MOMSTELL
Parents and Families Working Together For
Improved Drug Treatment
Education, Legislation, Policy and Prevention
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MOMSTELL Parents and Families Working Together For Improved Drug Treatment Education, Legislation, Policy and Prevention |
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| ...because no family should face the disease of addiction alone |
| 05/21/2009 |
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News and Events |
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Free Training Northeaset Counter Drug Training Program. provides NO COST training to educate our communities in the most up-to-date prevention techniques.
HEADSUP Heroin Education And Dangerous Substance Understanding Program.
The Philadelphia Narcotics Strike Force presents a heroin and club drug education program.
The presentation is followed by the powerful personal story of a parents battle with their child's addiction and eventual loss of that fight .
MOMSTELL highly recommends this program. If you would like to schedule a presentation for your school or group, call (215) 685-1120.
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NEWS FLASH
MOMSTELL Founder Sharon L. Smith helps to organize Families of Youth with Substance Use Addiction: A National Dialogue
On March 27-28, 2009, a national dialogue took place in Rockville, MD. The meeting included 65 members of families of youth impacted by the disease of addiction from 34 states and tribes across the United States, along with representatives from Georgetown University, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Family members identified several challenge areas in treatment and recovery for youth with substance use disorders. The top two challenges are 1) a lack of education and information support for family members and 2) a lack of access to substance abuse treatment for youth and their families. Other challenges include 3) a lack of integrated treatment for youth with both substance abuse and mental health disorders, 4) the stigma and misunderstanding of the disease of substance abuse and addiction, and 5) the quality of treatment for youth with the disease.
Work was begun at the conference to build a national clearinghouse to contain a centralized repository of information for families and others who need this information. Also, web accessible training will occur on topics such as financial strategies for providing treatment, recovery services, and education on addiction issues.
Family representatives from the states and tribes developed a plan to immediately begin working on the major issues in their state/tribe, to meet with state/tribe substance abuse agency heads and other parent organizations, and to make affirmative changes in the challenge areas not only in their state/tribe, but also in the nation. Attendees will continue to work as a group, and will be joined by others to fight this disease. Sharon Smith, one of the conference organizers, said, “We are building a national voice for positive change in youth substance abuse treatment and recovery.”
MOMSTELL is pleased to introduce
FAMILIES OF ADDICTION "You Can Survive, We have"
In 2008, MOMSTELL created Families of Addiction in order to provide a family voice for substance abuse. This organizational networking system will focus on the full continuum of care for substance abuse/co-occurring disorder issues. Parents and Family representatives from across Pennsylvania were selected and met in August to discuss the substance abuse treatment system. At that meeting the name, mission and purpose for the organization was established. Families of Addiction's mission is to unite families impacted by the disease of addiction in order to create environmental change. The purpose of Families of Addiction is to create a treatment system that is family focused, easily accessible, provides quality treatment, supports recovery and promotes prevention.
We are very excited to support Families of Addiction in their work and we look forward to the impact that they will be making on the substance abuse treatment system here in Pennsylvania and eventually across the country.
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
IN ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
Title: Family Involvement: A Collaborative Partnership Going Forward
Presenters: Sharon Smith,
MOMSTELL This presentation will discuss the importance of family involvement in adolescent substance abuse treatment. Topics covered include: Why is family involvement important? What have we learned about involving families in adolescent substance abuse treatment? What are we doing next? Resource materials related to this presentation can be found on our website at:
PENNSYLVANIA PARENT PANEL ADVISORY COUNCIL HOLDS FIRST MEETING FOLLOWING SEPTEMBER 21, 2007 PRESS CONFERENCE
MOMSTELL leadership was instrumental in making HR-585 become a reality in Pennsylvania. On On September 21, 2007 parents appointed from each of Pennsylvania's six designated regions came together to attend a press conference in the Matthew Ryan Building of the capitol. Representative Ron Marsico announced the implementation of HR-585. The members held their first two day meeting to begin to study and address family and community access to alcohol and drug abuse and addiction treatment services in the Commonwealth.
