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BENEFITS & OUTCOMES
BENEFITS & OUTCOMES
Clinical & Medical
OVERALL POSITIVE INFLUENCE:
- Placing participants with a group of wellness – minded peers “subjects” participants to positive “peer pressure”
- Redefining youth culture by exposing its self destructive aspects as unnecessary
- Challenging pre-conceived notions of a prescriptive “program” by inviting total ownership of the process once involved
- Adjunct to treatment requires having a primary treatment provider
- Participation increases retention in concurrent treatment and maximizes associated protective factors
- Personal investment increases retention in the program
In-Program culture:
- Staff members Exemplifying Self–help increase openness and attraction to a program of change
- Working together on the shared common goal fosters personal investment, connectedness (cohesion) and cooperation
- Support network of likeminded peers combats isolation
- Healthy substitute for idle unstructured time reduces the risk of returning to unwanted behaviors
- Structured “scripted”, rules and roles ease adjustment
- Availability of creative projects provides an outlet to alleviate social anxiety intrinsic to novel settings
- Forum to express issues in a relaxed, safe, confidential environment, among peers adds to the ability to work though issues
- Sharing creates an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect as well as an outlet for “venting”
- Feedback from the meetings and suggestions of peers and staff provide practical, “hands on” coping tools
- Receiving healthy, undistorted, constructive, realistic feedback, without judgment aids “ego sizing”
Building blocks of self esteem:
- Achieving incremental pre-set tasks to accomplish the ultimate goal while being able to claim the credit for the accomplishment
- Permission to make mistakes and be imperfect
- Not having to adhere to a preset expectation invites trust in the creative process
- Not having to know or produce a certain outcome increases comfort with the process
Identifying strengths, eliciting creative input helps in forming a new healthy identity - Non verbal ways to address issues thru creative means help move toward awareness and resolution
Rewiring the brain:
- Socializing without altered states helps to extinguish the dysfunctional patterns
- New positive experiences, opportunities to explore newly discovered creative ability and learning new coping tools and trade/music skills and producing tangible results
“Road Recovery is the place where love, care, and inspiration leads to healing and empowerment!”
– Darryl McDaniels, RUN DMC
ROAD RECOVERY - 'Breaking the Cycle'
ROAD RECOVERY DELIVERS RESULTS
NATIONAL/STATE SUCCESS RATE:
- 30% = success rate – 1 year tracking
(NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services)
ROAD RECOVERY SUCCESS RATE:
- 80% = Success rate – 3 year tracking
- 62% Maintained total substance abstinence while participating
- 100% of subjects who relapsed addressed the incident; 50% left program for alternate levels of care & 50% reengaged the program.
- For those who relapsed, 100% returned within 48 hours.
“The preliminary results of Road Recovery’s 80% success / sober rate are encouraging. The most important element is the fact that the kids continued with some type of aftercare treatment.”
– Dr. Thomas McClellan, PHd. Treatment Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania
MEDICAL VALIDATION
“The preliminary results of Road Recovery’s 80% success / sober rate are encouraging. The most important element is the fact that the kids continued with some type of aftercare treatment.”
– Dr. Thomas McClellan, PHd. Treatment Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania
“Road Recovery fills the void between the clinical treatment of addiction and the real world. Road Recovery perfectly connects and complements the process of ongoing long term recovery in order for young people to live a full life.” – Dr. David Smith, Founder, Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic Medical Director
“Road Recovery is one of the few adolescent recovery programs that is able to help teenagers successfully maintain sobriety within their home communities. In my practice, I regularly utilize Road Recovery as a powerful clinical tool.” – Scott Bienenfeld, MD
“Road Recovery is an impressive program toward maintaining recovery!” – Alan L .Green, MD Chairman Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School
“The work of Road Recovery is all inspiring. By providing an outlet for creativity, in the spirit of collaboration and mentorship, participants experience joy and pride in ways that were once unimaginable.” – Dr. Marianne Chai, MD Child, Adolescent and Addiction Psychiatrist Alternative and Integrative Medicine Specialist Clinical Instructor at the NYU Child Study Center
“Hey Road Recovery, how do I know you’re a success? Our kids are always smiling when your staff is around. Very simply, if the kids are happy, I know your program is really working!” – Poul Jensen, President, CEO, Graham-Windham Services (retired)
“Road Recovery’s programs have truly had an impact on helping adolescents coming out of treatment stay engaged and most importantly stay sober. The program really becomes an extended care program for these young adults. Road Recovery’s program helps adolescents find and express themselves through the music industry mentors. Research shows that kids involved with the arts have positive dramatic long-term impacts on them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Road Recovery is about changing and saving lives and our experience so far has been terrific. Their programs are creating a model that no one else in the country has in terms of an engaging after care model that helps keep kids sober.” – David Rotenberg , Executive Director of Adolescent Treatment Services for Caron Treatment Centers.
