Summary

Michelle Haimowitz, the executive director of Holy Ground PBC, discusses their mission to promote generational change and disrupt systems that suppress at-risk populations, specifically women and children. The program is a two to four-year program that focuses on building trust and creating generational change. They provide direct client care and have on-site resources such as a community suite and an afterschool program called the Learning Tree. The program addresses generational trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) through ACE-informed counseling and therapy. Michelle shares success stories of clients who have gained confidence, achieved academic success, and secured stable housing. Holy Ground PBC is privately funded through grants, community partnerships, and generous donors. The conversation covers topics such as post-case management, affordable housing, dual diagnosis, client-centered approach, good fit, language and vocabulary, education, housing crisis, and ways to help.

Takeaways

• Holy Ground PBC promotes generational change and disrupts systems that suppress at-risk populations.
• They provide direct client care and have on-site resources such as a community suite and an afterschool program called the Learning Tree.
• The program addresses generational trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) through ACE-informed counseling and therapy.
• Holy Ground PBC is privately funded through grants, community partnerships, and generous donors. Post-case management is provided to clients leaving the program to ensure sustainability and connect them with resources.
• Affordable housing is a challenge to obtain, but some clients have successfully secured Section 8 housing.
• The program focuses on client-centered approach and finding a good fit for both the client and the program.
• Language and vocabulary are important in treating individuals with respect and avoiding stigmatization.
• Education is a key factor in expanding opportunities for unhoused individuals.
• The housing crisis in Florida is a major obstacle for individuals and families.
• Ways to help include being empathetic, treating unhoused individuals with respect, and getting involved in programs and organizations that support them.

Titles

• Success Stories of Empowered Clients
• Addressing Generational Trauma and ACEs The Housing Crisis in Florida
• Ways to Help Unhoused Individuals

Keywords

Holy Ground PBC, generational change, at-risk populations, direct client care, community suite, Learning Tree, generational trauma, ACEs, ACE-informed counseling, therapy, success stories, stable housing, grants, community partnerships, donors, post-case management, affordable housing, dual diagnosis, client-centered approach, good fit, language and vocabulary, education, housing crisis, ways to help

In this conversation our guest this week is Isabelle Serafin, a clinical case manager, along with us, your hosts, Monica and Dylan, discuss our experiences in addiction and recovery. We delve into the role of art in recovery, the significance of engaging in hobbies, and the challenges we faced in early recovery. We also explore the impact of identity on addiction and recovery, the reality of relapse, and the importance of representation. Additionally, we highlight the disparity between sober living and halfway houses, emphasizing the lack of available options for women and the hurdles they encounter in accessing gender-specific substance use treatment. We stress the need for more equitable access to recovery resources, advocating for government legislation and grants to support women's sober living. Our conversation also touches on how individuals can contribute by getting people into treatment, carrying Narcan, and staying informed about addiction. We underscore the importance of compassion and understanding towards those suffering from addiction and acknowledge the role of social media in providing hope and support.

Takeaways

Engaging in artistic spaces has helped me in recovery, allowing me to regain my sense of humanness.

Having hobbies and creative outlets has been a crucial component of my recovery journey.

Meeting people where they're at in their recovery is something I've found to be crucial for providing effective support.

Relapse is a common part of my recovery story, but I've come to understand that it is not inevitable or necessary for everyone.

Representation and diversity in recovery spaces are personally important for me to see myself and find hope in my own recovery. The significant lack of available sober living options for women has made it challenging for me and others to access gender-specific substance use treatment and recovery resources.

Improving access to recovery resources for women requires government legislation and grants that prioritize women's sober living and address barriers like insurance coverage and location.

I can contribute by getting people into treatment, contacting admissions at treatment centers, and providing support and resources to those in need.

Carrying Narcan and staying informed about addiction are ways I can support the recovery community and potentially save lives.

Exercising compassion and understanding towards those suffering from addiction, and staying informed about the issue, can help break down stigmas and promote empathy.

Sharing my personal recovery stories and milestones on social media can serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for others who may be struggling with addiction or related issues.

Isabel's Instagram: @IsabelSerafin

Follow us at: @BloomScrollingPodcast

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Background

03:00

The Role of Art in Recovery

05:27

Finding Humanness in Artistic Spaces

09:14

Engaging in Hobbies and Rediscovering Passion

10:10

Connecting People to Recovery Resources

11:31

The Importance of Focus in Early Recovery

13:38

The Challenges of Externalizing and Personal Responsibility

15:30

Meeting People Where They're At in Recovery

17:24

The Importance of Breakthroughs in Recovery

19:19

The Role of Identity in Addiction and Recovery

24:07

The Reality of Relapse in Recovery

26:59

The Impact of Identity on Addiction and Recovery

39:41

The Importance of Representation in Recovery

49:40

The Difference Between Sober Living and Halfway...