UMADAOP CONFERENCE 2016

CONTENTS INTERESTED IN MORE FROM UMADAOP? To learn more about our resources for living a healthy lifestyle, contact one of our many locations throughout the state of Ohio:

UMADAOP 2016 CONFERENCE MAGAZINE

Akron UMADAOP

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JOHN WOODS Executive Director of New Perspectives, Minneapolis, Minnesota EVA DEVAUGHN CEO/Co-founder of Eva Life Giver, Baltimore, Maryland JESSICA HORNE Executive Director of Cleveland UMADAOP, OHIO 44 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS: LIVES LOST Drug and opioid overdose deaths increase in 2014 LASTING IMPACT UMADAOP leaders look back on how the state conference has evolved AMERICA’S PSYCHOLOGIST Renowned psychologist to speak at UMADAOP conference 52 TRIBUTES - Amad-Charles Keith Thompson - Jacqueline Rios-Jackson 58 AWARDS - John Edwards, Sr. - Nereida Diaz

Cincinnati UMADAOP

(513)541-7099

6 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS 9 YOUTH PREVENTION Youth led expositions 10 WELCOME LETTERS - Myrtle Boykin-Lighton - Tracy J. Plouck - William M. Denihan 14 KWABENA NIXON Speaking to our future 18 YOUTH PREVENTION LEADERS - Dajue Newell - Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word - Carl Zaire - Joziah Shipp 22 HEALING FOR ALL Dr. Gainers & addiction counseling 26 BLACK BUTTERFLIES UMADAOP’S apparel company 28 CRYSTAL OERTLE How UMADAOP saved her life

Cleveland UMADAOP

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Columbus UMADAOP

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Dayton UMADAOP

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Hispanic UMADAOP

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Lima UMADAOP

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Lorain UMADAOP

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Mansfield UMADAOP

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Toledo UMADAOP

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Youngstown UMADAOP

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Copyright 2016 by The Influence. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, excepting brief quotations in connection with reviews written specifically for inclusions in magazines or newspapers, or limited excerpts strictly for personal use. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

- Jacqueline Xavier - Rep. Mike Ashford - Joziah Shipp - Benjamin Davis

30 TREATMENT CENTERS NATIONWIDE: ROB CARTER Executive Director of No Turning Back, Baltimore, Maryland

Fatima Family Center supports and joins Cleveland UMADAOP in strengthening, empowering and honoring our families

Fatima Family Center 6600 Lexington Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44103 216.391.0505

Kimya N. Dennis, Ph.D. Dr. Kimya N. Dennis is a sociologist and criminologist. Her interdisciplinary research and social activism include suicide and suicidal self-harm, mental health, gender equality, and redening “family”. Dr. Dennis does professional presentations and community presentations. She also does guest columns and interviews for websites and news sources such as AFSP.org, Blackdoctor.org, Critical Mass Progress, and HuPost Blog. Dr. Dennis is on the board of directors for LEAD Girls of NC (LEAD), The Mental Health Association in Forsyth County (MHA), and North Carolina chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (NC AFSP). She is Assistant Professor and the creator and Coordinator of the Criminal Studies program in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Studies at Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC.

Welcome letter from the President of the UMADAOPs of Ohio Federation Welcome to the 2016 Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program’s 35th Annual State Conference! We are delighted to have you in Cleveland for what promises to be our most memorable State Conference yet. We’ve packed all three days with rousing speakers, exciting commentary and thought-provoking sessions.This is a great opportunity to learn, grow and connect with the best in the field and receive the most innovative culturally relevant best practices available.

As we promote this year’s theme of “Tutajenga – We Will Build”, we are reminded that through our work in this field, we take on a great responsibility to work towards building strong children, strong families, and strong communities.The Federation has grown to become a vital force in meeting the substance abuse education, prevention and treatment needs of African Americans and Hispanic Americans throughout the state of Ohio as our mission is to lead the nation in providing comprehensive, culturally appropriate, evidence-based prevention, treatment, recovery, re-entry and educational services for Ohio’s African and Hispanic American communities by assisting youth, families and communities in developing healthy lifestyle choices. As we grow in expertise during this conference expertise, it is my hope that the experience obtained will serve you in the best possible way so that you may have the best ability to serve others. I applaud you for taking on the task of building up others and look forward to learning alongside you this week Myrtle Boykin-Lighton Federation President

Dear UMADAOPS of Ohio, Congratulations on your 27th annual state conference! I applaud your efforts for continuing to assemble an outstanding collection of professionals to highlight and share the importance and value of the culturally appropriate substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services that are provided to your communities. This year’s theme, “Tutajenga: We Will Build”, reflects the efforts of the Federation of UMADAOPs for continued commitment and dedication to reaching out and providing effective, high-quality services to Ohio’s underserved populations. You are a shining example to all. We are proud of your collective achievements and exemplary service to communities throughout Ohio, and I am confident that conference participants will be strengthened by this forum and use the knowledge gained here to make positive changes in their communities.

