One day. That’s all it takes. One day separates us from yesterday and gets us closer to tomorrow. In honor of National Recovery Month, YWCA Northeast Indiana realizes that a life can change in one day. Yesterday, the clients we work with were struggling with substance use disorder, domestic violence, sexual violence, racism, and other barriers preventing them from living the life they want to live. Today, they are receiving the services they need so that tomorrow they will be that much closer to living their dream.
In this month’s newsletter, you can read about our residential addiction recovery program for women struggling with substance use disorder. We also give thanks to our community partners and funders who help our clients be afforded their “one day” every day they are receiving our services. We give thanks to The Lutheran Foundation, St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation who support our Hope & Harriet program. You can read more about Anthem’s gift below in our Special Shoutout section. Other foundations who support this program through operational grants include the Lincoln Foundation, Foellinger Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, to name only a few.
Also, in this issue we are featuring Breanna Jackson, Director of Self-Sufficiency, and Candice Hall, Director of Clinical and Recovery Services, in Dash of Persimmon. This video provides in-depth information on our Hope & Harriet addiction recovery program. Additionally, we are featuring Megan Ryan, LMHC, Clinical Program Director for Family Preservation Services at Benchmark Human Services, in our Power of Persimmon (POP) initiative. This POP star is definitely making her mark on the world! Read more about her below.
In our Women’s Empowerment Campaign, our 2022 awareness initiative, we bring to you more extraordinary people. Our female champions for women’s empowerment and equality are Sherry Early, Amy Hanna, Andrea Mills, and Jamee Lock. Our male champions for women’s equality are Darren Bickel, Tony Stites, Chris Douse, and Shawn Fingerle. Read more in our Women’s Empowerment Campaign section below on why they support this campaign and YWCA Northeast Indiana. We are grateful for their voices!
Would you like to get involved in ensuring people have that “one day” opportunity? Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we have a couple of events you can participate in and a toolkit you can utilize. Flowers on the River is a free event scheduled for October 5th at 4:15pm at the Wells Street Bridge. Come and hear a heart-felt, real-life story from a domestic violence survivor. Additionally, our Circle event is our signature fundraising event scheduled for October 20th at 11:30am at Parkview’s Mirro Center. Your registration fee is a donation towards our domestic violence programming. If you cannot attend, donations would be greatly appreciated! We are expecting over 500 participants at this event, and the spots are filling up fast. Register TODAY – learn how in the Upcoming Events section. Also, in this section, you will find our free Domestic Violence Awareness Month toolkit.
Please join us in celebrating several work anniversaries! Cristina, Jessica, and Alvina are empowered women who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of others. We are thankful for these rock stars!
Lastly, we could not do what we do without supporters like you. YWCA Northeast Indiana believes in the power of “one day.” Your support gives life-saving “one day” opportunities for thousands of people in our community. Thank you!!
Addiction Recovery Services
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication.
There is HOPE. YWCA Northeast Indiana walks beside our clients in their recovery journey.
Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction begins with exposure to prescribed medications, or receiving medications from a friend or relative who has been prescribed the medication. Alcohol is also considered a drug. When a person is addicted, he/she may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.
The risk of addiction and how fast a person becomes addicted varies by drug. Some drugs, such as opioid painkillers, have a higher risk and cause addiction more quickly than others.
As time passes, a person may need larger doses of the drug to get high. Soon, they may need the drug just to not feel ill. As their drug use increases, they may find that it’s increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make them feel physically ill (withdrawal symptoms).
More often than not, people will need help from their doctor, family, friends, support groups, or a residential recovery program to recover from substance use disorder.
About Hope & Harriet:
In 2018, Transitions, a program of the Women’s Bureau, and Hope House, a program of YWCA, came together to form Hope & Harriet.
Historically, these programs have helped women rebuild their identities and reunite with their families for decades. Continuing this powerful legacy, Hope & Harriet upholds a high level of recovery support for women in the pursuit of self-sufficiency and whole person empowerment.
Hope & Harriet is an intensive residential treatment program in a sub-acute medical facility for women 18 years and older that specializes in the pursuit of recovery from substance use disorder.
Certified by the Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addiction and the Commission for Accreditation of Residential Facilities (CARF), Hope & Harriet provides a high-level of support and structured wrap-around services for its residents. Using an individualized approach, each resident is provided a team of addiction professionals to partner with during her journey to recovery.
Hope & Harriet accepts residents from all Indiana counties, is a contracted service provider with the Indiana Department of Child Services, and is an approved Recovery Works provider. We accept those receiving Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
Services Provided:
Through a holistic approach that addresses mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellness, the following services are available:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Contingency Management
- Daily meditation and mindfulness
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Music therapy
- Nutrition coaching and cooking skills
- One-on-one case management
- Parental coaching
- Personalized counseling services with a Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Seeking Safety
- Skills groups
- Twelve Step Facilitation Therapy
- Yoga and exercise
Program Details:
Our residents work through a tiered recovery program with the end goal of achieving self-sufficiency and reunifying with their children, family, and friends. Upon arrival, residents are assigned a case manager and a counselor who work with them to create an action plan and set goals. As residents complete curriculum and meet plan criteria, they advance through program levels until they achieve successful graduation.
