“They’ve had to be creative to survive the kind of life they’ve led for so long,” she says. Her experience has taught her that treatment programs weren’t typically catering to the specific needs of clients. She felt inspired to join with Addisu Mengesha and his vision for Fresh Start Comprehensive Center. She now serves as program administrator for the center, ensuring that procedures are in compliance with state regulations and programs are up-to-date. She also connects clients to any additional services or resources available that could aid in their treatment. The center focuses on compassion, engagement and personalization for each patient. They provide mental health services, grief counseling, domestic violence counseling and trauma counseling. Counselors also go on-site to locations where people are experiencing trauma, such as natural disasters, to offer crisis services. Currently the center is also working to provide housing and form new connections for resources across the city. Providing a complete and integrated approach to treatment is vital to Fresh Start Comprehensive Center, aiming to treat each client as more than a number. “They’re more than addicts,” Gibson says. “They’re mothers and fathers.They have hobbies and interests, just like anyone else.They need to be treated that way.” 23
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