THE ESSEX HEALTH AND WELLNESS RECOVERY CENTER IS EXCITED TO SHARE THEIR UPCOMING PROGRAMS WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THE ESSEX HEALTH AND WELLNESS RECOVERY CENTER RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING FROM THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR’S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC THAT HAS FUELED THE FENTANYL POISONING EPIDEMIC IN OUR COMMUNITY, COUNTY, STATE AND COUNTRY.
THE GRANT FUNDING WAS DISTRIBUTED TO MONTCLAIR THROUGH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY FROM LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT FUNDS AGAINST FOUR COMPANIES FOUND GUILTY OF CREATING AND FUELING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

THE ESSEX HEALTH AND WELLNESS RECOVERY CENTER MOVED TO MONTCLAIR MAY 15 2024, THEY ARE LOCATED AT 101 PARK STREET SUITE 3 AND 4. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS ROBIN LAVORATO AND SHE IS ALSO THE GRANT PROJECT MANAGER.
SINCE MAY, THE RECOVERY CENTER HAS:

JOINED THE MAYOR’S WELLNESS CAMPAIGN
PARTICIPATED IN TRAINING THEIR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IN NALOXONE (NARCAN) ADMINISTRATION. NARCAN IS A MEDICATION THAT MAY REVERSE AN OPIOID OVERDOSE. THE MONTCLAIR AMBULANCE UNIT RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE SAME SOURCE TO TRAIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS (RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, EMPLOYEES) IN ADMINISTERING NARCAN AND ALSO TO DISTRIBUTE NARCAN TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE LIVES. PLEASE DO YOUR PART, PLEASE CONTACT THE MAU AND REGISTER FOR A TRAINING AND RECEIVE A NARCAN KIT.
MET WITH THE MONTCLAIR MUNICIPAL JUDGE TO SHARE INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM AND THE SERVICES THE RECOVERY CENTER CAN PROVIDE TO THOSE COMMITTING CRIMES DUE TO THEIR SUBSTANCE USE.
ASSISTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN GETTING INTO DETOX CENTERS, RESIDENTIAL AND OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS, PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION AND FAMILY SUPPORT AND WORKED TOGETHER ON RECOVERY PLANS.
PROVIDED SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, TO THOSE SUFFERING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. PROVIDED CERTIFIED RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALISTS TO WALK BESIDE THEM ON THEIR RECOVERY JOURNEY.
OFFERED RECOVERY SUPPORTS THROUGH MINDFULNESS PROGRAMS, FAMILY SUPPORT MEETINGS, SOBER RECREATION AND ASSISTANCE WITH CLOTHES AND FOOD.
DEVELOPED, WITH OTHERS, THE NON-DENOMINATIONAL ESSEX COUNTY CLERGY FOR RECOVERY COUNCIL TO EMPOWER ALL CLERGY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE IN THE SPIRITUAL HEALING OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND TO LEARN ABOUT RESOURCES TO PROVIDE WHEN ASKED FOR HELP.
PROVIDED THE ONE PILL CAN KILL PREVENTION PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY, FACILITATED BY THE U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (NEWARK OFFICE). PROVIDED THE 15 MINUTE CHILD BREAK, FACILITATED BY PARTNERSHIP FOR A DRUG FREE NJ. THESE PROGRAMS ARE FREE AND CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE SCHOOLS, SENIOR CENTERS, WORKPLACE, HOUSES OF WORSHIP AND OTHER COMMUNITY VENUES.
WITH LT. CUNNINGHAM FROM THE MONTCLAIR POLICE DEPARTMENT, PRESENTED TO CLASSES AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY ON PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT OF OPIOID USE DISORDER.
CONNECTED WITH MADELINE AND GARTH GUTHRIE OF REACHING OUT MONTCLAIR TO WORK WITH THEM ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH. CONNECTED WITH MESH, SALVATION ARMY, REAL HOUSE, OXFORD HOUSE AND OTHER COMMUNITY SUPPORTS.
