The Shield

Join us as Morgan Grace, the Resource Coordinator for APC, tells us about how she got involved with APC and her interest in prevention and harm reduction. 

In 2021, Morgan Grace started at APC as an intern. She ended up at APC after her plan of studying and interning abroad was halted by the pandemic.  Morgan quickly discovered her interest in harm reduction and prevention.  Morgan discusses how growing up in a rural community that has been impacted by substance use has influenced her interest in prevention. In addition to being APC’s resource coordinator, Morgan is also the advisor for APC’s INFOCUS group at Fairfield High School. Morgan’s work with the students at Fairfield High School is one of her proudest accomplishments. 

Check out WBRC’s video on Fairfield High School’s INFOCUS Group:
https://www.wbrc.com/video/2023/05/08/fairfield-city-schools-focusing-students-mental-health/

#addiction #prevention #recovery

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Join us as Shawn Windham, a Prevention Specialist with APC, tells us about what brought him to Alabama, his background in law enforcement, and his passion for prevention. 

Shawn Windham is retired police officer from Vaccaville, California, who moved to Alabama and started working on prevention efforts in rural areas, Blount County and St. Clair County, Alabama.  Shawn discusses his prevention work in these counties, adjusting to life in Alabama, and how his interest in prevention in both substance use and other areas. 

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Join us as Roger Patteson, an Interventionist with Clear Path Interventions, and a person in long term recovery, shares his story with us. Roger also discusses what it is like to work with and support families with a loved one with a substance use disorder. 

Roger discusses how a lack of stability impacted his early childhood development, world view, and how he handled challenges. Roger started drinking alcohol at age 13, and by age 15, he was concerned about the way he was drinking excessively. 

Today, he has been sober for 22 years, and he is working to empower families to address their family member’s substance use and family dysfunction. Roger discusses spending hours with families, who have lost their ability to function, and working to improve the whole family’s quality of life. Roger talks about the importance of reframing an intervention as an opportunity to be better instead of a punishment and reminding the loved one that they “have got off track,” but can get back on track.  

Clear Path Interventions works with families to assess what is needed to assist families and a loved with a substance use disorder. Clear Path Interventions also provides coaching for families to support their loved one throughout treatment and recovery.  They also teach people how to be a sober companion to their loved one. Clear Path Interventions encourages families to not give up on their loved one. “If they’re breathing, there is still hope.”

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Join us as Dr. Mark Wilson, the immediate past Health Officer of the Jefferson County Department of Health, discusses the formation of the Recovery Resource Center, the loss of his daughter, and what life will look like after retiring from the Jefferson County Department of Health.

 Dr. Wilson discusses collaborating with the Addiction Prevention Coalition and other organizations to identify needs for those with substance use disorders. This collaboration led to the formation of the Recovery Resource Center (RRC), which is now a program of the Crisis Center. The RRC was established in the Fall of 2017 as a response to the increasing opioid-related deaths occurring in Jefferson County, and the need to have a central resource to help people struggling with substance use to navigate treatment and recovery.  

 Dr. Wilson discusses what it was like to serve in a public health role during the pandemic. He also discusses the death of his daughter, Laura, who experienced mental health challenges and died by suicide in December 2022.  Dr. Wilson talks about his decision to retire, what retirement will look like for him, and his determination to stay connected to public health and patient care. 

www.recoveryresourcejeffco.com/
www.crisiscenterbham.org/recovery-resource-center/

 Link to podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOE6pcZH9uw

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Dr. Joel Bennett is the President of Organizational Wellness and Learning Systems (OWLS), an organization that focuses on promoting organizational health and employee wellness in the workplace. 

Dr. Joel Bennett discusses what it was like to grow up in a home with a parent with an alcohol use disorder, and another parent with a process addiction. He also discusses how seeing a relationship go awry sparked his fascination in the how people form and maintain relationships and the importance of connection. 

Dr. Joel Bennett has always been fascinated by how one’s work impacts one’s identity, how work can be a powerful place for people to be healthy, and a strong protective factor. Through OWLS, he works with organizations on how to improve the wellness and mental well-being of employees on all levels. In addition to serving as the President of OWLS, Dr. Bennett is also the primary developer of “Team Awareness” and “Team Resilience,” evidence-based programs that have been recognized by the United States Department of Health as effective in reducing employee behavioral risks.

Link to OWLS: https://organizationalwellness.com/

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Join us for a conversation with Tim Cross, APC Board Member and the Co-Founder and CEO of Expedited Transport Agency, a business that is at the forefront of recovery friendly workplaces.