“Road Recovery fills the void between the clinical treatment of addiction and the real world. Road Recovery perfectly connects and complements the process of ongoing long term recovery in order for young people to live a full life.” – Dr. David Smith, Founder, Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic Medical Director
“Road Recovery is one of the few adolescent recovery programs that is able to help teenagers successfully maintain sobriety within their home communities. In my practice, I regularly utilize Road Recovery as a powerful clinical tool.” – Scott Bienenfeld, MD
“Road Recovery is an impressive program toward maintaining recovery!” – Alan L .Green, MD Chairman Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School
“The work of Road Recovery is all inspiring. By providing an outlet for creativity, in the spirit of collaboration and mentorship, participants experience joy and pride in ways that were once unimaginable.” – Dr. Marianne Chai, MD Child, Adolescent and Addiction Psychiatrist Alternative and Integrative Medicine Specialist Clinical Instructor at the NYU Child Study Center
“Hey Road Recovery, how do I know you’re a success? Our kids are always smiling when your staff is around. Very simply, if the kids are happy, I know your program is really working!” – Poul Jensen, President, CEO, Graham-Windham Services (retired)
“Road Recovery’s programs have truly had an impact on helping adolescents coming out of treatment stay engaged and most importantly stay sober. The program really becomes an extended care program for these young adults. Road Recovery’s program helps adolescents find and express themselves through the music industry mentors. Research shows that kids involved with the arts have positive dramatic long-term impacts on them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Road Recovery is about changing and saving lives and our experience so far has been terrific. Their programs are creating a model that no one else in the country has in terms of an engaging after care model that helps keep kids sober.” – David Rotenberg , Executive Director of Adolescent Treatment Services for Caron Treatment Centers.
RESULTS & FINDINGS
2019-2020
Road Recovery VirtualTrax Program (April 2020 – June 2020):
State Opioid Response grant (#2) from OASAS
Road Recovery (In-Person) TraxProgram (April 2019 – March 2020):
State Opioid Response grant (#1) from OASAS
Jewish Board of Family & Children Services – Program Evaluation Study
Road Recovery’s 2012 RoadTrax Program
Involving: (36) program participants (ages: 14-18 years) Treatment Research Institute (TRI)
TRI’s Collaboration with Road Recovery (presented: 2014)
Jewish Board of Family & Children Services – Program Evaluation Study
Road Recovery’s 2018 RoadTrax Program
Involving: participants (ages: 14-18 years)
Warwick Valley High School
“Throughout my twenty-five years in education, I have viewed numerous school assemblies and presentations intended to motivate adolescents to make good decisions. A few of the better ones even have urged teens to reach out for help when faced with struggles. None have come close to delivering the message the way the young participants of Road Recovery have delivered it here in Warwick Valley High School. It is a message framed with honesty, integrity, and love. Most importantly, as a school instructional leader I clearly recognize the powerful connection Road Recovery outreach programs have consistently made between performance venue and curricular activities in the classroom. To any school leaders wishing to develop strong character education programs, consider placing Road Recovery at the core of your efforts. Your students will thank you.” – Richard Linkens, Principal Warwick Valley High School, Warwick, New York ROAD RECOVERY AWARDS
Road Recovery Awarded Two Grants from US Dept of Justice / Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP): 2020 – 2023
Grant #1: Category V: Statewide and Regional Mentoring Initiative for Youth Impacted by Opioids and Drug Addiction
Grant #2: Opioid Affected Youth Initiative
To Provide VirtualTrax and in-person Trax Program Services at Youth Clubhouses with NYS-OASAS from 2021 – 2023
The Office of Justice Programs awarded Road Recovery among organizations based in 25 states and the District of Columbia under OJJDP’s ‘Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative’, a 3-year grant to support the implementation and delivery of mentoring services to youth populations that are at risk for juvenile delinquency, drug abuse (especially opioid abuse), victimization, and problem and high-risk behaviors. OJJDP additionally awarded Road Recovery a second 3-year grant ‘Opioid Affected Youth Initiative’ to support a key Department of Justice priority – to provide programs and services to youth and families impacted by opioid addiction. Through this program, OJJDP is helping states and communities develop a data-driven, coordinated response to opioid abuse-related challenges that impact youth and community safety.