For more information on our residential recovery program for women, please click here.
In this year-long awareness campaign, local men and woman join together in solidarity to tell stories of how they help empower women. Stay up to date with our weekly featured community members here and learn more about YWCA Northeast Indiana here.
Sherry Early, Amy Hanna, Andrea Mills, & Jamee Lock
“Be the woman that straightens another woman’s crown.”
“I straighten other women’s crowns by amplifying marginalized voices.”
–Sherry Early (Executive Director, Incremental Development Alliance; YWCA Northeast Indiana Board Member)
“Empowered women empower women. From a young age, I watched my mother lift up other women in our community and give them opportunities. Her example has led me to be the person that I am today and serves as another role model for my daughters. When we empower women and give them opportunities, it builds the entire community.”
–Amy Hanna (Executive Director, RespectTeam)
“There are times when a woman’s greatest enemy is, unfortunately, another woman. Insecurity and jealousy can create competition that does not exist otherwise, and bring forth perceived differences that are not based on anything factual. I want to change this phenomenon. I want to be a cheerleader for the women in my life. I want to help women celebrate what makes them unique, and confidently embrace their specific talents and abilities. I want my girls to see their mama build others up instead of tearing them down, love without limits, and choose to find the good in everyone. I want my girls to learn to straighten every woman’s crown first, even when their own feels off-centered and askew. This is the kind of action that will change the world. One person at a time.”
–Andrea Mills (Community Volunteer; YWCA Northeast Indiana Board Member)
“My advice would be to make yourself available to help someone up after they have fallen. It doesn’t matter if they stumbled or were pushed down. Sometimes the only thing people need is to know that someone is rooting for them to get back up. Take a moment to see the potential in them and encourage them to see it too.”
–Jamee Lock (Executive Director, Isaac Knapp District Dental Society)
Darren Bickel, Tony Stites, Chris Douse, & Shawn Fingerle
“Men of quality support women’s equality.”
“Equity is the heart of community. To truly see each member is to understand their contributions. When we minimize any voice, we sacrifice our potential as a community.”
–Darren Bickel (President, United Way of Whitley & Kosciusko Counties)
“I support equality for women in our community and for the women in my life. From the female partners and associates at Barrett McNagny to my wife, my daughter, my daughter-in-law, and my granddaughters, it is important to me to be involved in creating a better world for women now and in the future. As a supporter, advocate, and former board member of YWCA Northeast Indiana, I am able to be a part of changing perceptions, encouraging positive conversations, and empowering women to build a stronger and more vibrant community today and for the next generation.”
–Tony Stites (Partner, Barrett McNagny LLP; YWCA Northeast Indiana Board Member)
“Historically, the rights for women have not been equal to that of men, making it even more critical for men to stand in solidarity in support of women’s equality. Equality is not a situation where one is losing. When all of us are treated in an equitable manner, whether that is how we are compensated or a fundamental right, we all win. Men have an obligation and responsibility to do our part every day to help make equality a reality for the women in our lives (mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, friends, etc.).”
–Chris Douse (Director of Retention and Engagement, Ivy Tech – Fort Wayne)
“I was raised by a mother who had no formal education, but was definitely the leader of our home. She was a very unselfish person who valued family, hard work, and personal responsibility. She taught us to respect all people regardless of gender, race, or religious beliefs. She very much valued equality over status and drilled that into her children. Consequently, I married a very strong woman who is ambitious, hardworking, and of noble character. She is a nurse practitioner who has diligently sought to be an advocate for others and to passionately care for the downtrodden and for those in life who struggle. She, too, has been the leader of our home and has been a light and inspiration to me, her community, and our whole family. She seeks to live out her faith through compassionate service. In turn, she has been and continues to be an inspiration to our daughter, who has picked up her mantle of compassionate care. She recently started and facilitates a home school for children, assisting her husband in full-time ministry, and is a leader of young women in her community.
In Proverbs 31:10 King Solomon asks this question: “Who can find a wife (woman) of noble character? She is far more precious than jewels!” As the verse in Proverbs points out, a woman of character is invaluable, irreplaceable, and can have a multigenerational impact on our world. I strongly support women in leadership, ministry, and all positions of influence. Women bring a unique perspective when problem solving, and provide vitally important direction and support when tackling difficult tasks. Women should be included at all levels of society and their leadership and ideas should be continually sought after.Their inclusion can, and will, bring about positive, monumental, and generational change to a world that desperately needs it.”