In this episode, Tim will discuss how his life was impacted by his substance use and how he found recovery. Tim also discusses how Expedited Transport Agency (ETA) has become a model organization when it comes to hiring those in recovery and holistically supporting their employees. 62% of ETA’s current employees are currently in recovery.  Tim tells us about how a recovery friendly workplace has allowed those in recovery to instant accessibility to others in recovery, how ETA has supported employees through relapses, and the success stories of those, who are in recovery and thriving. As Tim explains, “sober addicts make great employees."

We invite you to join us at APC's 2nd Annual Alabama Workplace Evolution One Day Conference: Supporting Mentally Healthy Work Environments. The conference will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Check out apcbham.org/events to register.

For more information on Tim Cross, check out the link listed below and feel free to reach out to him at: [email protected]

https://businessalabama.com/expedited-transport-focuses-on-both-shipping-and-living/

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 Join us as Suzanne Muir, the Associate Director for UAB Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, discusses how she became interested in working with people with substance use disorders and her work with the Comprehensive Addiction in Pregnancy Program. 

 UAB Medicine’s Comprehensive Addiction in Pregnancy Program (CAPP) aims to connect women to treatment and the recovery community throughout all stages of their pregnancy and beyond by providing integrated obstetric care, medications for opioid use disorder, substance use treatment, peer recovery support and case management.  In recent years, CAPP has expanded to serve women in Walker County, Alabama, which is an area that has been heavily impacted by the opioid epidemic.  In Walker County, CAPP partners with the Healing Network and the Recovery Resource Center to coordinate a program, She Recovers. She Recovers utilizes Helping Women Recover, which is an evidence-based program, which addresses trauma and the specific needs and concerns for women in and seeking recovery. 

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Join us as Patty Sykstus, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Not One More Alabama, shares her experience as a mom of a child with a substance use disorder, and discusses the great work Not One More Alabama is great doing in North Alabama.

Patty discusses her experience with having a son with a substance use disorder, how his substance use disorder impacted their entire family, and how valuable being educated about substance use and recovery is.  Patty talks about the importance of having parents on the same page when it comes to addressing substance use with their child.  Patty discusses the work that Not One More Alabama (NOMA),  a non-profit located in Huntsville, Alabama, does that focuses on educating people about substance use, connecting people in recovery, and supporting families that have been impacted by substance use.  She also discusses the development of a meeting place for the recovery community, which is currently under construction and projected to open in 2024. 

www.notonemorealabama.org 
[email protected]

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Join us as Colin Harris, the Founder and Managing Director of the Birmingham Recovery Center, discusses his journey through recovery and how he was inspired to open a substance use treatment center, which provides an individualized, holistic approach to each client to prepare them for a successful recovery.  

Colin Harris is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, and like many, he started using substances as teen. His use continued through college and after. After several experiences with substance use treatment, Colin was able to thrive in his recovery and was inspired to open a substance use treatment center, which provides clients with high-quality, holistic care.  

The Birmingham Recovery Center (BRC) opened in July 2021, and BRC has seen an overwhelming demand for services. Currently, BRC is expanding to provide mental health services. Longleaf Wellness Birmingham, an IOP and PHP mental health wellness center, is projected to open in Spring 2024, right next door to BRC. In addition to the new mental health wellness center, BRC is also building two similar substance use treatment centers. The new Longleaf Recovery Centers, will provide substance use treatment services to people in Huntsville and Mobile. 

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Join us as Ashley Loftis discusses working at APC on Project LEAP, and how growing up in a small town that was impacted by substance use ignited her passion for working with people with substance use disorders. 

Ashley is the Prevention Navigator for Project LEAP, a five-year SAMHSA grant that works with adolescents at risk of contracting HIV through their substance use. She also coordinates the continuing education initiatives for APC. 

 Ashley is a native of Western North Carolina, who moved to Alabama to attend The University of Alabama. Ashley discusses what it was like growing up in an area that was significantly impacted by opioid and methamphetamine use. She also discusses her passion for working with youth, who are involved in the criminal justice system, and her love for learning.  During her time at UA, she fell in love with Alabama, and decided to stay. She obtained her MA in Counselor Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and she is now working on her PhD through the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans.  Ashley loves serving her community. She is a member of the Junior League of Birmingham, and serves on the junior board for the Fellowship House and the Committee of 25 for Girls, Inc. 

Learn more about Project LEAP: https://apcbham.org/find-help/project-leap/
Learn more about APC’s continuing education opportunities: https://apcbham.org/who-we-are/how-we-help/apc-trainings/

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