ATTENDED COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS AND HEALTH FAIRS. SET UP A RESOURCE TABLE AT CHRIST CHURCH AND SHARED INFORMATION BEFORE AND AFTER THEIR SERVICES.
WORKED WITH THE HEALING PEOPLE AND MINDFUL BREATH FOUNDATION IN OFFERING MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES AS A RECOVERY SUPPORT AS WELL AS A PREVENTION TOOL. THE MINDFUL BREATH FOUNDATION HAS OFFERED, WITH NO CHARGE, TO TEACH EDUCATORS IN MONTCLAIR THE TOOLS NEEDED TO BRING MINDFULNESS INTO THE SCHOOLS. A DAILY MINDFULNESS ACTIVITY IN SCHOOLS HAS BEEN PROVEN TO DECREASE STRESS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION,AND TO INCREASE FOCUS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
PRESENTED TO ESSEX COUNTY RECOVERY COURT ON THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFERED.
ORGANIZED THE OPIOID/FENTANYL SOLUTIONS CONFERENCE HELD SEPTEMBER 18TH 2024. OVER 250 PEOPLE GATHERED AT THE AUDITORIUM AT IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH. THE CONFERENCE WAS MODERATED BY JUDGE (RETIRED) JOSE LINARES. PANELISTS INCLUDED; PREVENTION SPECIALISTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, NJ ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, U.S. DISTRICT JUDGES, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROVIDERS, DEPUTY CHIEF COUNSEL TO THE GOVERNOR AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE IN RECOVERY AND PARENTS WHO LOST THEIR CHILDREN TO OPIOID OVERDOSE AND FENTANYL POISONING. SPONSOR’S INCLUDED MCCARTER & ENGLISH LAW FIRM, THE BLACK POSTER PROJECT, AND THE MONTCLAIR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
PARTICIPATED IN THE MAYOR’S HEALTH CAMPAIGN’S OVERDOSE AWARENESS WALK.
ORGANIZED THE 7TH OPIOID AWARENESS WALK FROM NEWARK TO CALDWELL ON BLOOMFIELD AVENUE. THIS 8 MILE WALK, WITH A LUNCH AND PRESENTATION FOLLOWING, INCLUDED CLOSE TO 500 ATTENDEES. 200 STUDENTS FROM BELLEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL WALKED, AND WE ARE URGING MONTCLAIR SCHOOLS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE 2025 WALK SET FOR OCTOBER 17TH 2025. THE WALK SPREADS AWARENESS AND SAVES LIVES. ORGANIZERS INCLUDED MONTCLAIR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR’S WELLNESS CAMPAIGN,, THE BLACK POSTER PROJECT, RUTGER’S CARE CENTER, HAZEL HOUSE SOBER LIVING, THE RUBBER DUCKY ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE, U.S. DEA, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CALDWELL AND SO MANY OTHERS.
HOSTED THE BLACK POSTER PROJECT AT THE OPIOID AWARENESS WALK. THE BLACK POSTER PROJECT IS A TRAVELING EXHIBIT THAT POWERFULLY DEPICTS THE DEVASTATION OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC THAT FUELED THE FENTANYL POISONING EPIDEMIC THAT KILLS OVER 100,000 AMERICANS A YEAR. IN NEW JERSEY, IN 2024 WE LOST 1,764 OF OUR NEIGHBORS TO OVERDOSE/POISONING, SO FAR IN 2025 WE HAVE LOST 25. ESSEX COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF DEATHS AND YES MONTCLAIR HAS HAD THEIR SHARE OF THESE HEARTBREAKING DEATHS. THE BLACK POSTER PROJECT WILL RETURN TO MONTCLAIR IN MARCH, EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER SHOULD VISIT THE TRAVELING EXHIBIT.
ORGANIZED THE INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY, HELD AT THE MONTCLAIR LIBRARY. AUGUST 31 IS INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY HELD ANNUALLY TO REMEMBER THOSE WE LOST AND TO HELP HEAL THE LOVED ONES LEFT BEHIND. LIGHTING CANDLES, LOVED ONES SHARING ABOUT THEIR LOSS AND KEEPING THEIR MEMORY ALIVE, AND WORKING TOWARDS ENDING THIS EPIDEMIC WAS INCLUDED IN THE EVENT.