Best regards, Tracy J. Plouck Director Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services

Welcome Letter from William M. Denihan, CEO, ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County 2016 UMADAOP State Conference- Submitted September 14, 2016 The ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga CountyWelcomes You to Cleveland Welcome to the beautiful city of Cleveland, Ohio.

Congratulations to The Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Programs (UMADAOP) of Ohio, and all its chapters, for hosting the 27th Annual UMADAOP Conference. The theme of this year’s event: We Will Build Drug Free, Strong Children, Strong Families and Strong Communities, is significantly appropriate as the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the State of Ohio begin to build a new conversation and implement change in our mental health and addiction recovery support system. Our evolving City has experienced many accomplishments this year including successfully hosting the Republican National Convention 12

and celebrating the Cleveland Cavaliers National Championship with hometown hero Lebron James. We can’t build apartment buildings fast enough and millennials are coming back home to work. Our local communities and mental health and addiction recovery support system are building bridges to improve the quality of life for our clients. As an example, the Mental Health Response Advisory Committee was formed as part of settlement agreement between The U.S. Department of Justice and the City of Cleveland. We are pleased with the progress we have made so far—working to build a stronger community system to treat individuals living with mental illness and substance use disorders with respect and improve access to treatment and recovery resources. In Cuyahoga County, heroin deaths continue to rise and with fentanyl now in our community with a vengeance, deaths by overdose are staggering. Deaths by heroin overdose have increased from 161 in 2012, to 199 in 2013, to 275 in 2015. In 2016, with the onset of fentanyl, we have seen 316 overdose deaths in the eight months of the year. If this startling rate of death continues on this path, we can expect more than 500 individuals to die from a heroin or fentanyl overdose by the end of 2016 – and that is just here in Cuyahoga County. We have advanced from an epidemic to a tsunami.

Our government spends millions of dollars to warn us and to find a vaccine that will eliminate disease, yet hundreds of people are dying each day due to an overdose or suicide. We need to unite to build one strong voice of recovery to share the message that mental illness and addictions are biological brain-based diseases - just like any other physical illness and that treatment works and people recover.

Our government spends millions of dollars to warn us and to find a vaccine that will eliminate disease, yet hundreds of people are dying each day due to an overdose or suicide.

Ohio is in the process of building a new Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC). ROSC emphasizes the importance of peer supports, employment supports, sober housing and transportation. It calls for services that are culturally appropriate and delivered in an accountable, effective and efficient manner.The ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County is leading this implementation to ensure that Cuyahoga County is healthy, safe, and drug- free, while assuring accountability and effectiveness in client care. We believe that this year’s conference theme builds on the momentum of our community, here in Cuyahoga County and throughout the State, to build strong children, strong families and strong communities that provide crucial prevention services, linkages across systems to improve access to treatment and assist with early intervention as well as to provide resources for recovery support services.

On behalf of our community, thank you for your work, dedication and passion. You continue to improve the lives of individuals living with mental illness and/or addiction through wellness, recovery and independence. Best Wishes, WilliamM. Denihan Chief Executive Officer Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County

Nixon's LIFE STORY INSPIRES AND GROOMS FUTURE LEADERS SPEAKING TO OUR FUTURE

For the past three months, Kwabena Antoine Nixon has worked with black boys in Milwaukee Public Schools to get them to see past the block they live on. Some of them have a hard time with that. But Nixon has the uncanny ability to relate with most of them because he has walked a mile in their shoes. Nixon and others with the "Saving Our Sons. I Will Not Die Young" campaign are trying to change the negative statistics that seem to be a pervasive part of growing up black and male in the inner city. At 43, Nixon knows he will not be able to reach these boys forever, so he, along with activist Muhibb Dyer, are training younger leaders to follow in their footsteps. "The future is not with me; it's with those coming after me," Nixon said. "We can't forget the genera- tion right after us. We have to teach them, too, so they can reach that generation that many consider to be lost." Youths today want to be listened to in school, and they want teachers and administrators to know where they are coming from. They want black male teachers - who can serve as role models - and they want to know their history. Nixon and his fellow mentors do that. They survey the children on everything from the violence they have witnessed and heard to their problems at home and at school. They also talk to the youths about people whom they have personally lost due

to violence. A lot of our children need healing. In April, the group even held a mock funeral, complete with a casket and mothers who have lost children, so children could see how their lives could end up if they don't change their ways. Nixon has helped boys who some thought were unreachable to get to the point where they can now stand up in front of class and give a three- to five-min- ute talk about their lives. Currently, he has students writing letters to President Barack Obama explaining the situations they are in. He's also working with young people back in his hometown of Chicago, where the homicide rate has spiked. In 2012, Chicago reported 500 homicides, most of them of young black men. When I asked Nixon why he is so involved in the lives of youths today, he answered: "If I don't, then who will?" His lessons are making a difference. MPS has seen increased attendance and a reduction in disciplinary problems among the students participating in the program, said Eric Gallien, regional director of school support at MPS. Funding for the "Saving Our Sons" campaign must continue. There needs to be a stronger component for girls, too. Nixon cares because he sees himself in these boys. While schools do an OK job of explaining the civil rights movement, they don't connect all the dots. They rarely talk about slavery or even the role race relations play in society today. Helping black youths to under- stand their full history can help to make them better students.

