Mar 011 work copy - Livengrin Foundation

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Spring 2011 Vol. VII #1
ehab housing
ride for recovery
relocation
Things are in motion in a busy Spring at the main campus, our outpatient
sites and (on May 15) as we tour
Bucks County
Rehab patients will be living in three residences on
the north side of the campus, as we cap off construction
that began in January, 2010. (The homes pictured here are
real, all we added for this shot was the grass.) A later project will turn the previous rehab rooms (in two sections of
the main building) into expanded spaces for the staff and
patient services.
The perfect Spring day is found at the Ride for
Recovery. This annual fundraising motorcycle run and
family picnic is Sunday, May 15. See inside.
Bigger and better, our Counseling Center in Northeast
Philadelphia has a new address, more capacity and mass-transit
accessibility. The offices at 9140 Academy Road provide comprehensive outpatient treatment, assessments and DUI services.
BTW UC R completely new site at www.livengrin.org?
(check back page!)
Livengrin Foundation, Bensalem, PA
Levittown ~ Doylestown ~ Fort Washington ~ Northeast Philadelphia ~ Allentown ~ Haverford
THE SMOKE STOPS HERE
A private, nonprofit organization founded
in 1966, providing inpatient and
outpatient treatment services, education
and counseling to promote recovery from
alcohol and drug addiction
4833 Hulmeville Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
215-638-5200 800-245-4746
Allentown / Lehigh Valley
610-264-5521
Doylestown / Central Bucks
215-340-1765
Fort Washington / Montgomery Co.
215-540-8301
Levittown / Lower Bucks
215-547-1440
Northeast Philadelphia
215-335-3419
Haverford / Main Line
610-642-4604
www.livengrin.org
Board of Directors
Eileen M. Bonner, MD Chair
Bernard K. Ciliberto Vice-Chair
Daphne G. Floyd Secretary
Michael D. Chapman Treasurer
Donald A. Billingsley
Rev. Msg. William A. Dombrow
Scott I. Fegley, Esq.
Charles Morin
Julie B. Negovan
Thomas Reinke
Peter Rotelle
Richard M. Pine President & CEO
Honorary Directors
Patricia L. Chapman David R. Johnson*
Richard W. Hartmann*
James M. Stewart*
* Emeritus
The early numbers are encouraging, and Charles Wolfe expects them to improve. He knows
that relinquishing one behavior is difficult enough, so doing two isn’t much easier. It’s his job to
help the efforts to complement each other.
Wolfe (right) is one of the counselors in our new Smoking
Cessation Program designed for patients (and also applicable
to staff) that began in late February. This adds another dimension to our efforts to improve a person’s health.
Participation is voluntary and available at the beginning of,
or any time during, a patient's stay. We’ve designed this
pharmacological and psycho-educational support system,
with group and peer interventions, utilizing the latest
evidence-based practices.
Wolfe, other counselors and nursing staff provide orientation,
continuing education and motivation, group support and a
nicotine patch regimen. It works, and patients in rehab who
follow through tell us it's great to achieve a smoke-free life
along with everything else they're accomplishing.
“We had twenty patients in March,” reports Wolfe. “Around
10% of the smokers among patients take part in the program,
and almost 80% of those will complete it.
“Those who do sign up are
ecstatic that they get to give it
a shot, in what they know is a
safe, disciplined environment.”
“Not everybody races into this when they hear about it on day one - it’s a lot to tackle at once.
They're already coming into rehab motivated to quit drinking or drugs, which is huge. They
may come in and out of the stop-smoking program more than once while they’re in rehab.
“But they feel they’re not going to be judged if their attempts with tobacco are not completely
successful. Patients are very supportive of one another, with the same peer empathy as we see
for their drug or alcohol work.”
Wolfe is glad to see the word about the smoking-cessation program is circulating outside our
doors. “One of our longtime alumni also got off nicotine more than a year ago, and he’ll be
coming back in as a volunteer to lead peer-based support groups.”
DEVELOPER ROTELLE NAMED TO BOARD
The appointment of Peter Rotelle to the Foundation’s Board of Directors was announced by
chairperson Dr. Eileen Bonner. Mr. Rotelle heads Rotelle Development, a major homebuilder
in southeastern Pennsylvania, headquartered in Barto, PA.
It’s an opportune time, when construction is a keyword at Livengrin, to be able to utilize
the skill sets of a past president of the Home Builders Association of Bucks & Montgomery
Counties. Our Board’s strong Facilities Committee is pleased to have another experienced
player added to that bench.
Now living with his family in Chester County, Mr. Rotelle has been involved with Habitat for
Humanity, the American Red Cross and the Penn State One Program for the unemployed with
disabilities. He holds a BA from Penn State University.
His idea of “spare time” has involved road rallies through northern Canada and intense longdistance cycling, although a quiet day of fly-fishing isn’t unusual for him. Be assured that
Livengrin will keep Mr. Rotelle busy.
Published by Livengrin Foundation © 2011
Photographs © Keith Mason for
Livengrin 2011
To receive or discontinue any Livengrin
publication, call 215-638-5200 ext. 146
or email: [email protected]
Getting the newsletter but not our email announcements?
Visit www.livengrin.com and fill in the box on the homepage. Or call us
at the number in the column to the left <<.
Getting our emails but not home delivery of the news? Visit the
website Contact page and click on the “receive newsletter” link!
Media Watch
One of the most valued advocates for
mental health in the region (and the country)
is Dr. Dan Gottlieb (seated). His “Voices in
the Family” on WHYY & NPR explores
behavior, interpersonal dynamics, mental
health and social issues. Dennis Franklin of
our Fort Washington Center visited Dr.
Dan’s show to shed light on the challenge of
stigma - an obstacle to recovery and public
understanding.