OUR UPCOMING 2025 PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WILL INCLUDE:
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28TH 3:30PM - MINDFULNESS PRACTICE FOR SCHOOLS. SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, EDUCATORS, COACHES, VOLUNTEERS ARE INVITED TO LEARN HOW MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES SUPPORT HEALTHY CHILDREN AND INCREASE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29TH 6PM - COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSION ON THE OPIOID/FENTANYL EPIDEMIC. ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE URGED TO ATTEND, YOUTH, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, EDUCATORS, BUSINESS OWNERS.
TUESDAY EVENINGS, 6PM - SERENITY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP FOR THOSE WHOSE LOVED ONES ARE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. LEARN ABOUT ADDICTION AND RECOVERY, IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS, PROVIDE HEALTHY SUPPORT, RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM OTHERS AND PRACTICE SELF-CARE.
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS, 6PM - MINDFULNESS FOR RECOVERY. JOIN IN MEDITATION, BREATHING, SOUND HEALING AND MORE AS PART OF YOUR RECOVERY PLAN. OPEN TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
THURSDAYS 3PM - 4PM - RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP BY TIM. THOSE IN RECOVERY GATHER TO SHARE EXPERIENCES, SEEK NEW IDEAS AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN THE RECOVERY JOURNEY.
THURSDAYS 5PM - 6PM - LIFE SKILLS FOR MEN BY CHRIS. JOIN CHRIS IN INCREASING YOUR LIFE SKILLS AS YOU REBUILD YOUR LIFE IN RECOVERY.
BY APPOINTMENT, SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE. WORKING WITH A LICENSED COUNSELOR AND/OR A RECOVERY GUIDE WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS FOR ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS. FAMILY SESSIONS AVAILABLE. INSURANCE ACCEPTED. SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR THE UNINSURED.
REFERRAL TO DETOX, RESIDENTIAL AND OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS. PSYCHIATRIC REFERRALS AVAILABLE. ASSISTANCE WITH OBTAINING SERVICES TO SUPPORT TREATMENT AND RECOVERY ARE PROVIDED.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5TH 6:30PM - ONE PILL CAN KILL PRESENTATION BY THE U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION FOR YOUTH, PARENTS AND ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH 6PM - LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR CLERGY DINNER. JOIN US AS WE SHARE WITH CLERGY THE FACTS OF OPIOID ADDICTION AND OTHER ADDICTIONS, HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO ASSIST IN A TREATMENT AND RECOVERY PLAN.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19TH 8AM - 4PM - YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS WILL COME TOGETHER TO LEARN ABOUT PREVENTING SUBSTANCE USE AND INTERVENING WHEN A PEER IS STRUGGLING. THEY WILL DEVELOP AGE-APPROPRIATE (K-12) PREVENTION PROGRAMS TO BRING TO THE UNDERCLASS IN THEIR DISTRICTS. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 10 STUDENTS FROM EACH HIGH SCHOOL IN MONTCLAIR PARTICIPATE.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19TH 6PM - PARENTS FOR PREVENTION PROGRAM. PARENTS OF CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ARE INVITED TO JOIN US IN DISCUSSING HOW PARENTS CAN BE A POWERFUL TOOL IN PREVENTING THEIR CHILDREN FROM USING SUBSTANCES.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19TH 10AM - 7PM - THE BLACK POSTER PROJECT. VISIT THE TRAVELING EXHIBIT THAT POWERFULLY DEPICTS THE DEVASTATION OF OPIOIDS AND FENTANYL. THIS IS A MUST SEE FOR EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER, ESPECIALLY PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN.

Wednesday, March 26th 3PM - Business Owners are invited to a presentation by the Partnership for a Drug Free  NJ to discuss substance use in the workplace, drug free workplace policy, and educational presentations.  Research on substance abuse in the United States has shown that 70 percent of individuals with a substance abuse disorder are employed.

 

PLEASE REGISTER FOR ALL PROGRAMS BY CALLING OR EMAILING ROBIN (862) 485-8811 RLHEALTHGUIDE@GMAIL.COM