PRCC Maine Recovery Hub October Newsletter

PRCC Maine Recovery Hub Newsletter: October 2021

Greetings from PRCC, Maine's Recovery Hub! This month's newsletter features a spotlight on the R.E.S.T. Center in Lewiston, ME, information on becoming a Registered Peer Recovery Coach and the certification process in Maine, #PreventionMonth resources, and more.

Spotlight: Offering REST to the Lewiston Community

Though still in its infancy, the R.E.S.T. Center in Lewiston, ME has exciting things happening, and in the works.

If you were walking through downtown Lewiston, you might notice a corner with a bright building lined with windows, an open door, and people moving in and out. Just inside, you’d find a small café, seating, and a pool table. This is the R.E.S.T. Center, one of Maine’s sixteen recovery community centers.

However, what’s not fully visible about the R.E.S.T. Center at a glance is that the building extends beyond what the eye can see. Next door, though equally part of the center, is a meeting space and yoga studio. Under construction downstairs is a basement gym with workout equipment, recording studio, and band practice room.

“We’re interested in the meeting before the meeting, and the meeting after the meeting,” says Lateef Peele, Interim Director. “We’ve got coffee brewing, food, music—come hangout.”

The R.E.S.T. Center’s emphasis on holistic community care is embedded in its name, which stands for Recovery, Employment, Support, and Training. Opened in late 2019, the R.E.S.T. Center has had a somewhat stunted start due to the pandemic, so its staff still considers the center to be in its infancy.

However, Tiana Warriner, Recovery Coach Coordinator at the R.E.S.T. Center, considers this to be an exciting place to be.

“We have the ability right now to adapt and grow and work with anyone,” she says. “We’re ready to grow with our community needs and go where the need is.”

Peele adds, “People can come together here and make it their own. We want to become everyone’s center like it’s supposed to be.”

If you’re interested in checking out the R.E.S.T. Center, be sure to attend their upcoming event, “Recovery Messaging and Advocacy Workshop” led by recovery advocacy leaders Andrew Kiezulas, Courtney Allen, Chantel St. Laurent and Jeremy Hiltz. The event will be held on Saturday October 30, 9am-2pm at the R.E.S.T. Center (205 Main Street Lewiston, ME 04240). RSVP HERE.

Maine Peer Recovery Coach Certification Workshop

PRCC, in collaboration with the Maine Peer Recovery Coach Certification Board, is excited to invite you to a workshop that will outline how to become a Registered Peer Recovery Coach and information on the upcoming certification process in the state of Maine. This virtual event, happening November 10th from 9am-12pm, will include interactive workshops related to recovery coaching. The agenda for the day will consist of three components:

PRCC will introduce the Maine Peer Recovery Coach Certification Board, discuss the importance being registered and certified, outline the application process, and answer questions.
Healthy Acadia will present a workshop on ethical considerations for recovery coaching and Coachervision.
Love Yourself will present an interactive workshop on compassion fatigue and steps to promote self-care.

The event is free and open to all who wish to attend. Whether you are a trained recovery coach, thinking about becoming trained, employing recovery coaches, a person in recovery, a recovery ally, or community member who is looking to help those in and seeking recovery, this event is for you. Register here.

October is National Prevention Month

October is National Prevention Month, a time to highlight the vital role of prevention in both individual and community health. It is also a time to remember those who have lost their lives to substance use disorder and to celebrate those in recovery, as well as children, parents, family, and friends supporting them.

The Scope of Practice Podcast recently talked with Sandra Del Sesto, a national leader in the development of the role delineation and training for prevention professionals, and Scott Gagnon, Director of the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center about the roles and focus of the prevention field in today's environment. They provide an outstanding opportunity for treatment and recovery professionals to learn about and have greater appreciation for this important sector of our industry. Listen to the podcast.

In addition, the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network (PTTC) has compiled a list of up-to-date prevention resources and tools, including videos, printouts, literature, and more. Check out their prevention resources here.

Recap: 2021 Mobilize Recovery Conference in Las Vegas, NV

Maine turns out for recovery! Representatives from PRCC (Nicole Proctor, Program Director of Maine Recovery Hub at PRCC pictured at right) and Maine Recovery Advocacy Project (ME-RAP) attended the third annual Mobilize Recovery conference, held September 24-27 in Las Vegas, NV.

Mobilize Recovery is an initiative of the Recovery Advocacy Project and The Voices Project. Its mission is to expand policy to support recovery, create connections to supportive services that are vital and life-saving, and to engage affected individuals in meaningful civic action. The initiative convenes advocates with lived experience to build capacity for organized civic engagement with new leadership across the country.

This year’s Mobilize Recovery was a hybrid event due to the pandemic, making it the largest and most accessible training to date. Over 300 advocates attended in person, while nearly 1,000 participants logged in to network, share skills, and cultivate community. Featured speakers included former President Bill Clinton, former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Senior Director of Substance Use Disorders and Recovery at the Clinton Foundation Chris Thrasher, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use SAMHSA Tom Coderre, Acting Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Regina LaBelle, NYT Bestselling Author Resmaa Menakem, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, and more. The event concluded with Recover Out Loud, a free concert with performances by Macklemore and others in recognition of International Recovery Day.

Good News: SAMHSA opens Office of Recovery

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is launching an Office of Recovery, within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to advance the agency’s commitment to, and support of, recovery for all Americans. Announced on International Recovery Day 2021, SAMHSA will now have a dedicated team with a deep understanding of recovery to promote policies, programs and services to those in or seeking recovery.

“Today is an important day in the history of the Recovery movement. The development and launch of the Office of Recovery at SAMHSA is the culmination of the tireless efforts of Recovery advocates over the years. We applaud this development and look forward to enhanced support and awareness around the critical need for Recovery Support Services. Faces & Voices of Recovery is proud to partner with SAMHSA and other agencies to raise awareness and deliver life-saving supports to those who are experiencing difficulty as a result of substance use disorder,” says Phil Rutherford, the Chief Operating Officer at Faces & Voices of Recovery.

Mark your calendars for the 2022 Hope Conference!

The 2022 Maine Hope Conference will be held on May 18 at the Augusta Civic Center. This year's theme is "Rising with Hope, Building a New World: Revolutionizing Systems, Reimagining Wellness, & Rebuilding Community."

The Hope conference (which stands for Having Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) is an annual peer led conference offering workshops, learning and discussion about recovery and wellness. The event was created to help participants gain a greater understanding of what recovery/wellness is from the many paths and different perspectives on the journey of life.

The conference is open to all people in recovery and community members interested in well being.

Check out their Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.

Building Recovery Community Throughout the State of 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.