After receiving a D in an African-American history class in college, Nixon was pulled aside by his teacher and admonished for not taking his history seriously. "I didn't consciously start to understand my role in this world until I understood my history," Nixon said. Nixon, who also is an accomplished spoken word artist, uses poetry and art as teaching tools and a way to reach youths. He does not judge the boys he mentors, but he does want them to strive to improve themselves. He challenges them and tells them that they don't have to be a product of their environment and how a true leader stands on his own. "We are starting at the most basic principles, and that's teaching them to love themselves," Nixon said. MPS Superintendent Gregory Thornton said Nixon is helping to break the cycle of hopelessness. "He comes into the room and talks about his parents and his family and where he comes from, and it sounds a lot like their own experiences," Thornton said. "I don't know of anyone else who can relate to the kids like he can." Nixon knows he can't reach them all and that will take a community effort, but he's not willing to wait around for that to happen. Our city is good at identifying the problems, but we fail at the execution. Too many of us sit back and wait for others to carry the torch. We can no longer afford to sit on our hands because our children are dying or being locked up and ruining their lives. In the past, Thornton has expressed frustration at the lack of outrage in our community when we lose young people to senseless violence. Nixon feels the same way, but that has not stopped him from continuing to help those who need him. Nixon's story is similar to the stories of a lot of the

boys he mentors. His father was shot and killed in Chicago when Nixon was 11. His mother was young and battled a drug addiction. His grandfather - who was active in the civil rights movement - suffered a massive stroke, and Nixon was looked after by caring uncles, who had a hard time watching his every move. Nixon was not perfect, and there were times when he straddled the fence. But he made it. A lot of his friends did not. Since 1984, he has been to about 50 funerals - most of them for young men and most who died as a result of black-on-black crime. Nixon said basketball was his first love, but his backup plan was writing - mostly plays and short stories - and spoken word poetry. His Poetry Unplugged, which brings local and national poets together every week, is celebrating its 10th year this year. Nixon uses the power of words to help black boys express themselves, and those stories are powerful. In one exercise he calls "I wish," boys talk about what they wish for. Most wish to have a relationship with their fathers or to have male role models in their lives. Others wish to be in a safe environment. One boy sadly told the group that he wished a family member would have never said that she wished he was never born. Thinking outside of the violence and poverty boxes for these youths may prove difficult, but Nixon and others are showing kids that they have options to break the cycle of hopelessness. That's part of a successful formula that needs to continue.

THE FUTURE IS NOT WITH ME; IT'S WITH THOSE COMING AFTER ME, NIXON SAID.

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Highlighting Leaders in Ohio Youth Led Prevention Dajue Newell is a 17-year-old senior at Lima Central Catholic High School in Lima, Ohio. She is also simultaneously a sophomore in college, taking classes at both Rhodes State College and Ohio Northern University. When not focusing on her studies, Dajue has a full schedule of extracurricular activities. She is the President of The Village Prevention Youth Led Coalition. She participates in the International Club; Art Club, and is a Kairos leader, as well as a Big Sister with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Dajue is also an active member within the Ohio Youth Led Prevention Network and the Quality Urban Alliance Approaching Destiny, The UMADAOPs of Ohio Federation’s statewide youth led prevention council. Most recently Dajue secured a position as a writer for the Lima News, working towards her goal of owning her own publishing company. When she is not busy with her aforementioned activities, she is a professional artist, working on her entrepreneurial skills and creating her own personal brand.

ith the spread of viruses like West Nile and Zika, there is a lot of attention placed on the impact and eectiveness of the mosquito. While tiny in stature, the mosquito’s impact is best described by the African proverb: “If you think you’re too small to make a dierence, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito”. Northeast Ohioans who have been sleeping in the room with a poetic mosquito called e Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word have felt their bite for years and heard the buzz of their poetic lyrics that addresses social and community ills (violence, drugs, bullying). ey have heard their buzz through the spoken word performances they render at nursing homes, schools, churches, festivals, conferences, and annually at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now, Tutajenga Conference participants will enjoy sound and stings spoken word at the “We Will Rise” explosion by Cleveland’s premier performing poets, Cleveland UMADAOP’s, Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word. For thirteen consecutive years this group of performing poets have seen the challenges in their community and stood up against them with unied poetic voices. In 2015, the group travelled to Paris and Lyon, France, performing at schools, youth centers, and at the US Embassy and before the consulate. is community based project comprised of adolescent males, now has an international reach. eir poetry buzzes with hope, fulllment of dreams and a commitment to serve others through the power of performance arts. If you have ever heard their words, sat in the audience and felt the power of their presentation, then indeed you have been locked in a closed room with a metaphorical mosquito that impacts, challenges and inspires! e group rmly stands on the foundation of three tenets that the brotherhood calls the CB’s; Community Building, Character Based; Committed Brotherhood . W

