.

“My understanding is there is software that makes it difficult to trace the origin of the computer systems,” Dr. Provet said. “My hope is there is enough effort to bring that much more investigation to target the problem.”

That problem is quickly causing the families of addicts to lose hope in the battle against drugs.

“People need to know that this is a way for people who are addicts to get their hands on drugs that can kill them,” the earlier 21-year-old’s mother said.

The U.S. Postal Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration said that they are well aware of the sites and are investigating.

Celebrating 10 Years of Discovery Through Art

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Odyssey House and global strategic branding firm Siegel+Gale celebrated ten years of creating art by members of the Odyssey House Art Project, men and women coping with substance abuse, mental illness, and homelessness.  This was the first curated show of paintings, photographs, and masks from an art collection a decade in the making.

Dr. Peter Provet, president of Odyssey House, said: “The creation of art plays a critical role in the rejuvenation of the human spirit and provides a way of reaching sensitive issues embedded in the human psych. We encourage unschooled artists in treatment to identify archetypal themes such as childhood, family, and spiritual wholeness.

 
 

“This new show explores ‘Home’ as a place where we reside spiritually, physically and psychologically.  All too often home for our clients is a transitory and undefined place of dysfunction that limits their ability to lead fulfilling and healthy lives. Developing a new vision of ‘Home’ is central to a strong recovery. Reaching a place of security and well-being within themselves prepares our clients to complete treatment and craft a functional and socially responsible life.”

“This exhibition reveals the stories of a community of resilient individuals in recovery, and brings to light a body of work with power enough to engage and inspire us all,” said Justin Peters, Global Executive Creative Director. “Given Siegel+Gale’s focus on helping organizations and individuals reach their true potential, we’re truly honored to host this celebration of creativity and join in marking the ten-year anniversary of this program.”

To see more photos from the reception, visit our Flickr page.

Merging Missions for Good Health

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Addiction Professional by Colleen Beagen

Today’s addiction treatment organizations embrace a holistic model for individuals in recovery that includes emotional, behavioral and physical support. A robust treatment plan focuses on all aspects of an individual’s health and functioning, and requires counselors to actively engage clients as a coach and partner. Interacting with clients at this level is mentally and physically demanding, with counselors’ skills tested every day to live up to the challenge. As research supports the importance of physical exercise in addiction treatment and providers look to incorporate fitness into their programs, the health and fitness of staff members becomes increasingly important as well.

Bringing wellness into the workplace is a natural development at New York City-based treatment organization Odyssey House, where the overall mission is to promote a healthy recovery for individuals and families facing a range of life challenges that can include substance use disorders, mental illness, homelessness and chronic medical conditions. In 2011, Odyssey House introduced a free, voluntary wellness program called R U Fit?! to encourage staff to improve their overall health and fitness.

This staff wellness initiative represents a continuation of Odyssey House’s commitment to support and promote good health among treatment program participants. It takes a similar positive reinforcement approach to the proven model Odyssey House developed with clients, providing staff with group support, free on-site fitness facilities and access to an employee-only online health coaching service.

Odyssey House’s objective in implementing a wellness initiative is to help workers change any negative behaviors that are undermining their health and to foster new habits, such as developing an individualized diet and exercise regimen that supports good health and stress reduction. While obesity and other diet- and exercise-related health problems are not more common than the national average at Odyssey House, staff expressed interest in improving their overall health and fitness. In the future, these changes are expected to boost morale and productivity, improve employee recruitment and retention, and reduce healthcare costs.

The development of the program was spurred by Odyssey House President Peter Provet, PhD, who has made wellness a top priority during his tenure based on his firm belief that “ultimately, it is the clients we serve who will be the beneficiaries of healthier, happier staff members.”

Provet adds, “Given the steep rise in healthcare costs coupled with increased awareness of the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise, we looked at what we could do to both help staff improve their overall health and impact our bottom line. We found that a wellness program that offered personalized and confidential life coaching was a sound investment in our most valuable resource: the 330 counseling, educational, medical, and administrative staff who dedicate themselves to the mission of Odyssey House.”

A recent survey of American workers at businesses with 10 to 1,000 employees backs up this view. The survey found that 41% of workers agreed that having a wellness program encourages them to work harder and perform better at work; 52% said they have more energy to be more productive; and 35% said they have missed fewer days of work as a result of participating in a wellness program.

The Principal Financial Well-Being Index, compiled in the last quarter of 2011, further indicated that the type of incentive-driven and ease-of-access approach Odyssey House offers, an enhanced program that includes external fitness center discounts, on-site prevention screenings, access to wellness experts, and on-site fitness facilities, targets the wellness benefits that are most desired by employees.

Staff’s Options

As well as being offered individualized wellness plans that they can implement at home, all staff are encouraged to practice healthy habits at work and have access to exercise equipment at Odyssey House treatment centers. The emphasis on diet and exercise is foremost in a number of events hosted by the organization, including the annual 5K fundraiser “Run for Your Life,” intramural sports leagues, and rigorous training with the Odyssey House Marathon Team (since 2002 more than 300 clients and former clients, staff, board members and other supporters have completed the New York City Marathon).

The goal of R U FIT?! is to complement these activities with free, online, confidential health coaching and personalized programs to promote weight and nutrition management, to encourage regular exercise and stress reduction, and to support smoking cessation.

To allay any concerns staff might have about confidentiality and to encourage trust in disclosing personal information, Odyssey House is providing these services via an outside company called WellCall. Data collected by the service is anonymous and reported in the aggregate, collated only to monitor participation and to refine services.

