Posted on

Offering Rehabilitation Services That Respects the Individual; Not Just the Law

We attended the press conference concerning one of our area’s needs – tighter regulations and control over the recovery facilities which we know are very plentiful in the Frankford area. The press conference was held at the offices of State Representative Jason Dawkins in the Daral Building, 4667 Paul St., 19124 on Tuesday, December 19.

State Representative Angel Cruz was also there as both Jason and he were instrumental in forming what would become SB 446 which amends the Administrative Code to require the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to license or certify drug and alcohol recovery houses which receive public funding.

Together, with State Representative Aaron Kaufer these “bills” (ideas) became amendments that were added to SB 446 that State Senator Thomas McGarrigle will introduce for Senate hearings.

State Representative Cruz explained that benefits should only be used by facilities who respect those in need of recovery services. Sometimes facilities use single family homes that don’t have enough space for those they claim they want to help. Safe havens is what is needed, says Cruz.

State Representative Dawkins acknowledged that this is an ongoing effort. We first have to define what is a recovery house? Dawkins also made the analogy that homicides by overdose has increased in the last four years and overshadows even the deaths we are seeing due to gun violence. He was pleased his colleagues wanted to address these issues and was happy to work with them. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance is important as well.

We know and see this epidemic, a scourge that is taking the lives of our people, especially the young, and must treat it as the disease it is. Once you contract, it is so very, very hard to escape its grasp. No one should be profiting. It’s time for tighter regulations. Thank you to St. Reps. Jason Dawkins and Angel Cruz for taking steps to bring this topic into the light to improve services to those in need of them. That is simply what it’s all about!

Stephanie Scully, CEO and Founder of the Joy of Living Recovery Program, is held in high esteem here in Frankford. Establishing her first recovery home in 2005, she now oversees 10 facilities. The Joy of Living Recovery Program focuses on providing a safe haven where those seeking rehabilitation feel secure, learn how to structure their days and discover that the “joy” you find in helping others becomes a large part of your own “joy”. The Joy of Living Recovery Program provides volunteers all the time and is willing to support the community whenever and wherever there is a need. We can attest to their great generosity of heart. We had a chance to talk with Stephanie after the press conference. Thank you, Stephanie, your staff and residents for lifting Frankford up each and every day! May you continue to be even more successful in 2018.

 

/center>
 

 

 

Posted on

Northeast Treatment Centers Clients Clean Up

Wednesday afternoon, April 18th, was the inaugural day of a new partnership between the Frankford CDC (Community Development Corporation and NET (Northeast Treatment Centers.  Aimed at keeping the Frankford Avenue commercial corridor litter free, in light of the recent disbanding of the Frankford Special Services District,  three days a week, four NET clients, with assistance and supplies from the Frankford CDC, will walk from Womrath Park to the Frankford Transportation Center, picking up litter and sweeping the sidewalk.  The program is designed to be a sustainable means for regular cleanings of the Avenue, as well as an employment training mechanism for NET clients.

Terence McSherry, CEO of NET and Frankford CDC board member notes “A critical part of the recovery protocol is the concept of ‘responsible concern’ which fosters long term civic pride and involvement in our PIRs, as well as a positive impact on the community in which we live. This project achieves these goals and continues the commitment NET has made to the community to be an asset.”

Any help we can get in keeping the Avenue clean is welcome and at the same time it can be instrumental in helping these folks recover. Slideshow below of the first day on the Avenue.


 

 

What does NET do?

NorthEast Treatment Centers (NET) offers a range of mental health, addiction, foster care, community based, residential, and in-home social services to adults, adolescents, children and families. NET is dedicated to providing a comprehensive recovery and resiliency-oriented system of behavioral health care services and supportive social services to adults, adolescents, children, and their families utilizing a quality-driven, cost-effective service provider network.

 

 

 

Posted on 1 Comment

Living on the Edge in Frankford

City Paper has a good story by Daniel Denvir about drug rehabs and the effect Governor Corbett’s new budget will have on their survival.  As noted in the piece, Frankford has a large number of these houses.  Why do we have so many and what is the alternative if they all were to close.  Read it here to get a very balanced picture of the problem. Read it here.

Posted on 3 Comments

Could Chris Christie Save Frankford and Foulkrod?

The Republican governor of New Jersey is the first elected official in this area with the courage to say the unthinkable, jail does not solve the drug problem.  Jail may make the problem worse.  Once Drug addiction takes hold, it is very difficult to escape.  The only hope, if there is any, is drug treatment.  Christie proposes to make treatment mandatory for addicts arrested for non violent crimes.

The Northeast Times this week has an interesting opinion piece by Joe Quigley on this very subject where he expounds on Christie’s proposal and applies it to Philadelphia, specifically Kensington and Somerset.  That El stop is an interesting experience.  Some people say the same thing about our local intersection of Frankford and Foulkrod.  It is the same problem on a somewhat smaller scale.

Everybody I talk to at the civic meetings I attend acknowledges that drugs are a major driving force in the crime situation in Frankford.  There are new and inventive ways to get people into the drug culture.  See John Loftus’ piece of a few weeks ago in the Northeast Times for a new wrinkle (synthetic dope)  in that situation.  It’s time to finally get serious and make some progress in solving the problem rather than just throwing money at it.

It’s something that has to be done.  Drugs are not going away, there is too much money in that industry.  The only way forward it to reduce the demand by reducing the number of addicts.

Posted on

Frankford Civic Associaton Meeting 1/5/2012

The January 5th meeting of the Frankford Civic was very well attended with over 25 people in the conference room on the 2nd floor at Aria Health.  There were 3 zoning issues on the agenda for the meeting.

The owner/residents of the house at 1619 Haworth Street were seeking approval for modifications made after a fire in the building.  The Board voted to approve their application.

1619 Haworth Street

The owner and architect of the building at 4134 Orchard Street are looking to convert unused warehouse space into 2 new apartments.  The board voted to approve the application.

413436 Orchard Street

The attorney for the owner of 4325-27 Frankford Avenue appeared to present a case for the legalization of the second floor of the building as a boarding house.  The owner purchased the property about two years ago with the boarding house in operation but L&I inspected and cited it for violations so it was closed down.  Those in attendance unanimously agreed that the block is over served by the number of rooms available to single people utilizing the various recovery programs and that adding another would not be an asset to the community.  The board voted to oppose the application.  The owner is free to apply for another use for the second floor of the property.

There were no words spoken against the folks who need recovery services.  Everyone agrees that those services are a necessity in the age we live in.  The issue is that Frankford has more than enough housing for those needing the services.

4325-27 Frankford Ave.

The next meeting of the Frankford Civic Association will be held on February 2nd at Aria Health.