Highlighting Leaders in Ohio Youth Led Prevention C arl Zaire Johnson is a 9th grade student at Akron Early College. While taking college level classes at the age of 14, Zaire, as he is aectionatelty referenced by his family and friends, is also involved in Tae Kwon Do and Youth Led Prevention. He took over a leadership role for Akron-UMADAP, Inc’s Youth Led Prevention with the same passion he is known for expressing in many areas of his life. Zaire has attended nearly every Youth Led Prevention and Quality Urban Alliance Approaching Destiny event held this past year. He has traveled to Washington DC to attend the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Conference and spoken with senators and other representatives on Capital Hill. He has travelled to Flint, Michigan to help distribute water, faucet lters and baby wipes, as well as to show support, for those dealing with the water crisis. He participated in a panel about Youth Led Prevention and issues eecting the youth at Akron-UMADAOP, Inc’s 24 th Annual Conference. Zaire has also participated in numerous 5k’s to raise awareness for important organizations. He has volunteered by interacting with residents of nursing homes, preparing donations at e Salvation Army, raking leaves for members of the community and assisting with younger children during camp, all while attending bi-weekly Youth Led Prevention Meetings. In Youth Led Prevention, Zaire most appreciates being around people that care for him and each other. He has emerged as a passionate, intelligent young man and has found a home with the like-minded peers he is able to surround himself with in this organization. Zaire is an avid reader and enjoys studying history, especially African-American history. Family is extremely important to him, as he is a role model for and always supporting his younger brother, Carlo.

Joziah Shipp attends John Hay Early College in Cleveland Ohio. He is an active member of QUAAD (Quality Urban Alliance Approaching Destiny), the state wide Youth Led Prevention project of UMADAOP’s of Ohio. In QUADD he eagerly shares creative ideas about engaging peers in prevention eorts. In designing a campaign to send drug free messages on cases of water to Flint, Michigan, Joziah wrote the slogans used by his local YLP group,e Minority Youth Leadership Coalition.ese slogans were placed on cases of water as words of encouragement to communities impacted by the crisis. (We are sending gifts inside of jugs, with the simple message , not to do drugs; Keep pushing while dealing with the water and its wreckage, being drug free is our message; I cannot pick up the Pacic Ocean, but I can pray for you in my devotion). Additionally, this year he was selected to participate in the CADCA conference (Community Antidrug Coalition of America). While in Washington DC, alongside of his peers in QUAAD, he spoke with Senators and Legislators about issues involving crime and ATOD (Alcohol Tobacco and other Drug) issues in Ohio. is past July he was also a speaker for the Cleveland youth chapter of the NAACP annual luncheon where he spoke on issues regarding African American youth and social justice.

Healing for All Dr. Jocelyn Gainers, executive director of the Family Recovery Program, has always been fascinated with the human condition. From an early age, she had a strong interest in studying psychology, but says she couldn’t decide on which specific area of counseling to focus her efforts. Dr. Gain rs addresses family issues through addiction counseling in Baltimore, Maryland

Early on, however, someone told Gainers that if she wanted to study family, adolescent and grief counseling, she could learn about all those different areas through addiction counseling. “I could get exposure to domestic violence,” Gainers says. “Just about every type of human condition is represented in this field.” Drug addiction has always been rampant in Baltimore, Gainers says. People from a wide variety of areas, including athletes and those in the entertainment industry, often confront problems that in some ways tie back to substance abuse. “The impact of drugs on society is so huge,” Gainers says. Addiction counseling creates the opportunity to make a change.

“As a result of being more isolated, we created voids in our life.” -Dr. Jocelyn Gainers Executive Director Family Recovery Program

Building a Career Gainers has worked in the field of substance abuse for 26 years. She first began working at Mountain Manor Treatment Center, filling every role from case manager to program director. Gainers says there, she primarily worked with adolescents, though she also worked with parents, leading groups, and attempting to help the entire family system. As Mountain Manor was an inpatient facility, Gainers says she spent a significant amount of time caring for clients directly. Adolescents lived in the facility for 2-3 months. “We really got to see their addiction full- blown,” Gainers says. Even though Gainers had a significant amount of contact with the adolescents, in other ways her role was limited. “You never could see the full-circle of recovery,” Gainers says. “You saw treatment, and saw them going back to their parents, but never after that.” After Mountain Manor, Gainers, worked at an agency formerly called Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems. Gainers was responsible for strategic planning, and managing a budget of $2 million. Incidentally, while in this position, Gainers worked a bit with the Family Recovery Program (FRP). At this time, the FRP was housed under the Family League of Baltimore. Even though the Family Recovery Program began in 2005, it wasn’t until 2012 when the president of the Family League of Baltimore proposed converting the FRP into its own, separate non-profit agency. “The President asked me if I would be up to the challenge of leading the new organization, and I said I would be,” Gainers says. Late in 2012, the FRP ceased its existence under the Family League of Baltimore, and opened its doors as an independent agency.