All staff that enroll in the service have access to a personal health coach and can take advantage of incentive options, such as earning so-called “WellBucks.” This is virtual cash that can be used to purchase health-related items such as exercise bands or stress balls, T-shirts, tote bags, and gift certificates to a healthy grocery store or sporting goods store, as well as entertainment rewards for movie tickets. In developing the program, Provet has emphasized a culture of reward for those who choose to participate, rather than a punitive approach toward those who do not.

The program began a year ago with on-site biometric screenings and confidential consultations with health educators. The screening measured cholesterol levels, glucose readings, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). Using the results of their biometric screening, employees completed an online Personal Health Profile (PHP), which provided a customized report containing overall wellness scores, identifying high-risk areas, and describing steps that can be taken to reduce future health risks. After the PHPs were completed, the participants were granted unlimited access to their own personal health coach and online tools.

To aid in managing R U Fit?!, Odyssey House hired a wellness coordinator (a Golden Gloves champion boxer and certified personal trainer), to act as a liaison between employees and the health and wellness provider. Her weekly motivational and fitness e-mails and twice-weekly workout sessions, held in one of Odyssey House’s gyms, have been instrumental in promoting the wellness program and encouraging staff participation.

The overall cost of the initiative, including start-up screenings, incentives, personal training, and online support, is approximately $20 a month per employee.

Staff Comments

The biometric screening offered an eye-opening experience for some of our employees, many of whom were not aware they had health issues. Sylvester Evangelista, director of our dental clinic, was alerted to high blood pressure and cholesterol as a result of the screening.

“Throughout my life I have been very athletic, but I was never really health conscious of what I ate. As I got older I gained weight in my midsection and started to feel very sluggish,” says Evangelista. “Since I started participating in the R U Fit?! program, I have turned my life around. I go to the gym five days a week and I try to eat five small balanced meals a day. I am happy to say that my blood pressure and cholesterol went down without medication and I feel great!”

Although in its infancy, the “R U Fit?!” program already has contributed to a shift in culture toward a healthier overall lifestyle. Out of 275 eligible employees, 259 underwent the biometric screenings—a 94% participation rate. More than 40% of employees signed up for a fall competition called the “10,000 Steps a Day” challenge, in which staff competed against each other and their facilities to take the most steps. More staff are expected to join our spring weight loss competition, “The Biggest Winner”—not loser!

Billing specialist Judy Cruz joined R U Fit?! early on and has been attending the wellness coordinator’s sessions regularly since they started in November. Cruz says, “I feel more energetic and motivated during work hours as well as afterwards. I believe that this program has made an impact in improving my focus and commitment to my job.”

Lydia Woodson, who works in the Odyssey House Manor Family Center, has found that participating in R U Fit?! has improved her health as well as her job performance. She says, “I am less stressed, I have a clearer head and I can carry out my duties better. I have encouraged my colleagues and residents to take charge of their health by going to the gym, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and eating better.”

Staff As Role Models

To Provet, employees’ health and well-being is particularly important because staff members are expected to serve as role models throughout the organization. Counselors, teachers, administrators, food service workers and maintenance workers all understand the important position they hold as role models for individuals in treatment for substance abuse and mental health problems.

Both staff and clients have access to Odyssey House fitness facilities and recreational programs. A pilot program for clients, called “We R Fit,” was launched this spring. This program is similar to the staff-based R U Fit!? model, but also includes in-person consultations with a registered dietitian and nurse practitioner.

“Role model staff inspire, challenge, check and motivate clients to look at themselves and realize they can become far more than what they have been,” says Provet. “Healthy choices lead to better health outcomes, and Odyssey House is committed to leading by example.”

Colleen Beagen is Vice President of Human Resources at New York City-based Odyssey House, responsible for developing and implementing human resources initiatives for 350 clinical, medical and administrative staff. Beagen joined Odyssey House in 2000 as Assistant Director of Human Resources and was promoted to Vice President in 2008. Prior to joining the company, she oversaw the career development division of the human resources department at Bell Atlantic/Verizon. Her e-mail address is cbeagen@odysseyhouseinc.org.

Odyssey House Announces Election of Richard O’Connor to Chairman of the Board of Trustees

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New York, NY – Odyssey House is pleased to announce the election of Richard O’Connor to chairman of the Odyssey House Board of Trustees. Mr. O’Connor, vice president of marketing at CVS Caremark, has served on the Board of Trustees as vice chairman from 2010 and has held positions on the strategic planning and finance committees since joining the board in 2002.

Mr. O’Connor said he sees his role as one of championing the holistic approach to recovery and rehabilitation pioneered at Odyssey House for people with substance abuse disorders and mental illness.

“Over the ten years I have been closely involved with Odyssey House I have seen the agency grow into a multi-faceted social services organization that offers a continuum of care for some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Many of the individuals who turn to Odyssey House for help with substance abuse and mental health problems have been homeless, suffer from physical and mental trauma, and have educational deficits that severely limit their job prospects and ability to take care of themselves and their family.

“I am excited to be a part of this mission and look forward to continuing the organization’s role as a leader in the field of recovery for a broad population of teens, families, senior citizens, and people with medical and mental health problems. I am also honored to be following in the footsteps of George Rosenfeld who retired as chairman following ten years of innovative leadership.”

Peter Provet, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Odyssey House, said, “Rick has been an invaluable member of our board for ten years. We are delighted with his election to Chairman of Odyssey House. He brings an extensive background in health care, wellness, and the treatment of intellectual and learning disabilities to our recovery-based organization, both as a skilled communicator and a strategic business thinker.”