Your monthly Stepping Up Initiative newsletter is here!

A Recovery Community That Is STRONG!

This newsletter will be released once a month to recap recovery news and resources. You will also experience a word from Commissioner Doreen Williams, personal recovery stories and information on how to support the Rockdale County Stepping Up Initiative in our ongoing efforts to reduce the number of people in the criminal justice system with mental health and substance use challenges.

COMMISSIONER'S CORNER

Commissioner Doreen Williams provides a monthly recap for the Rockdale County recovery community and their partners, allies and stakeholders. Commissioner Doreen Williams provides a monthly recap for the Rockdale County recovery community and their partners, allies and stakeholders. In this month's Commissioners Corner, she discusses the progress we have made as collaborative community partners and where we stand now in 2022.

Breaking Recovery News!

Click the link provided to learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month 2022.

Learn More

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month

May is a time to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health issues and to help reduce the stigma so many experience. Throughout this pandemic, we have faced isolation, turmoil and unrest, and a growing number of Americans experienced mental health symptoms. We’ve learned through this experience that we all struggle during challenging times and need support and access to care so we can thrive. This is why building a community of multiple strong partnerships play an important role in providing behavioral health care and helping people find recovery resources available in their community. Many of our partners are leading innovations in the way behavioral health disorders are identified and treated—through the integration of physical and behavioral health services, changes in their emergency departments and inpatient and outpatient settings, and via community partnerships. These strategies improve the overall value of recovery and can lead to improvements in outcomes and quality of care for people with mental health and co-occuring disorders along with their families in our community.

CHAMPION OF RECOVERY

Teresa's Story

Teresa Carmichael has been selected as the Champion of Recovery because of her dedication to being intentional about her recovery and the passion she has for families that need access to resources. We are proud to have her as an active member of the Rockdale County Opening Doors to Recovery Team and the Recovery Community.

Click on the video to hear Teresa's story

Visit YouTube Channel

CHAMPION OF CHANGE

Chad Jones

We are proud to announce this month's Champion of Change is Chad Jones Vice President of Business Operations with View Point Health. Chad Jones is a true visionary, partner, collaborator and ally to all facets and partners in our service milieu. Chad has assisted with the development and implementation of so many of the services over the years that we cannot count them all. These new programs change the way people flow through our systems and cut through the

red tape and increase/improve access to treatment and the multiple pathways that people find and experience recovery. Just recently Chad has been instrumental in the development of the three Rockdale County coresponder models, one with the City of Conyers Police Department, one with the Rockdale County Sheriffs Office and one with the Opening Doors to Recovery (ODR) Team, also the implementation of the ODR team. Most importantly Chad always makes himself available to advise and support all partners with serving our most vulnerable populations and that is why he is this months Champion of Change! Thank you Chad from us all.

SUPPORT YOUR RECOVERY COMMUNITY!

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

You don't want to miss this mindfulness recovery retreat

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and National Meditation Day, join us for a holistic approach to recovery and wellness through yoga, meditation and more!

For more information email Marylou.snow2@rockdalecountyga.gov or contact Mary-Lou Snow at 770-278-7020.

"Better When I am Dancing", dance concert and art exhibit will share the power of mental health recovery through the arts , presented by people living in recovery. This event will be hosted by the Fulton County's Westend Performing Arts Center, with art and dance presented by the R2ISE theatre peer group. Please join us for this FREE event. Space is limited, register today!

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GRIT & GRACE RCO

As we continue to intentionally grow in our recovery we invite you to our daily Recovery Oriented zoom meetings in hopes that our recovery community will also grow in numbers. We know that it is our duty to carry the recovery message to those that still suffer. If you or a loved one needs the support of a recovery community, we meet every weekday at 11am and 6pm and again on Saturdays at 6pm. Please follow our Grit & Grace RCO pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and subscribe to our new YouTube and Podcast Channels to show your support and stay connected.

Join Us On Zoom

Monthly Featured Recovery App

Download from Apple App Store

Download from Google Playstore

The SoberTool App

SoberTool is a fast, free, and effective tool to help you stay clean and sober and is now available for download for Apple and Android phones everywhere.

This app is for recovering people and anyone who wants to stay clean and sober or free from a bad habit. It gives you free, immediate help at your fingertips.

Cravings can attack unexpectedly, and sometimes you cannot reach anyone, but you can always touch your smart phone, tablet, or other device. You can also opt for congratulatory rewards and automatic daily messages.

Ready to go? Just click on one of the buttons to download the app and get started. Don’t forget to tell your friends and colleagues in recovery about the app so they can get started too.

Click resource images for more information

Find a Local AA Meeting

Find a Local NA Meeting

PARTNERSHIPS

The Rockdale County Stepping Up Initiative acknowledges that it takes a community and we are truly grateful for the the continued support of the following partnerships:

Rockdale County Board of Commissioners

Rockdale State Court

Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office

City of Conyers Police Department

Piedmont Rockdale Hospital

Rockdale County Accountability Courts

Grit & Grace: A Rockdale Recovery Organization, Inc.

Viewpoint Health

Restoration Storehouse

E911

Rockdale County District Attorney’s Office

Rockdale County Public Defender’s Office

Rockdale County Probate Judge

Rockdale County Magistrate Judge

2800 SW HWY 138

Conyers, GA 30094