Filling a Void Of the 621,143 residents estimated to live in Baltimore, the Baltimore City Health Department estimates that 60,000 have an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Gainers notes people, in some ways, have lost their sense of community — and with it, often go their natural support services. Grandparents often used to step in and take care of children, when a parent became caught up in addiction. “As individuals in society became more independent, it made everyone more isolated,” Gainers says. “As a result of being more isolated, we created voids in our life.”To fill the void, some create coping mechanisms. “Individuals look for things that are easy to get, cheap and have some social acceptability.” Gainers says. To fill the void, Gainers notes that the Family Recovery Program, Inc. focuses on self-reliance, rather than self-sufficiency.The agency recently changed its mission to, “At FRP, we S.E.E. (Strengthen, Engage and Equip) clients.” “One of the things that makes us so family oriented and successful is that we really see our clients, and understand who they are,” Gainers says. 

“Just about every type of human condition is represented in this field.” -Dr. Jocelyn Gainers Executive Director Family Recovery Program

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Black Butterflies “You see; grandma’s hands are beneath the Black Butterflies wings.”

residents and even the women in the program pitched in to provide additional funds. And they were off, their creative hands flying, sewing beautiful items, scarves, dresses, a funky bow-tie collection, reversible bags, aprons and much more. Their items are really lovely and reflective of the serious approach these women take to recovery. Black Butterfly Apparel Company has been going strong since 2014. The journey has been challenging but successful. They held on with grandma’s advice always in the back of their minds, “You can scream, you can cry, but don’t ever give up.”

The Black Butterflies Apparel Company was created by UMADAOP of Cleveland to provide women coming out of treatment with a positive alternative to relapse and a fresh start to life. Many of these women have suffered most of their lives from trauma, homelessness and mental health challenges in addition to their addiction. To combat these issues and support their client’s new sober lifestyle, Black Butterflies turned to the evidential ethos of our African American culture and “grandmas’ wisdom” where she would simply declare, “Honey, idle hands and minds are the devil’s workshop.”

Once conceptualized, the group sought funding. Valeria Harper proved to be “an angel beneath the group’s wings.” She assisted the Black Butterflies Apparel Company by guiding them through a funding request to the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board (ADAS) of Cuyahoga County. They were able to secure funds to help purchase start-up equipment and provide stipends to the women in training. The ADAS board was not only financially generous, they also believed in the project. To that, grandma would say, “They did the Lord’s will. Amen.” In addition to the county board, the project’s training staff, community

“TheRE is nothing in a caterpillar that

tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.” R. Buckminster Fuller

And they never have. Some of the participants have gone on to college while other chose employment – but they all continue to sew. They’ve even been joined by other women in the recovery community who bring a wealth of knowledge about sewing and recovery. At the UMADAOPs of Ohio 2016 State Conference the seamstresses of the Black Butterflies Apparel Company will showcase their stuff during lunches. If you can imagine looking through the veil of time, you will see grandma smiling and humming, “You can’t get no better days unless you make it through the night ….” Congratulations to the Black Butterflies: Ms. Jackie, Ms. Donna, Ms. Shambrey, Ms. Carolyn, Ms. Monica, Ms. Kim, Ms. Donna, Ms. Kim and Ms. Kim. Yes, there are two Donnas and three Kim’s! For additional information contact Jackie Xavier at blackbutterfliesllc@gmail. com or go to blackbutterfliesllc.com.

Client: Crystal Oertle

Crystal states that she gives credit to Mansfield UMADAOP with saving her life; while knowing that it was her who put in the work by working the program they offered. Crystal states that if not for the program and staff that she’d be another overdose statistic in the news. Crystal was asked to talk about how her relationship with her family has improved due to the services received by Mansfield UMADAOP and this is what she states: “I have my life back and it is actually a better life than I’ve ever known. Mansfield UMADAOP has given me, more than anything is respect; for myself, family, and respect from my family. My family was to the point where they were indifferent.They had been through the anger, frustration, and sadness; my kids thought that they would never have a real mother. Since being in recovery, this time my mother and sister have really taken it upon themselves to learn about addiction and recovery; they now talk about triggers and coping skills “like they have a degree in this stuff ”. By receiving services from Mansfield UMADAOP my whole family is proud of me and they trust me. My family cheers me on when I go to speak at events. As for my two children, my recovery has given me a second chance to be a great mom and to show them that they don’t have to do drugs; there is a better life out there”.

