Daily Message 9/24/08

You can have doubts along the way and you can regret decisions that you have made. You can choose the wrong path and sometimes get lost. Life doesn't come with instructions. However, it does come with ten rules. The ten commandments.

Daily Message 9/23/08

If...we spent as much time on actually DOING the things, we need to do...as we spend on THINKING about, DOING those things...they'd be DONE !

Photos from the Recovery Month Picnic and Open House

About 50 guests gathered to celebrate recovery and the opening of BCI Alpha's newest location on September 18, 2008. The weather was sunny with a nice breeze! We enjoyed a barbeque, raffle, bake-off, and educational displays. We want to thank all the individuals and businesses who donated items or cooked food. And great job to Monalee West who spearheaded the planning of this event.

Click here to view our album of photos from the picnic, as well as take a look inside our new office at the Edgemoor Community Center.

Daily Message 9/19/08

In our quest for recovery, we find and learn so many things, about ourselves and others. Love, respect, honor, integrity...so many things that we thought we had lost. They were only misplaced. Found and earned once again, they should be cherished.

Daily Message 9/17/08

Addiction...is not prejudiced. It does not favor one social or economic level over another. Nor is one culture, religion or sex, safe from the clutches and stronghold of addiction. It knows, NO boundaries. Daily, we fight the strength of addiction... but with the strength of our recovery WE CAN WIN !!!

Volunteer Spotlight: Jennifer Fletcher, Alpha Center

Jennifer Fletcher volunteered with Brandywine Counseling Alpha for several Fridays to do a project we called "Creating a Welcoming Entrance."

We know that first impressions matter when someone walks into our program for treatment, so we decided we wanted to make the atmosphere a little more attractive. Jennifer saw our ad posted online, and based on her skills in working with people and being creative, she was confident that she could do a good job at this. She was excited about the opportunity to help BCI succeed. We gave her lots of creative freedom, and she did not disappoint us!

First, she decided to spruce up our outside entrance by painting our front door and railing the Brandywine colors, dark blue and burgundy. This was a great idea, as we can now give people directions by telling them, “Follow the blue railing!” But Jennifer wasn’t done yet. She also added a splash of color to our reception area. Our staff picked out a color called “Tranquil Retreat.” It really does have a calming effect when you walk in! I think our clients would agree that it does feel more welcoming around here.

We enjoyed having Jennifer here and we thank her for the time she put in to do this work!

Lighthouse Program to Open Re-Entry House

The Lighthouse Program will be opening a re-entry house on October 1, 2008, where moms and their kids will live as they prepare to complete their treatment and live independently. The house will provide an opportunity for the women to practice what they’ve learned in treatment, in the community.

A woman eligible for the re-entry house must be in the final phase of her treatment, the re-entry phase. She will be employed in the community, and may have a car. She will pay a reduced rent, so she can continue to save and meet her self-sufficiency goals. Program requirements become less restrictive, as the client will continue to provide drug screens, attend one group a week, and receive case management as needed to continue her transition to independent living with her children.

Each re-entry resident will also make a commitment to work one shift a week at The Lighthouse inpatient facility in Ellendale. She will serve as a role model and demonstrate responsibility and clean and sober living skills. After 3 months, she may submit a proposal for “Candidate Out,” and graduate the program.

We are very excited about this addition! It will allow us to serve more new women as we phase successful clients out of the program, while maintaining their input and connection to The Lighthouse.

5 Questions for Marty Nagy, Counselor

5 Questions is our ongoing feature where we introduce you to the people who make Brandywine Counseling run, spotlighting a different staff member every two weeks.

Name: Marty Nagy
Job: Counselor, Drug Court Diversion Program
Time with BCI: 6 years

1. Tell us about your job and what brought you to BCI.
I work in the Court of Common Pleas Drug Diversion. Basically, it’s a first offenders’ education program. So I do groups three times a week, see clients individually as needed, get them back on track, and educate them on addiction. I think if we can keep an open mind, and learn to listen to the client, and have the ability to go where they are, then we can perhaps bring them to where they can be.

I wanted to give back what I was given. I’m a recovering person, and I just owe a lot to the counselor that I had when I was in rehab. She inspired me to want to do this and make a difference. I worked in Core [BCI’s methadone program] back in the 90’s, and left, and then when I came back, the Diversion Program was available. And I’ve really been grateful that I’ve had a second chance, and have enjoyed everything. It’s just been a great place.

2. What can I expect if I come to your group?
I do three education groups a week. I think my years of experience in the field [makes the group unique.] And I do have a sense of humor that I try to bring to group, and not downplay the seriousness of addictions, but bring a little levity, so that they’re not ill at ease to learn.

We have a group on marijuana. And so, I’ll open up group by saying that the first person that was clean from marijuana developed the Weed Eater, and became famous. Just goofy little stuff like that. And they laugh, and they say, “All right, c’mon now!” And then I get on with the facts. So I try to kind of catch their attention.

3. Tell us your favorite client success story.
There was one person that was able to manage their mental health needs. They saw Gordon [Pizor, our psychologist,] and they got some help through him. Then, they were able to get on some medicine through their doctor, and they were able to stay clean. They had been smoking marijuana, kind of as an adjunct. They successfully completed our program, they got a job, they got better relationships with their children, and their marriage improved. So it was pretty successful that, all the way around, things clicked once the abuse had stopped.

4. Many of our staff decorate their office with personal items. Tell us what you have in your office.
I have some educational posters. I have a picture of a natural park. I do have a couple of handouts on marijuana and some information on other agencies. And I have three cartoons that are my favorites. One is a person standing in line between alcohol and drugs, and Krispy Kreme. And they’re choosing the doughnut line. Which is good, y’know? And the other cartoon is a bunch of deer looking at the hunters and they’re commenting on how stupid they are.

5. If you had $30,000 to donate to BCI what would you do with it?
I’d like to see it go to HIV prevention and to the outreach. I just feel very strongly that, of all the many things we do, that’s sort of at my heartstrings. And I think that’s where I would like it to go, if I could give it.

Live United! United Way Kicks Off 2008 Campaign

United Way of Delaware kicked off its 2008 campaign September 4. The state's largest charitable campaign raises over $20 million a year for more than 100 member agencies including BCI.

The slogan for this year's campaign is, "Live United." As you can see in this video, the message is that we all have the power to make a difference, by giving, advocating, and volunteering.



At BCI, United Way funds support our HIV Prevention and Outreach Services. Your donation means we can continue to send our dedicated and caring staff like Dee and Claudette out on the streets every day to educate, test for HIV, and make referrals. If you believe we need to stop the spread of HIV in Wilmington, please support our work with a donation.

If your workplace has never run a United Way campaign, it’s easy to start! Contact United Way at (302) 573-3700 and they will set you up with everything you need. You can request guest speakers from BCI or other member agencies for your campaign rally.

There is no wrong way to give. Select the Community Impact Fund, and your gift will be distributed among all member agencies. Select a Strategic Focus Area, like Healthy and Independent Communities, to direct your gift toward a specific issue. You can also designate your gift to Brandywine by selecting code 165, or to another agency of your choice.

So get involved and Live United! As the video says, it’s our state, our community, let’s build it up together.

Daily Message 9/10/08

Dear God, we ask that you remind us, of the blessing, that is our recovery. Of the beauty, we now find, in every sober day. Of the joy that's in our hearts. Hear our prayer, that others join us.