Featured speakers include Tara Conner, former Miss USA

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. will celebrate “Women and the Joy of Recovery” with a special program featuring Sis Wenger, president and CEO of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA), and Tara Conner, Miss USA 2006.

“Our goal is to take away the stigma associated with women and addiction, to help people understand the impact of addiction on the whole family and to provide hope that recovery is possible,” said Val Fahie, prevention specialist with The Council.

Wenger and Conner are the keynote speakers for a program that will address addiction as a family disease, examine special issues related to women with drinking and drug use issues, raise awareness of the importance of recovery for all members of a family impacted by addiction, and identify community resources and supports for recovery.

Wenger has lead NACoA for the past 20 years. Established in 1983, NACoA is a national non-profit organization that works on behalf of children of drug- and alcohol-dependent parents. The organization’s mission is to eliminate the adverse impact of alcohol and drug use on children and families.

Conner won the title of Miss USA 2006. During her reign, her underage drinking and drug addiction came to light. When Conner tested positive for cocaine, Donald Trump agreed to offer her a second chance if she would go to rehab. (Trump owns the Miss USA organization.) She agreed, and now talks publicly about her journey through addiction to recovery.

Women and the Joy of Recovery is scheduled for Tuesday, June 19, from 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Spring Mill Country Club in Warminster. The event is open to women in recovery, other interested women, family members, supportive individuals, and recovery professionals. The Council extends a special welcome to teenage girls of high school age or older. The program includes a buffet supper.

The program is sponsored by The Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commision, Inc. and The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania.

The program is free, but pre-registration is required. To register, contact Diane Catherwood at 215-230-8218, ext. 3185 or email dcatherwood@councilsepa.org. Or register online at www.councilsepa.org/programs/training-programs/calendar-and-registration/.

About The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. is a private nonprofit prevention, education, advocacy, and intervention organization, providing a wide range of services to families, schools, businesses, individuals, and the community. Founded in 1975, The Council serves the Southeast region of Pennsylvania and is a member of a nationwide network of National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Affiliates. The Council has offices and Recovery Community Centers in Doylestown, Bristol, and Philadelphia. For help with alcohol, tobacco or other substances, or for information on the disease of alcoholism and addiction, call 800-221-6333, toll-free, 24-hours a day.