On September 30th, volunteers from Ernst & Young (EY) spent a day of service at our downtown clinic engaging in conversations focused on the theme of recovery.

“Everyone is recovering from something,” explained Jan Caughlan, Vice President of Behavioral Health, in her welcome. “The folks we serve here are recovering from serious illness, from a higher risk for behavioral health issues. They are recovering from homelessness – an experience that is traumatizing and that complicates the process of recovery in every other area. But think about the word ‘recovery.’ There’s a lot of hope in that.”

Through a movie screening on the topic and lunch-time storytelling, EY volunteers, clients in our PHASE 2B addiction support group, PHASE graduates and staff all shared insight about addiction and recovery in their own lives. Some parents in the group grappled with their children’s opioid use, alumni reflected on how they navigated past addiction and men and women laid bare their continuing struggles.  

“Still to this day, I’m working on my behavior,” said Grady, who has been clean for six years. “We have to change how we look at people. You may be the one who needs help tomorrow.”

Thanks to such emotional and vulnerable discussions, and a Naloxone training on how to effectively respond to an opioid overdose, EY volunteers walked away from this Recovery Day of Service with a broader understanding of addiction and some tools to help save lives in our community.

As Jan reminded us, “A good recovery program requires a lot of support, which takes all forms. Including EY’s support today.”