Crystal is a motivated advocate for recovery and awareness; she uses her website www.erasetheshame.com to educate and inform; families and communities so they can rebuild and gain an understanding of addiction and recovery. Crystal is driven daily to improve her family relationships and encourage others by using recovery tools obtained fromMansfield UMADAOP. 28

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Rob Carter’s successful career as founder and executive director of No Turning Back in Baltimore grew out of his own struggles with drug abuse. Born and raised in the Pimlico/Park Heights section of Baltimore, Rob Carter worked as a Baltimore County reman for 27 years until his retirement in 2010. His teenage drinking led to steady marijuana use, then to pills and heroin and cocaine. He experienced “the progression of the disease to the point where I was mentally and spiritually drained, and suicidal.” In 1994, Carter, who had served four years in the U.S. Air Force, went through treatment and got clean at the VA Hospital at Fort Howard, Md. Attending the proverbial “90 meetings in 90 days” helped him establish a solid foundation for long-term recovery. “After I got cleaned up, I felt a passion to go back to the community where I lived and was raised, to offer 30

treatment to that population,” Carter recalls. “God spoke to me and said ‘I want you to give back to the community where you grew up.’ So, I started looking for properties in the Carter didn’t have to do much looking before he found a ve-bedroom home in the neighborhood, which was in foreclosure. He bought it with his own money, and launched the treatment and recovery program that became No Turning Back. His own participation in the local recovery community made it relatively easy to nd fellow recovering addicts and Before long, “one person came to our program who had access to another property, an eight-bedroom home, also in Park Heights. That became our second property,” Carter says. About a year later, No Turning Back acquired another eight bedroom

ob Carter’s successful areer as founder and xecutive director of No urning Back in Baltimore rew out of his own truggles with drug abuse. orn and raised in the imlico/Park Heights section f Baltimore, Rob Carter orked as a Baltimore ounty reman for 27 years ntil his retirement in 2010. is teenage drinking led to teady marijuana use, then to ills and heroin and cocaine. e experienced “the rogression of the disease to he point where I was entally and spiritually rained, and suicidal.” n 1994, Carter, who had erved four years in the U.S. ir Force, went through reatment and got clean at he VA Hospital at Fort oward, Md. Attending the roverbial “90 meetings in 0 days” helped him stablish a solid foundation or long-term recovery. After I got cleaned up, I felt passion to go back to the ommunity where I lived and as raised, to offer

Park Heights area.” START OF AN ERA treatment to that population,” Carter recalls. “God spoke to me and said ‘I want you to give back to the community where you grew up.’ So, I started looking for properties in the Park Heights area.” START OF AN ERA Carter didn’t have to do much looking before he found a ve-bedroom home in the neighborhood, which was in foreclosure. He bought it with his own money, and launched the treatment and recovery program that became No Turning Back. His own participation in the local alcoholics in need of supportive housing. recovery community made it relatively easy to nd fellow recovering addicts and lcoholics in need of supportive housing. Before long, “one person came to our program who had access to another property, an eight-bedroom home, also in Park Heights. That became our second

home in the area and renovated it using a loan from “one of our

grant-givers.”Carter was also able to establish a referral relationship with Gaudenzia, one of the largest treatment centers in Maryland, which has two facilities in Park Heights. In 2015, No Turning Back opened its fth transitional housing residence in the Irvington neighborhood, designated and staffed for women in recovery. Several years ago, No Turning Back began providing outpatient substance abuse treatment, and now serves about 200 patients a year. Another big step came several years ago: hiring substance abuse and mental health

property,” Carter says. About a year later, No Turning Back acquired another eight bedroom

counselors to conduct therapy sessions for the residents. “Our staff clinicians are people who have a good deal of experience in counseling for substance abuse, and take a personal interest in serving each one of our clients,” Carter says. “In treatment, we are dealing with people who each have different issues. We want to make sure we dig into those issues.” One example was a client who was not raised by his biological parents but grew up in a foster home. “Part of our focus would be on going back to parenting skills for that individual, because he missed that part of life,” Carter says. A GOOD RUN Looking back at the history of the program he

attribute that to the fact that we’ve always prided ourselves on providing excellent facilities, nice places to live and, along with that, providing good counseling services.” “Of course, the number one objective for clients is to not use any foreign substance,” Carter says. “Once clients have been able to stop using and we see that they are serious about taking our suggestions and following our program guidelines, that provides a foundation to start dealing with their other issues.” Often, those include mental health issues, as seen in an increasing number of clients who come to No Turning Back with co-occurring addiction and mental health issues. Along with the professional staff, residents play a major role in ensuring a supportive environment for recovery.

“We set up the guidelines and rules here, but it’s really the (recovering client) leaders who make that all come together and make the programs successful,” Carter says. Back? Carter would like to nd a facility large enough to develop a residential treatment facility with 50 to 60 beds. For Carter, the key to success has been the personal touch. “As long as I have had this organization, I’ve always been involved personally. I’ve always made sure to take time out of my schedule to attend group sessions, and anything else that is going on with the program,” Carter says. “Now that we have been doing this for 11 years, we’re really condent about the future. In the past, we experienced some situations where we didn’t make good (business) decisions, and have learned from those. Moving forward, we have the support of other agencies in Baltimore, and we have a great reputation.” PLAN FOR THE FUTURE What’s next for No Turning

started a decade ago, Carter says he’s “very surprised at what we’ve been able to

do, in terms of positive outcomes. We

We set up the guidelines and rules here, but it’s really the (recovering client) leaders who make that all come together and make the programs successful. — Rob Carter, No Turning Back Owner

9 31

THE LORAIN UMADAOP provides life skills, family

strengthening, violence, alcohol,

tobacco and other drug

prevention services, utilizing

evidenced based curriculums.

