Prince was raised by his grandmother, with the help of an aunt, because his mother had substance abuse issues. In 1999 he joined the Army Infantry Division as a cavalry scout. Once in the Army, he felt he finally had an outlet for his frustrations, and his drinking increased as he began to face the trauma from his childhood.

In 2017, Prince was offered outpatient treatment at Recovery Resource Council once he finished three months of residential treatment that was ordered by the Veteran’s Court. Having been through treatment and relapse before, this time through the Council’s outpatient program was different, which included Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

He also went through relationship training with his son’s mom, which significantly improved their relationship with each other and their child. Consequently, Prince was able to spend more time with his son, an invaluable benefit to his recovery journey. “The more I help people, the more it helps me. I’m not alone going through issues. [I’m] glad I got some help to change for the better.”

The residential Veteran Affairs (V.A.) program at Recovery Resource Council frequently asks Prince to come back and speak to residents, including when he received his 1-year chip. Prince says, “it felt good to know when you do little things you have an impact.” He could tell those he spoke to, “I was in your seat once.”

Prince says he struggled to manage his anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic, and he’s leaned on his relationships with his former counselors, like Christi Weaver, the Council Director of Recovery Services, to be able to continue his recovery journey. Today Prince is a graduate of Tarleton State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, and is now a supervisor with his current employer. “[I] have so much to lose now. My kids, my job, my notary business and insurance license. Addiction is going to take away something – your time and your energy.”   Things like online therapy, prescribed medication for his anxiety, writing, equine therapy, and effective stress management are all part of Prince’s daily life.

Local nonprofit, Recovery Resource Council, is working hard to help those who have nowhere else to turn with wellness and recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders and trauma.   With your support we can ensure North Texas veterans, unsheltered people, youth, and families have low-cost and free addiction and mental healthcare treatment options.

To support this, and other local deserving nonprofits, visit www.GreatestGiftCatalogEver.org

Tex

Christine Jones is the Executive Director for The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever, a local communications platform that works with 22 local charities to get their missions and messages out to Tarrant County neighbors.  She is also maidservant to her miniature dachshund, Tex, who allows her to work most days.

The post TWM Gives Back: Recovery Resource Council first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

For over 25 years, Recovery Resource Council’s prevention educators have been helping at-risk children and youth build self-esteem, develop a sense of purpose and create strategies to deal with negative, high risk behaviors of vaping, drugs, substance misuse and violence.  Our staff work in schools, recreation centers, shelters and juvenile detention centers, empowering students with critical life skills that allow them to focus on a positive future.  Through interactive lessons and activities, children and youth identify their own talents and skills.  For many, it is the first time that they have a healthy role model and mentor.

A fifth-grade student, Jenny’s home life is chaotic.  Her single mother works two jobs to provide for their family of four. As the oldest Jenny gets her younger brothers for school and meets them at the after-school program.  She goes to the center to talk with Miss Chelsi about her problems at school and home.  Scared and shy, Jenny had a hard time making friends until recently.  Jenny says that Miss Chelsi makes her, and all the other kids, feel important and valuable.   Jenny says kids who don’t feel valuable are the ones who use drugs.

Three times a year, our Prevention department hosts Camp L4; Live. Laugh. Love & Learn Camp L4 is four full days of fun for children ages 5-11 living in homeless, domestic violence and other shelters. Campers get to ride horses, canoe, swim and fish as well as lessons on making healthy choices.   Camp L4 gives these kids a chance to make new friends and memories of a life-time. We are very grateful to the Sid Richardson Foundation for their generous financial support of this program.

Prevention staff members work with over 7,000 children and youth. We are in constant need of craft supplies such as crayons, markers, pencils and colored paper for our activities. We also need books with positive messages for elementary and middle school age readers.   Our goal is to reach child to choose a book they can keep as a reminder of what they’ve learned. If you would like to help, please visit our website for more information: www.recoverycouncilorg.

Jasmin Holmstrup is the Director of Development for Recovery Resource Council whose mission is to promote wellness and recovery from alcohol and substance abuse and trauma.

The post TWM Gives Back: Recovery Resource Council first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.