As a Peer Group Specialist, Road Recovery is again partnering with the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to provide peer support and music workshops in after-school VirtualTrax Programs and in-person Trax Programs (post pandemic) to community-based Youth Clubhouses working with at-risk youth (ages 17 years old and younger). Created and operated by OASAS within 10 Empire regions in New York State, Youth Clubhouses are safe facilities for young people in recovery or at risk of addiction to develop social skills that promote long-term health, wellness and a drug-free lifestyle. Young participants meet weekly with Road Recovery’s Creative Staff Mentors from the entertainment industry, all who have faced similar struggles, to help them create, plan and execute their own creative projects, live events and video/recordings. Seasonal VirtualTrax Programs launched in January 2021 for 14 statewide Youth Clubhouses and continue through September 2021, then transition to in-person Trax Programs presented at up to 17 statewide Youth Clubhouses for seasonal after-school programming through September 2023. Each seasonal/cyclical program culminates in a Performance Finale celebrating the creative works and voices of participating youth. Road Recovery’s goal is to continue partnering with OASAS’s Youth Clubhouses to provide programs and services to at-risk youth impacted by opioid addiction and youth in recovery on a path to living fulfilling, productive lives, while helping to combat the negative impacts of opioid use disorder.
United Federation of Teachers (UFT)/Member’s Assistance Program – Let’s Talk About It Virtual Field Trip – Spring 2020
“Thanks, Road Recovery. Your VirtualTrax Program made it possible for the United Federation of Teachers to end this challenging school year with our ‘Let’s Talk About It’ Virtual Field Trip. The on-line event taught children coping techniques for this crisis. Together we reached more than 1,100 middle and high school students from 150 schools across New York City. We hope to work with Road Recovery and our partners at the NYC Department of Education on more of these ground-breaking events.”
– Michael Mulgrew, President, UFT
Road Recovery Awarded Grant through State Opioid Response (SOR) To Provide Trax Program Services at Youth Clubhouses with NYS-OASAS in 2019
Road Recovery, an entertainment industry-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has been selected by the New York State Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services (NYS-OASAS) to receive grant funding to expand Trax Program peer support services beyond New York City at several selected Youth Clubhouses throughout New York State in 2019. Governor Cuomo’s rollout in federal funding is made possible through the State Opioid Response (SOR) to expand initiatives and access to recovery support service to at-risk youth and young adults as part of aggressive efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in New York.
Created and operated by OASAS, Youth Clubhouses within 10 Empire regions in New York State are safe facilities for young people in recovery or at risk of addiction to develop social skills that promote long-term health, wellness and a drug-free lifestyle. As a Peer Group Specialist, Road Recovery and its Trax Programs will provide peer support and music workshops for at-risk youth and young adults (ages 16-26). Young participants will meet weekly with Road Recovery’s creative mentoring staff, who have faced similar struggles, to help them create, plan and execute their own community outreach live events. Youth in New York State to be served are active participants at four Youth Clubhouses at Yonkers-YMCA Clubhouse, Greene County Clubhouses for youth in Catskill and Hudson, Oneonta Teen Center, and Creative Connections Clubhouse in Amsterdam. These seasonal Trax Programs launch in April 2019 and culminate with a ‘Recovery Festival’ in conjunction with Club Odyssey in Massena, NY in September 2019.
Road Recovery’s goal with OASAS is to partner with youth-serving institutions like Youth Clubhouses to provide at-risk youth and youth in recovery on a path to living fulfilling, productive lives through seasonal Trax Programs, while helping to combat the negative impacts of opioid use disorder. Trax Programs are a natural follow-up from Road Recovery’s work with OASAS and Youth Clubhouses as a network partner with Friends of Recovery-NY to help create and mentor Youth Voices Matter-NY, a successful statewide youth recovery movement launched in 2017 with support from the State Targeted Response (STR).
Each Road Recovery Trax Program will entail twelve (12) weekly peer support and creative music workshop sessions culminating in concert performance finales with professional-level sound production, stage and lighting at Youth Clubhouses and local community outreach events. Road Recovery uses non-traditional therapeutic tools to effectively service youth and young adults who are challenged with addiction and other personal adversities. Since creating Trax Programs in 2001, Road Recovery has helped thousands of young people feel better about themselves, to give them a sense of unity, and progress their healing through working closely with the charity’s staff of entertainment industry professionals who have confronted similar life crises and now wish to share their experience, knowledge, and resources. Young people are attracted to Trax Programs because of the access to work closely with Road Recovery’s experienced staff in creative workshops that prepare them for their own live concert events which can serve as a powerful, self-empowering achievement on a path to leading productive lives.
2017-2019: The Pinkerton Foundation board met today and awarded Road Recovery a per-year grant for $108,000. Thank you for your tremendous work on behalf of young New Yorkers. – Julie Peterson, Senior Program Officer. Pinkerton Foundation, Rockefeller Center, NY, NY
2017 – FOR-NY, in Partnership with Road Recovery & HFM Prevention Council Awarded $450K for Creation of Youth and Young Adult Statewide Recovery Network
Award comes as a result of federal funding awarded to NYS OASAS to address opioid crisis. As partners in developing, executing and sustaining the program, FOR-NY, HFM and Road Recovery, along with three youth leaders from the recovery community and support from OASAS, will work to establish and coordinate a Youth and Young Adult Advisory Board and a Statewide Youth and Young Adult Recovery Network.