UMADAOP o f Lo r a i n , I n c .

UMADAOP of Lorain, Inc

“ Families First! “ UMADAOP Lima, Inc

Lima UMADAOP is a Recovery Oriented System of Care Organization ( ROSC) a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that is person-centered and builds on the strengths and resiliencies of individuals, families, and communities to achieve abstinence and improved health, wellness, and quality of life for those with or at risk of alcohol and drug problems.

(419) 222-4474 www.limaumadaop.com

“One day during my prayers, it came to me that, with my expertise, I needed to open my own program.” -John Woods, New Perspectives Behavioral Systems director

A Beacon of Hope New Perspectives director provides judgment-free treatment

A black and white photograph hangs on the wall facing New Perspectives Behavioral Health Systems Director John Woods’ desk in his office.The caption places the photo in 1940s Chicago, where Woods spent his childhood. “That’s the neighborhood I grew up in.That’s where I was strung out, on the south side of Chicago,” says Woods. In his early Chicago days, Woods dropped out of school and was exposed to drugs. He started drinking wine and smoking marijuana, and he began selling drugs, dealing marijuana and cocaine. He abused codine, opiates and heroin, and he fell in love with the last two. “I didn’t think there was anything out here better than that. I felt like the scum of the earth. I was that kind of addict. My drug came before anything,” says Woods. “There was a time my mother wouldn’t call me to look at the side of her house. I was that bad.” Road to recovery Woods emphasizes his own addiction

“One of my main goals is to prepare the client to reintegrate into society.” -John Woods, New Perspectives Behavioral Systems director

struggles because he believes that his past will always keep New Perspectives judgment-free. He knows how bad addiction can be, but he also knows that there will always be hope. After 25 years of his drug-induced lifestyle, Woods went on methadone, a pain reliever used to treat narcotic drug addiction, for about two years. He then went through what he calls a series of setbacks before finally deciding to go to treatment. “I went to treatment only once. I never looked back. I graduated from treatment in 1973,” says Woods. In 1978, Woods got into the recovery field, working in a methadone clinic in Chicago. He then moved to Minnesota in 1993 and worked for a chemical dependency inpatient treatment center. “I kept seeing clients go repeatedly in-and- out of treatment,” says Woods. “One day during my prayers, it came to me that, with my expertise, I needed to open my own program.” Woods opened the doors to New Perspectives in 2008. Since then, the culturally specific treatment center has been a safe and welcome place for people of any race, religion, gender or sexual orientation to seek recovery.

Recovery to reintegration “One of my main goals is to prepare the client to reintegrate into society,” says Woods, who aims to strengthen a client’s entire lifestyle with healthy, positive choices not only as a way to recover from addiction, but also to become a better person. “There was a point in my life where I just wanted to be a heroin addict,” says Woods, who knows firsthand how much addiction can mess with every aspect of a client’s life. Taking care of yourself is important to your recovery. It is also vital to associate with other sober people. “We teach these things here,” says Woods. 

PREVENTION Services DESIGNED TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE We offer after school and school-based programs that

promote the growth and development for growing individuals.

(419) 222-4474 www.limaumadaop.com FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL

Improving lives through Wellness, Recovery & Independence

2012 W. 25 th Street, 6 th Floor Cleveland, Ohio 44113 216.241.3400 www.adamhscc.org

Eugenia Cash, LSW, MSSA, CDCA Board Chair

William M. Denihan Chief Executive Officer

few years ago, when Eva DeVaughn needed a new business name that

The

would better reflect her mission, one of her board members suggested Eva Life Giver, Inc. The name is very apropos, because giving

Door

clients new life is the ultimate mission of Northeast Baltimore-based DeVaughn Intervention Teach & Treat Options (DITTO). Eva DeVaughn started her career in the recovery field as a 21-year-old receptionist for Echo House, an

outpatient drug treatment program in West Baltimore. She subsequently earned degrees in addiction counseling and human services administration, fulfilling her ambition to become a change-agent not only by directing services to clients, but also by managing a thriving organization. In 1994, she and her brother, Vaughn DeVaughn Sr. (now a bishop and owner of the Holy Ground Apostolic Faith Church in East Baltimore) founded DeVaughn, Inc. to serve homeless, at-risk and chronic substance

”

“Clients need to know we care about them.”

