The HFC Connection
A Newsletter of The Holy Friendship Collaborative
April 2019
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The mission of the Holy Friendship Collaborative is to inspire the Church in our region to follow the Biblical mandate to meet people in distress wherever they are and extend to them Christ’s redeeming love. This can be seen in our efforts to mobilize the Christian community to address addiction.
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If your church is...
Wondering what it means to do “recovery-minded ministry”,
Searching for specific ways to get involved in recovery ministry,
Or
Already participating in or hosting recovery ministry(ies)....
….We invite you to take a “deeper dive” with us - to pray, study, and discern God’s call to The Church, and to your congregation specifically, as to what it means to be the “hands and feet of Christ” as we minister to those who are suffering from substance abuse/addiction, and/or going through recovery, in our region.
The Holy Friendship Collaborative, in partnership with Duke Divinity School’s Theology, Medicine, and Culture Initiative, will work closely with your church participants (whether it’s an interested group from your church or your entire congregation) to facilitate biblically-, theologically-, and clinically-informed endeavors to reduce addiction and lessen its effects in our region.
To schedule a meeting for more information with our Regional Project Facilitator, please contact:
Teronya Holmes
(423) 863-6745
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HFC
Board of Directors
Andrea D. Clements, PhD,
Executive Director
East Tennessee State University
Roger Leonard, MBA, President
Summit Companies
Lottie Ryans,
Vice President
First Tennessee Development District
Wally Boyd,
Treasurer
Entrepreneur,
Commercial Real Estate Sales
Linda Austin,
Secretary
ASAC,
Hands and Feet Ministries
Susan LaGuardia
United Way of Kingsport
Becky Haas
Ballad Health
Logan Horne
Highlands Community Health
Gary Metcalf
Ballad Health
Jim Wozniak
Tusculum University
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2019 Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit in Atlanta
Dr. Andrea Clements (HFC Executive Director) and Teronya Holmes (HFC Regional Project Facilitator) attended the largest national collaboration of professionals from local, state, and federal agencies, businesses, academia, treatment providers, and allied communities impacted by prescription drug abuse and heroin use. Held in Atlanta on April 22-25, this summit is known as
the
event for decision makers and allied professionals working to address this public health emergency.
President Trump and First Lady, Melania Trump, arrived in person to speak to the summit attendees on Wednesday. This is the first time a sitting president has attended, though former presidents have addressed the conference in the past.
President Trump spoke of his support for faith-based responses to the opioid crisis. He also invited Tennessee's own Monty Burks, TNDOH Director of Special Projects & Faith-Based Initiatives, on stage with him to passionately speak about the need for the faith-based response to substance misuse and recovery :
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4794098/monty-burks
Dr. Clements and Teronya Holmes were also able to attend breakout sessions on many topics, including faith-based initiatives, allowing them to make connections with others involved in this work, and share ideas.
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What is
Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
An 8-hour training course in Mental Health First Aid has been designed to give you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to appropriate care.
Frontier Health's Appalachian Angel Aid, Brandy Matsburger, LBSW, M.Ed., has graciously offered to lead these trainings for partners of the Holy Friendship Collaborative. The trainings may be scheduled for individuals or groups, and can even be brought to your church or organizational facility for a group training. To schedule, contact Brandy at bmaltsbu@frontierhealth.org or (423)895-4436; or visit
www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org
or email Info@MentalHealthFirstAid.org. You may also contact Teronya Holmes, Holy Friendship Collaborative's Regional Project Facilitator, at Teronya@holyfriendshipcollaborative.com, or (423)863-6745, for assistance in setting up this training.
What It Covers:
- Common signs and symptoms of mental illness
- Common signs and symptoms of substance abuse
- How to interact with a person in crisis
- How to connect the person with help
- How to administer naloxone in the event of an opioid overdose.
Who Should Take It?
- Faith leaders
- Community Members
- Caring Individuals
- Employers
- Police Officers
- Hospital Staff
- First Responders
The course will teach you how to apply the ALGEE action plan:
- Assess for risk of suicide or harm
- Listen non-judgmentally
- Give reassurance and information
- Encourage appropriate professional help
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies
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MAY
9th
Lee County Faith Community Initiative
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Lee High School
200 Generals Lane
Jonesville, VA 24263
Hosted by: The
Concerned About Our Community Coalition (CAOC) and the Appalachian Substance Abuse Coalition for Prevention and Treatment (ASAC)
Visit this website to register:
Please join the Concerned About Our Community Coalition (CAOC) and the Appalachian Substance Abuse Coalition for Prevention and Treatment (ASAC) to learn about addiction and the community resources available in the region.
13th
Revive! Training
10:00 am, 2:00 pm, & 6:30 pm
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
Abingdon, VA
Opioid
Overdose and Naloxone education for Virginia.
16th
You're Certified! Now What?
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Grace Fellowship Church
2314 South Greenwood Drive
Johnson City, TN 37604
Hosted by: Tennessee Faith Based Initiatives
This is an event for all Certified Recovery Congregations in the East Region of Tennessee!
A lot of congregations have been certified, but are now asking the question: Now what? Let's take this conversation to the next step!
*Guest Speakers
*Panel Discussion
*Group Discussion
*Vision Casting and Developing
Dinner will be provided.
No childcare provided.
If you are a Recovery Congregation and plan on attending, please bring at least ONE person who wants to learn more about being a Certified Recovery Congregation.
RSVP by May 6th, 2019.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
If you missed this year's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27th, it is NEVER TOO LATE to turn in and safely dispose of your unused prescription drugs in order to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
Go to this website to find out WHERE you can easily and conveniently dispose of your unused prescription drugs:
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The Holy Friendship Collaborative
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