You are here: Home / Archives for PRO-ACT

PRO-ACT Family Education Program helps families address drug and alcohol addiction

May 10, 2013 By

When someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the disease affects the entire family. PRO-ACT’s Family Education Program provides much-needed information and support.

This free monthly program helps individuals and families recognize and address an addiction problem in a spouse, parent, child or other loved one. Led by trained volunteers who have been in the same situation, sessions begin the first week of each month and run one evening a week for three consecutive weeks, addressing such topics as understanding addiction, impact on the family and developing a support network.

Programs are offered at several locations throughout the five-county southeast Pennsylvania region. Sessions are free and confidential – first names only. Pre-registration is required.

For dates and locations, call 800-221-6333, weekdays 9:00am through 5:00pm or find PRO-ACT Family Education Program on Facebook.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: Home Tagged With: , , , , ,

PRO-ACT Family Addiction Education Program serves Bucks residents

April 29, 2013 By

Each month PRO-ACT (Pennsylvania Recovery Organization–Achieving Community Together) hosts a Family Addiction Education Program to help individuals and family recognize and address an addiction problem in a spouse, parent, child or other loved one.

Facilitated by trained volunteers who have been in the same situation, these information and support programs begin on the first Thursday of each month and run for three consecutive Thursday evenings, from 7:00 to 9:00pm.

Sessions are offered at the Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center in Bristol and the North Penn Community Health Foundation in Colmar.

Sessions are free and confidential – first names only.

Pre-registration is required. Call 800-221-6333 weekdays 9:00am through 5:00pm, or visit www.proact.org and click the Family Education Program link.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: Home Tagged With: , , , , ,

PRO-ACT names Alfred Pelham 2012 ‘Volunteer of the Year’

February 22, 2013 By
Alfred Pelham

 

A crowd of several hundred people packed the Bucks County Courthouse when The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., and PRO-ACT (Pennsylvania Recovery Organization–Achieving Community Together) dedicated the annual Tree of Hope on Wednesday, December 12th.

Among the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Tom Nelson Volunteer of the Year Award recognizing an outstanding PRO-ACT volunteer.

This year Allen McQuarrie, chairman of the Bucks County PRO-ACT chapter, presented the award to Alfred Pelham, Ph.D., of Doylestown, in honor of his pioneering efforts behind PRO-ACT’s Gateway to Work for Veterans program. 

Alfred, a former Fortune 500 sales and marketing executive and currently professor of Management and Marketing at The College of New Jersey, served in Viet Nam as an Army Ranger lieutenant.  A PRO-ACT volunteer since 2010, he has recruited others with similar military background and civilian successes to mentor other veterans.

The Gateway to Work for Veterans program helps servicemen and women navigation the transition from military to civilian employment and careers.  The program is designed to complement other efforts to help veterans cope with post-traumatic stress syndrome and traumatic brain injury, both of which can lead to self-medication and/or addiction.

PHOTO CAP: Alfred Pelham (left) receives “Volunteer of the Year” award from PRO-ACT’s Allen McQuarrie.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: Doylestown Observer News Tagged With: , , , ,

‘Gateway to Work for Veterans’ starts Oct. 25th

October 15, 2012 By

A free, hands-on three-hour workshop for veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce meets Thursday, October 25th, from 9:00am until noon, at PRO-ACT’s Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center in the Bucks Office Center, 1286 Veterans Highway, Bristol.

The program addresses personal positioning and “elevator speeches,” writing a memorable resume, preparing for a successful interview, working a job fair and more, with special emphasis on communicating how skills learned in the military benefit civilian employers.

Pre-registration is required.

Call Jessica Schwartz at 215-345-6644, ext. 3122, or email JSchwartz@councilsepa.org.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: Home Tagged With: , , , ,

Zumbathon to benefit Women’s Recovery Community Center

September 7, 2012 By

Dancers can get fit and help raise funds for a good cause at the first Zumbathon to benefit PRO-ACT’s Women’s Recovery Community Center.

“This event will be a lot of fun, but the purpose is serious – to help support women who are in recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol,” said Jeanne McDermott, volunteer coordinator at The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., which hosts PRO-ACT.

Located in New Britain, the Women’s Recovery Community Center offers a variety of recovery support services, including workshops, yoga classes and spirituality discussions, 12-step program meetings and more. The center also has 10 beds for residents, who stay an average of six months.