– Eva DeVaughn

site for college undergraduates and

You're not responsible for where you came from, but you are responsible for where you are going. – Eva DeVaughn, CEO/Co-founder “ treatment program called DeVaughn Intervention Teach and Treat Options under the Eva Life Giver, Inc. umbrella. In 2014, a new influx of client referrals from attorneys, judicial systems and public agencies enabled her to make the program a full-time enterprise. Today, DITTO serves more than 200 men, women and adolescents per year. As part of its mission to teach, DITTO also serves as a work-study and internship abusers in the neighborhood. They were driven by a desire to help the inner-city community and the struggling individuals they saw around them. WHOLE PERSON TREATMENT The DeVaughns' initial mission was to house neighborhood families in need, in local properties. Gradually their focus shifted to serving those with addictions, as Eva worked as a counselor, an administrator, clinical supervisor and program director for several outpatient treatment programs. She came to realize the importance of treating the whole person, a process that can often include helping clients with housing, employment and transportation. They also provide referrals to mental health counseling and educational resources such as parenting and anger management classes. Unmet needs in any of those areas can present barriers to recovery, Eva DeVaughn points out. In 2006, Eva established her own outpatient

graduate students who are studying addiction counseling. HUMAN EMPATHY DeVaughn says one of the most

important insights she has gained is the importance of meeting clients where they are. Helping each one face his or her addiction, along with defenses

and internal barriers they need to overcome, are critical. While treating addiction can be a complex business, the key to unlocking the door to recovery comes down to simple human empathy, DeVaughn says. “Clients need to know we care about them, regard- less of their background, criminal history, morals, values or things they may be lacking,” she says. Education is a key element. DITTO provides clients information on their addiction, including the effects of chemicals, the impact of addiction on all aspects of life and coping mechanisms to deal with emotions in a healthy, chemical-free fashion. It's part of a process of empowering clients to take control of their own lives. Once clients are given the information, then it's up to them to apply it to their lives. As Eva DeVaughn likes to tell her clients: “You're not responsible for where you came from, but you are responsible for where you are going.”

www.clevelandumadaop.com

CLEVELAND UMADAOP M i n o r i t y Yo u t h L e a d e r s h i p C o u n c i l

TODAY CALL & VISIT US 216.361.2040 1215 East 79th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44103

UMADAOP of Cincinnati, Inc Our commitment, integrity, stewardship, and resiliency are the core values of who we are.

Call and or visit us today at (513) 541-7099 3021 Vernon Place, Suite Two Cincinnati, Ohio 45219

UMADAOP of Cincinnati, Inc

Will We STATE CONFERENCE PROMOTES COOPERATION & GROWTH B uild 2016 UMADAOP

he 2016 UMADAOP

sessions and events designed to spark initiative and further understanding of the key issues facing Ohio’s population. Now in its 27th year, organizers say the annual event has a unique spirit all its own. “It’s a little dierent from most conferences,” says Jessica Horne, executive director of the Cleveland UMADAOP. “It has a very cultural, spiritual tone to it.” e conference begins with an unocial reunion on the rst

night, giving UMADAOP sta a chance to network and reconnect with colleagues they may not have seen for a year.e hope is that those connections will lead to further collaboration in the months to come, with all UMADAOP sta partnering to achieve a common goal.

State Conference carries the slogan

“Tutajenga,” which translates from Swahili to “we will build.” It’s a tting motto for an event that oers UMADAOP employees, clients, and other professionals from across Ohio a chance to come together to learn and grow as an organization. e three-day conference will run Sept. 28 to 30 in Cleveland, and will feature a broad range of

health can be critical for people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. And because burnout can be high among those in social services, organizers want sta to reevaluate how they’re managing their health. Horne says she thinks America has a problem with vacation, with too many people letting vacation days go unused. She says she hopes the conference will help people prioritize their health and take actionable steps to improve their well-being. “You should go to work and do a good job, but at the end of the day, it’s just as important for you to go home and take care of your own health,” Horne says. “I’m trying to nd a way to give people more relaxing time.” Medical professionals will hold screenings for things like diabetes, HIV and blood pressure, and there will be several workshops dedicated to physical and mental healing. Organizers hope everyone in attendance will come away feeling refreshed and empowered to continue the mission of helping Ohio’s most vulnerable.

ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH One of the conference’s main themes this year will be mental health and the stigma that often comes with it. Organizers say they want to increase understanding about mental health issues in an eort to erase stigma and create more eective treatment plans.ey also are concerned with how children are able to cope with stigma and stereotypes while trying to manage their own health. “Our kids get labeled very early with mental health diagnoses,” Horne says, adding that without addressing stigma, such labels can lower self-esteem and hinder social development. “It’s a vicious cycle that we create starting at a very young age.” e conference’s speakers include a nationally renowned psychologist, a Pulitzer Prize winner, distinguished scholars and prominent nonprot leaders who will all address some aspect of mental health care. BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL Along with mental health, wellness will also be a primary topic at this year’s conference as organizers look to promote healthy lifestyles for UMADAOP employees and clients. Maintaining good physical

It’s a little different from most conferences, it has a very cultural, spiritual tone to it. - Jessica Horne, Executive Director of the Cleveland UMADAOP

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