Representative Marsico, introducing the Pennsylvania Parent Advisory Council. Also pictured is MOMSTELL President -Sharon Smith and Remembering Adam President -Deb Fowler
Pennsylvania Parents join Representative Ron Marsico in holding press conference regarding House Resolution 585 in the Pennsylvania Capitol Rotunda June 13, 2006
Representative Marsico announcing the passage HR 585
Representative Ron Marsico invited the leadership of MOMSTELL to a meeting 3 years ago. The question raised was "what do the parents who are facing a child's addiction need." Our immediate response was "A voice". The conversation continued and as a direct result of that meeting, HR 585 was conceived.
Parents whose children have been affected by alcohol and drug abuse will now be able to come together to study access to treatment and intervention services and make recommendations to the House Health and Human Services Committee under a resolution introduced by Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Lower Paxton) and approved unanimously today by the House.
Thank you Representative Marsico for not only listening, but acting on the needs of the parents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania whose families are affected by the disease of addiction!
SOME GOODBYES ARE FOREVER
Pennsylvania House Speaker Emeritus, John Perzel, held a press conference to announce his new video presentation, Some Goodbyes Are Forever telling real stories of real families in northeast Philadelphia.. "Our community is not immune from the dangers... and deaths... that can accompany illegal drug use but there are things we can do to protect our kids" John Perzel To view the video click on the link above. This site also contains drug abuse information.
HEADSUP
Officer Ginny Pagano received the 2006 Caron Foundation Award for Community Service. Ginny works with fellow officer Mary Ellen Hogan of the Philadelphia Narcotics Strike Force HEADSUP program. Way to go Ginny We are so proud of you!
Pictured: Maryellen Hogan, Samantha Brook, Corrine Toms, Officer Ginny, Kathy Berry Representative DiGirolamo Announces Drug and Alcohol Treatment Convention Held in the Pennsylvania Capitol Rotunda April 25, 2006Representatives from drug and alcohol treatment centers statewide were in attendance to show support for a proposed $10 million D & A funding increase
In an effort to ensure that drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs receive the funding they need to help afflicted community members, Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) and other elected officials hosted a Drug and Alcohol Convention April 25 in the Capitol Rotunda.
“One in four families is impacted by a loved one with a drug or alcohol problem,” DiGirolamo said. “These are serious addictions that kill, and we must help protect our neighbors and children so that they can get the help they need.”
“This convention is designed to draw attention to the necessity of properly funding drug and alcohol addiction treatment facilities and to ensure that this lifesaving additional $10 million is enacted as part of the final budget agreement,” he said.
Sharon Smith receiving the Treatment Proclamation Parents honored who lost children to addiction
HEROIN EDUCATION AND DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE UNDERSTANDING PROGRAM Heroin Education And Dangerous Substance Use Awareness Program is an excellent program presented by the Philadelphia Police Narcotics Division. Members of the recovery community share their devastating drug-related stories and offer messages of hope and sobriety. Since the program's kickoff in April of 2001, over 200 thousand people participated, including schools, churches, community groups, businesses, and even legislators at the Capitol.
Highlight of stories: Kathy Berry, a member of MOMSTELL, shares her story about her 17-year-old daughter Karen, who died from a heroin overdose.
Judy Zuggi, member of MOMSTELL, speaks about her son, Franky, who was found dead from a heroin overdose in a vacant lot.
Corine Toms speaks out about the violent results of drug use and how she lost her 16-year-old son, Duan, when he was shot in the heart by someone under the influence of drugs. Cindy Lynch speaks out about her son Rob, who overdosed on heroin.
If you would like to schedule a presentation for your school or group call:215-685-1120, or Officer Virginia Pagano: 267-246-2770
"DON'T BE A OSTRICH" PROGRAM:
Parents can be considered the "Para-patients" in many situations and it is necessary to realize that they are fighting the managed care community and the legal system to get their children help.
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| Copyright © 2003 MOMSTELL |