The center has served more than 375 women and provided more than 13,600 hours of recovery support services, significantly increasing the number of women in stable housing and with part- or full-time employment.

The Zumbathon will take place on Sunday, September 16th, from 9:00am until noon at SMG Sports Plex, 654 York Road, Warminster.

Advance registration, through September 14th, is $20 per person, or $15 per person for groups of three or more. Registration is $25 per person at the door. The first 50 people to register will receive a free T-shirt.

The Zumbathon is one of several events that The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania and PRO-ACT have planned as part of a national initiative sponsored by SAMHSA, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The observance of Recovery Month, which takes place each September, raises awareness of mental and/or substance use disorders, celebrates individuals in long-term recovery and acknowledges the work of prevention, treatment and recovery service providers.

Each September and throughout the year, Recovery Month encourages communities nationwide to spread the message that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can recover from mental and/or substance use disorders.

To register for the Zumbathon by credit card, visit www.councilsepa.org and click the Zumba logo.

To register by cash or check, call Jessica Schwartz at 215-345-6644, ext. 3122, or email jschwartz@councilsepa.org.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: Home2, Southampton Spirit Events Tagged With: , , , ,

Soberstock III – 2012 Puts the Focus on Local Musical Talent

August 7, 2012 By

Laura C From praise music to progressive pop, from funk to folk and more, Soberstock III – 2012 promises to offer something for virtually every musical taste. With a focus on local talent, the day-long, family-friendly festival takes place on Sat., Sept. 1, 2012, from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., at Snipes Farm, 800 West Bridge St., Morrisville, Pa.

“The festival showcases popular local bands from Bucks and Montgomery counties and the surrounding area,” says Doug Gould, Soberstock chairperson, of How to Save a Life Foundation, which is organizing the event. “We’re also going to have horse-drawn hayrides, a bonfire, a variety of craft and food vendors, so we encourage everyone to grab a blanket or folding chair, and come out and enjoy the fellowship and fun.”

From 9 a.m. until noon, Faith Bond, Heaven Bound and Think of 3 take the stage. Following them are Falling Out, The Signals, Damn Mad, Annie O, Groove Train Riders, Fire Monkey, The Grand Nationals and Paint Box. Laura C rounds out the program, which ends at 8 p.m.

“Soberstock III is a celebration of recovery. The artists are donating their time to support a great cause,” Gould says. Proceeds from the event benefit How to Save a Life Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps individuals suffering from addictive disorders get access to treatment. Marti Hottenstein, of Warminster, established the foundation in memory of her son, Karl, who died from a drug overdose in 2006 after being denied access to inpatient treatment for his addiction to painkillers.

The Foundation is also donating a portion of the proceeds to benefit PRO-ACT’s advocacy and recovery support services.

Tickets are $15 and are available at the Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center in Bristol, Central Bucks Recovery Support Services in Doylestown, the Women’s Recovery Community Center in New Britain, the Philadelphia Recovery Community Center and the PRO-ACT office in Northern Liberties. They will also be available at the gate on the day of the festival. Children under 12 are free, but must be accompanied by an adult.

[Read more...]

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: Morrisville Times Events Tagged With: , , , ,

Central Bucks Recovery Support Services Offers Ongoing Employability Workshop

July 20, 2012 By

Central Bucks Recovery Support Services announces a free employability workshop designed to help individuals at all stages of recovery sharpen the skills they need to be successful in the workplace.

The four-part workshop series is held on an ongoing basis every Monday from 9:00 to 10:00am.

“Through this peer-based program, we are helping people gain confidence and develop the practical skills they need to sustain long-term recovery,” said Jeanne McDermott, volunteer coordinator for Central Bucks Recovery Support Services, which is a program of The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania and PRO-ACT.

Each week, the employability workshop covers a different topic. The topics are seeking employment, being employable, preparing for the interview and practicing interview skills.

In the “seeking employment” session, participants will learn how the application process works and pick out potential jobs.

The “being employable” session focuses on helping participants identify their key strengths and understand the importance of eye contact, body language and other non-verbal communication. The last two sessions are designed to help build participants’ confidence in interview situations by letting them know what to expect and how to prepare and by offering opportunities to practice answering interview questions.

The next series begins July 9th, although individuals are welcome to start at any point in the rotation. Following each workshop session, participants have the option of staying and working one-on-one with a trained recovery coach.

