BELLOWS FALLS — As part of National Recovery Month celebrations, Turning Point Recovery Center of Springfield is announcing new recovery services for Bellows Falls.
The organization is teaming up with Greater Falls Connections to host two events during the month of September. At each event, details of a new grant to fund peer-based recovery coaching services in Bellows Falls will be discussed. One event is the monthly coalition meeting on Sept. 22 at Parks Place, and the other is the barbecue on Sept. 23, also at Parks Place.
Since 2004, Turning Point has offered peer-based substance-abuse recovery services at its location on Morgan Street in Springfield.
Michael Johnson, director of Turning Point in Springfield, said in a news release that the grant “will create new services and connections for those seeking treatment and recovery from substance-use disorders in the Bellows Falls community. Peer-based recovery coaching will be established through community outreach and training of residents. This is a pilot project to test how recovery centers in Vermont can build capacity in rural communities.”
The program is intended to help community members become advocates for long-term recovery and to demonstrate that recovery is possible.
Peer-based recovery services are essential for supporting people in recovery. Data from the Vermont Recovery Network demonstrates significant positive outcomes for recovery center participants in Vermont, where 85 percent have maintained or achieved sobriety.
The funding for the new recovery coaching services in Bellows Falls is provided by the Fanny Holt Ames & Edna Louise Holt Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.
As part of the celebration of National Recovery Month and the receipt of the new grant, Greater Falls Connections will host their monthly coalition meeting, from noon to 1 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 22, at Parks Place Community Resource Center on 44 School St. in Bellows Falls.
The theme of this month's meeting is “The Power of Recovery,” and Johnson and Brandy Cheney, also from Turning Point Recovery Center of Springfield, will share details on the new Recovery Coaching program.
The second event to celebrate Recovery Month will be the “Bringing Hope Home Barbecue,” to be held at Parks Place on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 1-3 p.m. This family-friendly barbecue is another opportunity to share the details of the recovery coaching program. The barbecue is potluck style, and hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided. Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share.