–Shawn Fingerle (Executive Long Term Care Specialist, Acadia Pharmaceuticals; Past Director of Clinical Services, Parkview Behavioral Health; Owner, Fingerle Farms)
Check out our website to see who else has been featured so far this year!
Dash of Persimmon offers you expert information on a variety of topics every month. We hope you will find this information valuable. May a Dash of Persimmon sweeten your cup!
Breanna Jackson & Candice Hall
In this Dash of Persimmon Video Series, we are featuring two of our very own YWCA Northeast Indiana Staff! Meet Breanna Jackson, Director of Self-Sufficiency and Assistant Director of Recovery Services, and Candice Hall, Director of Clinical and Recovery Services.
Thank you to Breanna and Candice for being our featured Dash of Persimmon experts! Watch here.
YWCA Northeast Indiana’s Power of Persimmon (POP) initiative honors empowered women who diligently seek to help empower other women through mentorship, networking, and education. Kudos to these remarkable women!
Megan Ryan
Megan believes that we are experts of our own life and “sometimes you just need a cheerleader, a motivator, an accountability partner, a sounding board, or a counselor to support you as you discover your true potential.” Learn more about Megan here.
Stay tuned to upcoming newsletters to see who will be featured next in Power of Persimmon! Thank you to our media partner, glo magazine.
YWCA Northeast Indiana Staff Anniversaries
What is Persimmon Pride? Persimmon is the orange Pantone color of our YWCA brand. Internally, #PersimmonPride is more than a hashtag or mantra. It is a belief in the impact the YWCA team is having in our community. It’s more than a saying. It is who we are and what we believe in.
“I choose to work at YWCA because I believe that knowledge is power. Knowledge can be used to empower those who have faced life’s challenges, and it can prevent others from missing the warning signs before it’s too late.”
-Cristina (Education Coordinator)
“I choose to work at YWCA because I have always had jobs working with people. I was deeply saddened when I could no longer do CNA work, and I wasn’t sure what I would do next. I was offered an opportunity to serve at YWCA, and I jumped right on it. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
-Jessica (Client Care Technician)
“I’ve always worked in the community serving others; I bartended until COVID shut us down and I cared for children. So when the opportunity came for me to work at YWCA, I took a chance and began working to empower women and help them find resources so they can make proper decisions for coping and having productive lifestyle. I work at YWCA so that the women can reach their full potential.”
-Alvina (Client Care Technician)
The passion from our staff, in addition to the unending support from our community, is what makes our work possible. Thank you to our staff and the northeast Indiana community for your support!
Join us as we launch Domestic Violence Awareness Month by honoring those whose lives have been affected by domestic violence. Flowers on the River will take place on Wednesday, October 5th at 4:15pm at the Wells Street Bridge. Learn more and RSVP here!
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Visit our website to view our toolkit and learn how you can get involved this month. YWCA Northeast Indiana will be sharing resources, bringing attention to some alarming statistics, and hosting events in order to raise awareness. #DVAM2022
Circle 2022
The fairytales we read as children rarely represent real life. In our everyday lives, we write our own stories and are responsible for our own happily ever afters. But what if someone takes the pen from you, and happily ever after seems as elusive as a fairytale? YWCA Northeast Indiana empowers survivors of domestic violence to take the pen back and draft a new happy ending to their story. Join us in helping others by registering for Circle.
Each week we have been releasing new graphics with quotes and captions that dive deeper into the theme of our upcoming event! Follow us on social media to be the first to see our weekly sneak peek verbiage for Circle 2022!
Write your own story!
THANK YOU Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation!!
Dr. Kimberly Roop, with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, shares why they support YWCA Northeast Indiana’s Hope & Harriet addiction recovery program in the Special Shoutout below. Click here to read a recent press release with more information on their total investment.
“Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is proud to support YWCA Northeast Indiana with a $50,000 grant that will enhance their Hope & Harriet addiction recovery program – supporting women that are in pursuit of recovery from chemical dependency,” said Dr. Kimberly Roop, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Medicaid President in Indiana. “This evidence-based addiction recovery program integrates high-quality, person-centered care and aligns with
Anthem’s commitment to promote equity in mental health, particularly for people with substance use disorders. We continue to foster a longstanding and deep local presence across our Indiana communities while focusing on community health and becoming a lifetime, trusted health partner. Addressing the array of care and service options from prevention and screening to early intervention and treatment for mental health and substance use disorder leads to higher quality of care and advancing health equity.”
Goldstein Family Scholarship Program
The goal of the Goldstein Family Scholarship Program is to help female survivors of domestic violence improve their self-sufficiency and quality of life by completing higher education. The scholarship fund provides financial support for tuition, books, rent, utilities, and childcare. Learn more here.
Donate
If you would like to financially support YWCA Northeast Indiana, you can access our donation page by following the link: ywcanein.org/donate