As we enjoy August in Maine, we also remember those who we have lost.
August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. This global campaign started in 2001 in Melbourne, Australia to remember those we’ve lost to overdose and acknowledge the grief from loved ones left behind.
PRCC offers many support services and resources for all who are seeking recovery.
National Recovery Month is right around the corner. PRCC and other recovery community centers across Maine are planning to celebrate recovery in local festivals, gatherings, walks, and symposiums.
We also celebrate our community, which includes our members, recovery allies, service providers, recovery residences, and treatment partners, who make recovery in all its forms possible.
We invite you to join us at PRCC's Annual Rally 4 Recovery, held from 12 to 3 p.m. on Sept. 9 at Payson Park in Portland.
Back, and bigger than ever, the rally will feature music, children’s activities, food trucks, a recovery countdown, and much more. There will be lots of fun for the whole family. Hope to see you there!
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International Overdose Awareness Day
International Overdose Awareness Day is held each year on August 31.
This year’s theme “Recognizing those people who go unseen” is about acknowledging people in our communities who are affected by overdose but might go unseen in the crisis, according to their website.
Our heart hurts for all who are lost to overdoses and their loved ones left behind. PRCC and other RCCs are holding events to recognize the day, spread hope, and honor those lost to overdose.
- PRCC, 102 Bishop St. in Portland, is having a resource table with Naloxone. For more info, go to portlandrecovery.org or call 207-553-2575.
- Costal Recovery Community Center, 11 White St. in Rockland, will hold a free Narcan training. For more info, go to rocklandrecovery.org or call 207-691-3697.
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Save the Date: Rally 4 Recovery |
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Portland Recovery Community Center is holding their Annual Rally 4 Recovery from 12 to 3 p.m. on Sept. 9 at Payson Park in Portland.
The rally will feature music, children’s activities, food trucks, a recovery countdown, and much more. There will be fun for the whole family.
If you’re interested in sponsoring the rally or having a resource table during the event, please call 207-553-2575 or email, emily@portlandrecovery.org.
- Joining PRCC in the park is The Family Restored, holding the 5th Annual Softball Summer Classic starting at 9 a.m. Sept. 9 at Payson Park in Portland. There will be food, drinks, games & raffle prizes. A trophy will be presented to the winning team! Stick around for PRCC’s Rally 4 Recovery from noon to 3 p.m. This will truly be a day of recovery.
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PRCC is teaming up with the Maine Association of Recovery Residences for a day of service in coordination with Mobilize Recovery. The day of service is held on Sept. 30 and recovery community centers and recovery houses around the state will be “cleaning up our side of the street.” To get involved, reach out to your local center, and check out PRCC's Facebook page for more details.
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Highlights from Gov. Janet Mills
5th Annual Opioid Response Summit
The summit included keynote speakers, recovery advocates, and leaders across Maine who came together to share ideas and strategies to help Mainers impacted by the opioid epidemic.
The theme of this year’s summit was the Power of Prevention, Focus on Families. A highlight for many in attendance was the breakout sessions with the voices of persons in recovery, featured prominently again this year.
PRCC organized the voices of recovery in 2019 for the first Summit and again this year. Leslie Clark, executive director of PRCC, said she requested the state to include in its agenda before every workshop that a person in recovery or recovery ally share their experience and hope for recovery. The governor’s office resoundingly said ‘Yes.’
This year, 20 people shared 3 to 5 minutes of their recovery journey. Leslie said the stories of recovery uplift us and bring us back to why all this matters.
“It’s amazing! There has been huge transformational ground swell in terms of the unity of policy makers at the national and state level, and most importantly, people in recovery whose voices are being heard,” Leslie said. “They are part of creating the policies and resources that need to be in place for people to get well. This was the vision that we would be not just one voice at a table, but that we would be many voices. We want our recovery community to participate in the development of public policy and civic engagement in a productive way. And that is what we are achieving. We are there to help form the solutions.”
“What gratified me was seeing how the work we are doing on the ground is in alignment with the state’s strategic plan, and the national agenda for how to solve this problem,” Leslie said. “We are right in alignment with that. We are all singing from the same songbook about what needs to be done, and to me that’s just amazing.”
To read the full story, go to PRCC.
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Thank you to all PRCC volunteers, who showed up to support the conference by directing people to breakout sessions, and helping people in any way they needed.
“When we say, ‘This is what recovery looks like.’ This is what recovery looks like,” said Leslie Clark executive director of PRCC. “People who are joyful helping serve their community and helping others find their way.”
From L to R: Han Ferguson, volunteer coordinator at PRCC; Volunteers Isaac S., Josh C., and Hannah P.
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Above: Kim Capone-Sprague, Peer Recovery Coach Coordinator and Josh Warren, Peer Recovery Coach.
Left above: Leslie Clark, executive director at PRCC; and Gordon Smith, director of Opioid Response.
Left: Nicole Proctor, Program Director at PRCC, and Barry Wolach.
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PRCC extends thanks to all who participated in advocacy
this Legislative session.
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The Legislative session ended, and the Governor signed the budget into law. Thank you to everyone who participated in advocacy efforts and civic engagement in using our collective voices of recovery to champion our work and inspire hope. Our community really showed up at a whole new level to advocate and spread the message of hope – through action and policy!
PRCC worked on several priority bills that were approved by the Legislature. This is something to celebrate and build upon moving forward.