The exchange, punctuated by dramatic phone
calls, motivated some listeners to contact
Livengrin about getting treatment. One
caller, who had lost his son to heroin just
two weeks before, described how he was
trying to convert his pain into help for
others, to overcome the stigma that might
keep them from seeking help.
The cover stories for two fall publications shared the theme of construction - both
literally in a bricks-and-mortar sense, and in terms of how Livengrin’s building plans will
improve our services to patients and families. Outlook, published by the Lower Bucks
County Chamber of Commerce, took our story to thousands of business owners.
Meanwhile, our own Annual Report recapped the most recent fiscal year, set against an
illustrated history of our Bensalem campus across fifty years. The Report is available to
anyone through our Communications office.
Michael Fitzpatrick, recently elected as
Lower Bucks County congressman, was
welcomed by our Facilities Manager Bobby
Bruner at Bensalem’s community day.
Mike climbed aboard the Harley-Davidson
that we’re raffling off for the annual
Ride for Recovery.
clips
On radio, we visited Derrick Ford (right) and his
recovery-themed show on WURD-AM (and
streamed worldwide), to talk up our new rehab
homes, the Ride for Recovery and, as always, the
importance of treatment.
Livengrin responded to CBS-3 TV as they prepared a story on how the government is dealing
with the components of legal smoking materials
that mimic marijuana.
We welcomed local vets to our door during
the holiday season. Military veterans, current
service personnel and their families are among
those in our community who can be particularly affected at that time of year. In one of
many projects conducted by our employeephilanthropic committee, a winter food drive
culled contributions from the staff. The donations were then distributed by Veterans Affairs of Bucks County throughout the area.
Our Bill Moore (rear) assisted the vets who
made the pickup.
Beyond producing products and services, the
business world
is about the people who supply the skills and sweat.
It
would be great if all owners and CEOs would maintain the human
element on the balance sheet; many do. As they manage their workforce in altruistic as well as economic terms, Livengrin provides
backup by working closely with employee assistance professionals.
When it’s time to help an employee with a crucial behavioral challenge such as addiction (while also looking out for the interests of
the company and the workforce), the business owner, HR office or
union rep finds a partner in Livengrin.
Because addiction is among the most painful and costly employment
issues, it’s taken very seriously by management. The region’s major
association of EAPs displays that emphasis each spring, when they
gather at our Bensalem campus to acknowledge their industry’s best.
Many at the EAPA meeting came to learn (or already know about)
Livengrin’s services for employees and businesses. Our staff, including
Sue Bright, Director of Patient and Referral Relations, provided
briefings to Pat Dowling of Rehab After Work (top) and others.
The Greater Philadelphia EAPA chapter confers a major recognition, named
for the late Patricia Curran, for leadership and effective employee
services. Pat’s granddaughter Regan paid a visit to the event with her mother
Jamie (right); we’ve watched her grow up at these yearly breakfast events.
The stars came out for the man
we often refer to as being “all heart and hard work.”
PA Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R., Bucks) was applauded in
April by hundreds of friends and colleagues, for his long
career as an advocate for addiction treatment at all levels
of society and government.
clips
clips
clips
First elected to the House in 1995, Gene chairs its Human
Services Committee. Capping his long list of achievements
was the creation of a Cabinet-level department for alcohol
and drug programs that reports to the Governor directly,
and goes into effect come July.
At the celebratory event, Livengrin CEO Rick Pine (left)
added our congratulations, gratitude and respect to the mix
of humorous and poignant stories shared by people whose
personal lives and organizational missions he has influenced.
We’re particularly thrilled by the state development grant
that Gene initiated last year for Livengrin, to kickstart
construction of our new rehab houses.
Life After Livengrin
(#38 in a series)
“I wanted to thank everyone who is a part of Livengrin, especially my counselor. Tomorrow I will be free of alcohol
one year. I appreciate all of your guidance and recommendations. I think the world of you guys. This has been an
incredible journey and I will keep on living my life day by day. To go from drinking a gallon of vodka a day to not
having a sip for a year is a miracle in its self. Life does get dramatically better.” - Gene M.
In and Around Livengrin ~ 2011
Ride for Recovery
Sunday, May 15 Bensalem 9AM - 4PM
The Foundation for
Addiction Recovery
4833 Hulmeville Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
Allentown ~ Doylestown
Fort Washington ~ Haverford
Levittown ~ N.E. Philadelphia
800-245-4746
email: [email protected]
www.livengrin.org
Our biggest annual event, to raise funds and public awareness.
Association of Alumni, Family & Friends
Tuesday 7:30PM Bensalem
Everyone is welcome (not just our own alumni) to these meetings with a 12-step
fellowship format, speakers, and great ways to stay connected to recovery.
Shanahan Hall; no RSVP needed. It’s always packed - come early!
Volunteer Orientation
Bensalem
Regular schedule; call the Alumni Hotline below, or visit www.livengrin.org
Run for Recovery
Sunday, September 11 Horsham, PA 8AM
5K race in Montgomery County. Visit the website and sign up for email news.
Livengrin Foundation, Inc. is recognized by
the Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit
501(c)(3) organization. Official registration
and financial information (Certificate 13708)
may be obtained from the PA Dept. of State
by calling (within PA) 1-800-732-0999.
Registration does not imply endorsement.
Have you visited
INFORMATION LINES: 800-245-4746 or 215-638-5200
Events & Information Requests ext. 310
Alumni Association & Volunteers ext. 312
www.livengrin.org lately?
Our redesigned website brings you everything
you need to find help, information and understanding. Treatment particulars, locations and
phones, updates on events and alumni, special
recovery programs, and the latest Foundation
news and employment posts - it’s all here.
More features are on the way, to help patients, families and
our entire community… so bookmark Livengrin and visit the
site often to become informed and stay in touch.