Resources for Recovery
Following a ribbon-cutting in 2019, the Capital Recovery Center (CRC) opened for business in 2020. The CRC, located at 72 N. Pearl Street in Bridgeton (856-391-7449) is a recovery-oriented sanctuary where individuals with a substance use disorder and their loved ones can access peer support. CRC’s mission is to strengthen and empower the community through dedicated collaboration, partnership, networking, and coordinated behavioral health and wellness services—and to be a leader in providing comprehensive human services that instill hope and transformation. They do this with compassion, integrity, accountability, and teamwork.
The term “Recovery Capital” is defined as the volume of internal and external assets a person needs to initiate and sustain recovery from alcohol or other drug problems. Types of Recovery Capital are:
1. Physical capital is the available resources to fulfill a person’s basic needs, like health care, finances, clothing, food, safe and habitable shelter, and transportation.
2. Human capital relates to a person’s abilities, skills, and knowledge, like problem-solving, education and credentials, self-esteem, the ability to navigate challenging situations and achieve goals, interpersonal skills, and a sense of meaning and purpose in life.
3. Family/social recovery capital relates to intimate relationships with friends and family, relationships with people in recovery, and supportive partners. It also includes the availability of recovery-related social events.
4. Community recovery capital includes attitudes, policies, and resources specifically related to helping individuals resolve substance use disorders.
5. Culture capital are resources that resonate with individuals cultural and faith-based beliefs, such as resources for Native Americans, and people of other faiths.
The CRC offers myriad programs and services, too many to list in this column. To highlight a few:
• Recovery On Wheels (ROW) is a bus outfitted to provide access to substance use disorder and recovery services on the spot in real time. Numerous services are available through ROW as it navigates to scheduled locations throughout Cumberland County.
• Peer Recovery Coaches
• Links to treatment and recovery services
• Temporary ID when needed for the purpose of accessing treatment services
• Information and referrals to various social services
• Needle disposal
• Hepatitis A vaccinations
• Health screenings and other such services
• Disposal of prescription drugs and distribution of drug-deactivation Deterra pouches
• Narcan (opioid overdose reversal) education
In approximately four and a half years of operation, there have been 395 ROW outings with over 3,000 interactions with people. There were 311 individuals entering treatment as a result of these interactions.
C.A.R.E.S. stands for Compassionate Addiction Recovery Equals Success and is for those seeking to begin or sustain long-term recovery from an addiction to alcohol or other drugs. The program offers support from peers trained in the skills and knowledge needed to guide, mentor, and support anyone working toward recovery from addiction. Since inception, C.A.R.E.S. has received nearly 1,200 calls representing 745 individuals totaling 4,500 minutes. A 24-hour hotline stands ready to help. Call 1-800-236-2448 to reach a trained recovery coach.
First Step Clinic provides early intervention, outpatient and intensive outpatient co-occurring evidence-based services for Cumberland County residents aged 12 and up who are either at-risk or have an alcohol and/or substance use disorder diagnosis. Services are provided regardless of ability to pay.
Knock and Talk is an innovative program under Operation Helping Hand (OHH), which brings together teams of sheriff’s deputies and recovery coaches to make house calls on individuals whose lives were saved by officers’ administration of NARCAN or another overdose reversal drug. The goal is to encourage these individuals to seek treatment and support their recovery journey. There have been nearly 4,600 Knock & Talk attempts/outreaches with over 1,500 Successful Knock & Talk contacts.
Navigating today’s world is challenging for all of us. For those with substance use disorders it can be even more difficult. Here in Cumberland County, help is available at the CRC free of stigma where you can meet others who are successfully living full lives in recovery. Do not hesitate to reach out to those who share your challenges and want to help.
https://www.co.cumberland.nj.us/recoverysupportservices
www.facebook.com/capitalrecovery
Jo Valenti, BSN, RN, is a Cumberland County Mental Health Advocate.