Road Recovery Mentoring Youth Voices Matter NY
To address the opioid crisis, federal funding was awarded to the New York State Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) for the creation of a youth and young adult statewide recovery network. Friends of Recovery – NY chose to partner with Road Recovery and HFM Prevention Council to develop, execute and sustain the youth-led movement known as Youth Voices Matter NY, as a result of grant funding through OASAS/RFMH.
“We are especially grateful to NYS OASAS for providing this opportunity to effect positive, even life-saving change for young people throughout the state, and to the HFM Prevention Council and Road Recovery for their tireless commitment to this community. Their experience and expertise in working with youth in recovery is invaluable and will go a long way to ensuring the development and sustainability of the network.” – Stephanie M. Campbell, FOR-NY Executive Director
2017 National Council for Behavioral Health – President’s Award for Innovative Advocacy to Road Recovery.
“The founders of Road Recovery have used their love of music and experience in the music industry to both reach individual young people who thrive in this supportive environment and showcase the music they create to spread the word that treatment works. We are so pleased to honor them with the President’s Award for Innovative Advocacy.” – Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council.
The National Council for Behavioral Health is the unifying voice of America’s health care organizations that deliver mental health and addictions treatment and services.
2015 Freedom Institute Mona Mansell Award Honoree Road Recovery
“We honor Road Recovery Foundation with the Freedom Institute Mona Mansell Award for their work helping young people struggling with substance abuse and addiction.”
– Robert L. Miller, Chairman of the Board – Freedom Institute
November 6, 2013 – SCO Family of Services recognition award to Road Recovery
Sing Sing Correctional Facility – Ossining, NY
State of New York Department of Correctional Services Road Recovery Award Ceremony at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Ossining, NY (L-R, rear) James Purdy, Deputy Superintendent for Programs, Dr. Lesley Malin, Assistant Deputy Superintendent, Scott Bienenfeld, M.D. – Road Recovery Executive Board, (L-R, front) Gene Bowen, Road Recovery, Philip Heath, Superintendent, Sing Sing Correctional Facility.
Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding service in providing outreach, and a message of hope and recovery to the inmate population of Sing Sing Correctional Facility
2008 Lewis Hine Award Recipient – Road Recovery, Founder Gene Bowen
Presented in Recognition of Outstanding Service on Behalf of Children and Youth By the National Child Labor Committee.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)
Letter of recognition from Robert J. Lindsey, NCADD President
Better Business Bureau Charity Seal Participant
The Road Recovery Foundation has been informed that the organization meets all The Better Business Bureau Standards for Charity Accountability and receives The Better Business Bureau’s Seal! (March 22, 2005)
City of New York NYC 2000 – Millennium Celebration
Sponsored by: Office of the Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani. Awarded City of New York Event Contract of $76,000.00 to Produce “First Night Queens, NY” – Flushing Meadows Corona Park – Unisphere Monument, Road Recovery ‘Live’ Outdoor Music Performance, December 31, 2000.
“On behalf of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, it was a pleasure working with Road Recovery on this special non-alcoholic New Year’s Eve celebration. The Road Recovery team were able to overcome many obstacles, including a snowstorm, to manage a professional, exciting and fun celebration.”
Marcia G. Lee – Executive Director, Millennium Committee NYC 2000, Office Of The Mayor
Chase Manhattan Bank
Awarded the Chase Manhattan Bank’s “1999 Drug & Crime Prevention Award” (June 1999)
New York Office of the Attorney General
Awarded a State Of New York Office of The Attorney General Certificate of Merit, presented by Eliot Spitzer, Attorney General (June 8, 1999)
New York Community Trust – Administrators of Philanthropic Funds since 1923
Recipient of the Isabel C. McKenzie/New York Community Trust Grant of $25,000 (August 1999).
“Summer In The City ’99 Finale” August 30, 1999, Roy Wilkens Park, Queens, NY – New York Community Trust presented Road Recovery with a great opportunity and wonderful challenge to create an event targeting more than 2,000 ( 5- to- 13- year olds) enrolled in the NYCT/NYC Human Resource’s “Summer In The City” programs.
Long Island Center For Recovery
“On behalf of The Board of Directors of The Long Island Center For Recovery, I am pleased to award Road Recovery with six (6) treatment scholarships a year valued at approximately $50,000.00 to those in need of treatment from active addiction.”
Steve Basis, President / L.I.C.R (February 14, 1998)