St. Paul, Minn. (Feb. 22, 2017) – AmeriCorps leaders from 18 state service commissions met today here in the “Recovery Capital of the World” to learn about the addiction recovery community and its potential to be a vital resource to public service initiatives nationwide.
The “AmeriCorps Boot Camp on Recovery,” as it was dubbed, took place at Hazelden in St. Paul, a recently renovated building that serves as a vital hub in the St. Paul recovery community and is part of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the nation’s leading nonprofit provider of addiction treatment and recovery resources. ServeMinnesota, the Governor-appointed state service commission for Minnesota, hosted the event in partnership with the Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy and the National Youth Recovery Foundation.
“Recovery and service go hand in hand, so this is a perfect marriage,” said Nick Motu, Vice President of the Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy. “Service is a key aspect of the recovery process, and the recovery community is a huge under-utilized resource for AmeriCorps and other service programs. Together, we can do a lot to help each other and at the same time smash the stigma of this illness.”
AmeriCorps—a federal initiative that, through state service commissions, engages more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country—has announced a grant cycle to fund Opioid Prevention and Community Policing. ServeMinnesota has embraced this effort by encouraging people in the recovery community in Minnesota who are in long-term recovery to become AmeriCorps members.
“We also wanted to host our colleagues across the country to encourage even more widespread outreach to the national recovery community, which is more than 20 million strong,” said Audrey Suker, ServeMinnesota CEO.
“We believe AmeriCorps members can help break the stigma of addiction and be of service in supporting organizations that educate the public, prevent relapse and welcome people in recovery to service in their communities,” Suker continued. “We have some of the best experts and leaders in Minnesota in this field and want to share their knowledge and ideas with service commissions across the country.”
The event featured talks by Dr. Marvin Seppala, Chief Medical Officer of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation; and Patty Metcalf, CEO of Faces and Voices of Recovery, along with panels comprised of almost two dozen recovery and drug court leaders. Among them: the full Hennepin County drug court team and representatives from Minnesota Recovery Connection, Augsburg College’s StepUP program (a collegiate recovery community), P.E.A.S.E Academy (a recovery high school), St. Paul Sober Living and the National Alliance for Recovery Residences.
“This was a great opportunity for all of us to educate state service commission leaders about addiction and recovery and specifically about the issue of opioid addiction and the kinds of programs and support structures that help prevent relapse and promote sustained recovery,” Dr. Seppala said. “If we’re going to stem the tide of the opioid epidemic, we absolutely need more people involved in providing peer and community support. Public service initiatives like AmeriCorps could be a game-changing piece of the puzzle.”
About the Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy
Our mission is to provide a leading national voice on all issues related to addiction prevention, treatment and recovery and to facilitate conversation among those in recovery, those still suffering and society at large. We are committed to smashing stigma, shaping public policy and educating people everywhere about the problems of addiction and the promise of recovery. The Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy is part of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the nation’s largest nonprofit treatment provider. With a legacy that began in 1949 and includes the 1982 founding of the Betty Ford Center, the Foundation has 17 sites in California, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Colorado and Texas. Learn more at www.HBFinstitute.org and on Twitter @hbfinstitute.
About ServeMinnesota
ServeMinnesota is a catalyst for positive social change, working with AmeriCorps members and community partners to meet critical needs in Minnesota. As a nonprofit organization, it improves the lives of Minnesotans by offering life-changing service opportunities to thousands of individuals who focus on education, affordable housing, employment, or the environment. Because of its strong partnerships with private and public funders, including the Minnesota Department of Education, ServeMinnesota has created two innovative strategic initiatives, Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps, that are working to close the achievement gap and help struggling students become successful learners. Combining the people power of AmeriCorps with research-based strategies, ServeMinnesota addresses the most intractable problems and shares its proven practices nationally. For more information, visit www.serveminnesota.org.
About the National Youth Recovery Foundation
Our vision is to create a culture that supports young adults in recovery from addiction to develop fulfilling lives. We advocate for programs that support long-term recovery and innovative ideas to break the stigma of addiction by engaging organizations who support young people to include the recovery community in their programs. Learn more at www.nationalyouthrecovery.org.
By: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