Unfortunately, the one we put most effort into, LD: 1714, An Act to Create a Sustainable Funding Source for Recovery Community Centers, was not funded by the Appropriations Committee this Legislative session. The good news is that the bill was carried over to the next Legislative session and could receive funding in next year’s budget. This means that we will not have to start all over and go through the committee, House, and Senate. We will be able to pick up our work where we left off and try to get this over the finish line.
Among the bills that we were watching and advocating for that passed into law and funded were two that will especially make a big difference:
LD 1719: An Act to Establish Substance Use Disorder Treatment Centers: A new treatment center for substance use disorder, located in either Washington or Kennebec County, was approved and funded with $3.6 million from the budget.
LD 597: An Act to Improve Conditions for People Living in Recovery Residences by Requiring Approved Discharge and Transfer Policies
This legislation, passed into law, will better protect both residents and the recovery residences with connecting people with the appropriate level of care when there is an issue that is disrupting the person’s recovery and the house they are living in.
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Join PRCC’s Sober Run Crew! |
Come and run with us! PRCC’s Sober Run Crew meets at 4 p.m. Tuesdays at PRCC, 102 Bishop St. in Portland. The group usually runs a 2.5 to 3 mile-loop, starting at PRCC. The group runs up Bishop Street before turning on Stevens Avenue and finishes downhill through the University of New England campus to PRCC.
“It’s a nice hero’s downhill that we can all cruise down and feel really good about our running,” KiM said.
Portland Recovery Community Center is teaming up with Town and Country Federal Credit Union to offer members financial guidance from 1 to 2 p.m. on Aug. 18 at 102 Bishop St.
Brittany and Lyndsay from TCFCU stop by PRCC for drop-in financial conversations on the third Friday of every month. They can answer any financial questions you may have.
For more info, call 207-553-2575.
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Costal Recovery Community Center is joining Rockland Police Department, local recovery residences, and a youth group for a friendly indoor wiffle ball game at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at Flanagan Community Center, 61 Limerock St. in Rockland. The game is open to all ages, 8 to 17 years old.
CRCC is partnering with MaineGeneral Health for Wellness Wednesday.
MaineGeneral is offering free HIV and Hepatitis C testing from 1 to 3 p.m. on Aug. 9 at the center, 11 White St. in Rockland.
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Larry Labonte Recovery Center is holding its 3rd Annual Golf Fundraising Scramble starting at 9 a.m. on Aug. 6 at Bethel Resort & Suites, 21 Broad St. in Bethel.
Larry Labonte Recovery Center is offering haircuts by Jess A. from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Mondays at 412 Waldo St. in Rumford.
Jess is there to offer free haircuts and beard trims for the homeless and those in need. For more info, call 207-418-4983.
Stop by LLRC for a free hotdog and dessert from 11:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at 412 Waldo St. in Rumford.
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The Unplugged Arcade / Family Fun Day |
The HILLS Recovery Center is hosting Game Night with The Unplugged Arcade and Journey Magazine at 6 p.m. Aug. 5 at 15 Tannery St. in Norway. Stop by for a night of unique and fun games for the whole family. Doors open at 5:30. Food and drinks will be provided.
For more info, call 207-744-2424 or go to WMARI.org.
Join Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative and The Hills Recovery Center at 10 a.m. on Aug. 19 for Family Fun Day at Mexico Recreation Park.
This is a great way to get out, meet others in recovery, and enjoy nature. Please see the flyer for details.
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Pathways of HOPE new screening hours
Pathways of Hope at Portland Recovery Community Center has new screening hours for people seeking help with substance use disorder.
Brianna Ebling, the resource navigator for Pathways of Hope, is screening potential participants from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday at PRCC, 102 Bishop St. in Portland.
Bri assists people seeking placement for residential treatment or recovery housing and connects them to support services at PRCC or their local recovery community center.
There are no screenings on Fridays. If someone can’t come in during scheduled hours, please contact Bri to schedule an appointment. For more info, call 207-553-2575 or email brianna@portlandrecovery.org.
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Coaching Corner
Interested in becoming a Recovery Coach?
Portland Recovery Community Center released its new virtual fall training schedule.
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A Recovery Coach Basics class will be held Oct. 27.
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Ethical Considerations for Recovery Coaches, a class for Trained CCAR recovery coaches, will be held from Dec. 6-8.
For more info and to register, click on the links provided. If you have questions, give us a call, 207-553-2575 or email, justin@portlandrecovery.org.
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PRCC bricks to grace the garden and entryway for years to come.
PRCC is selling bricks which will be engraved with a message in memory or in honor of a loved one or with a message of thanks or hope. These bricks will be installed in our entryway and garden pathways and will be cherished for years to come.
Individual 4x8 donor bricks can be purchased for $100. Business owners and non-profits - show your support as a recovery friendly workplace by purchasing an 8x8 brick. The cost is $1,000 for a business and $500 for a non-profit with a budget of $500,000 or less.
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Building Recovery Community Throughout Maine
This newsletter allows us to connect with you, our Maine recovery community. Whether you're a person in recovery, family member, or ally, you are part of the solution to addiction. Published on a regular basis and sent via email, this newsletter provides updates and gives you an opportunity to help support recovery and spread the message of hope throughout the state of Maine. To learn more about PRCC, whose programs are funded in part by the Maine Department of Health & Human Services, visit our website. Please send any feedback or information you'd like us to include to newsletter@portlandrecovery.org.
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PORTLAND RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTER portlandrecovery.org |
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