The employability workshop is held at the Central Bucks Recovery Community Center in The Council’s offices at 252 W. Swamp Road, Unit 12, Doylestown.

In addition to the employability workshop, Central Bucks Recovery Support Services offers a range of free resources, including recovery coaching and life skills training, a monthly Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit evening program, volunteer training and more.

The Center is open on Mondays, from 9:00am until 1:00pm, for the employability workshop and coaching; on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:00 until 8:30pm for coaching and other programs; and on Thursdays from 9:00am until 1:00pm for recovery planning.

For information call 215-345-6644.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: Doylestown Observer News Tagged With: , , ,

PRO-ACT recognizes Central Bucks volunteers

May 22, 2012 By

PRO-ACT (Pennsylvania Recovery Organization–Achieving Community Together) honored volunteers who enable the organization to provide important recovery support services in central Bucks County. Approximately 30 volunteers attended an April 18th dinner in their honor at the Central Bucks Recovery Resource Center in Doylestown.

PRO-ACT volunteers help provide the peer relationships that play an important role in recovery from addiction to alcohol or other drugs. They serve as life skills facilitators, recovery coaches and vision team advisors. They also provide transportation for clients staying at the Women’s Recovery Community Center in New Britain.

“With so many volunteers gathered in one place, you could feel the positive energy of this great group of people,” said Jeanne McDermott, volunteer coordinator for Central Bucks Recovery Support Services. “Working together, they are making a big difference in the lives of people at all stages of recovery and, by extension, in the central Bucks County recovery community.

“A marriage of treatment, resources and peer relationships have been shown to help people sustain recovery,” said Bev Haberle, executive director of The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, which hosts PRO-ACT.

“Addiction is a brain disease, and it takes a while for the brain to function properly. Having contact with other people who have worked through that themselves is helpful.”

Last year, approximately 90 PRO-ACT volunteers in Central Bucks County provided nearly 900 hours of regular service, plus 2,000 hours of service at Pumpkinfest, a major fundraising event.

A variety of volunteer openings for lay individuals and professionals are available at multiple locations. PRO-ACT provides free orientation and training.

“You don’t have to be in recovery to volunteer – you just have to want an opportunity to help change somebody’s life,” Haberle said.

For more information, call Jeanne McDermott or Jessica Schwartz at 215-345-6644.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: Doylestown Observer News, Home2 Tagged With: , , ,

COMMUNITY GUIDEBOOK PROFILE: The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.,

February 10, 2012 By

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., an affiliate of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), is a private non-profit organization serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

The Council provides a wide range of services to families, schools, businesses, individuals and the entire community regardless of ability to pay, ethnicity, race, gender, age and/or sexual orientation. Their mission is to provide resources and opportunities to reduce the impact of addiction, trauma and other related health issues for the entire community.

[Read more...]

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: Home Tagged With: , , , , ,

PRO-ACT names ‘Volunteer Of The Year’ for 2011

January 21, 2012 By

Kevin Medican PRO-ACT (Pennsylvania Recovery Organization–Achieving Community Together) has named Kevin M. Medican, of New Hope, as its 2011 Volunteer of the Year. The recovery organization presents the annual award to the volunteer who carries out advocacy work and peer-to-peer services with diligence, good humor and care.

“Kevin has always said ‘yes’ to any task I’ve requested,” said Kathy McQuarrie, a founding member of PRO-ACT.

Kathy and her husband, Allen, who also a founding member of PRO-ACT, presented the award at the annual Tree of Hope ceremony sponsored by PRO-ACT and The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, which was held in Doylestown on December 14th.

Kevin, a licensed professional counselor with a private practice in New Hope, is a long-time volunteer with PRO-ACT’s Family Addiction Education Program, a free, confidential information and support program designed to help individuals and families recognize and address a loved one’s addiction and begin their own process of healing and recovery.

The program is offered monthly at eight locations in the five-county area. Kevin trains volunteers to lead the family program. He is also a founding member of PRO-ACT’s Veterans Helping Veterans Committee, which has created and offered programs to the public as well as to the Bucks County Bar Association, and he is a member of the organization’s Bucks County Advisory Board.

Kevin holds a master’s degree in clinical and counseling psychology with a specialization in addictions counseling. PRO-ACT offers volunteer opportunities at multiple locations.

For more information call 215-345-6644.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: Doylestown Observer News, New Hope News Tagged With: , , , ,
«Older Posts