Mental Health Canada Project #29198

Fresh Start Addiction Treatment Program

by Fresh Start Recovery Centre

Project Report | Mar 22, 2022
Fresh Start Recovery Centre Report - Mar 22, 2022

By Rod Garossino | Director of Fund Development

Executive Director Bruce Holstead, and Addiction Counsellor Ian McGregor join 8 clients at a recent Gratitude ceremony. We celebrate the successful completion of the first chapter of their recovery journey. Each of these men have worked incredibly hard on their own recovery, have supported each other, and now proudly join the Fresh Start Alumni. After completion of their intensive 16-week recovery program many choose to move into our second phase housing to continue their supported recovery. Most continue the connection with the Fresh Start Family and come back weekly to show the next group coming in that the program works, to trust the process and have faith. The path ahead may not always be easy, but it is full of promise and possibility.

Since our last report we have achieved the following:

120 people actively participated in the intensive 14–16-week Phase 1 recovery program.
88 people participated in Phase 2 of our program. Phase 2 is a 100-day transitional phase that builds on the work done in the initial 14–16-week program.
78 people participated in Phase 3 which includes living in transitional housing units or returning to community with continued access to Outreach support and involvement with Fresh Start Alumni.
47 people participated in our Family Healing Program

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Nov 23, 2021
Fresh Start Report

By Rod Garossino | Project Leader

Hello,

Here is our report for Fresh Start Recovery Centre's project: "Your Gift Delivers #GratefulRecovery to 18 Men":

Resilience is defined as the ability to recover from setbacks, adapt well to change and keep going in the face of adversity. Learning to become more resilient can offer individuals the opportunity to improve their life, maximize potential and success.

The same applies to organizations. Fresh Start has shown tremendous resilience over the last few months, maintaining our award-winning recovery program while ensuring client and staff safety through a 4th wave of COVID-19. Since our last report we have achieved the following:

139 people actively participated in the intensive 14–16-week Phase 1 recovery program.
88 people participated in Phase 2 of our program. Phase 2 is a 100-day transitional phase that builds on the work done in the initial 14–16-week program.
94 people participated in Phase 3 which includes living in transitional housing units or returning to community with continued access to Outreach support and involvement with Fresh Start Alumni.

The stresses resulting from the pandemic on individuals and society at large continue to have a significant impact on people dealing with addiction. It has been challenging for people to maintain contact with the support systems that are a crucial part of sustaining recovery. Nevertheless, our clients, staff, volunteers, and donors have exhibited resiliency that is truly inspirational.

On behalf of those whose lives are being saved and recovered – thank you for your continued support!

Photo caption: Celebrating Recovery with Clients

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Rod

Rod Garossino

Director of Fund Development

Fresh Start Recovery Centre

Office: (403) 387-6266

Cell: (587) 777-8332

Fax: (403) 235-1532

411 41 Ave NE

Calgary, AB T2E 2N4

NOTE: We acknowledge that the process of Recovery from addiction and mental health is greatly enhanced when we respect and understand the land on which we stand, the true history of this land and the teachings of its original inhabitants. Fresh Start is committed to building strong relationships with all original peoples of this land, actively promoting anti-racism and continuing to work towards the equity of all people. Fresh Start acknowledges that our Calgary and Lethbridge Centers are located on the traditional and ancestral land of the Treaty 7 peoples. The Blackfoot Confederacy which is comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, Kainai and South of the border, Amskapi Piikani, Nations. This land is also home to the Tsuu T’ina, Wesley, Bearspaw, Chiniki and Stoney Nakoda Nations. It is also home to the Metis Nation of Alberta Region 3.

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Jul 26, 2021
Your Support helped us through the Pandemic

By Wayne Steer | Director of Fund Development

2020 Numbers Amid Pandemic

Your support has helped Fresh Start maintain a high standard of care throughout the Pandemic over the past 16 months.

In 2019, Fresh Start served 167 people in our award-winning, 12 Step drug and alcohol addiction treatment program and in 2020, we were able to help 149 people - only 18 fewer people.

This number is astounding considering that Covid-19 protocol on entry and detox had to be completely revamped to a system whereby detox was extended from a period of fewer than 5 days to a 14 day wait as detox was effectively converted to a quarantine period to ensure that new people entering Fresh Start would not expose the existing clients to Covid-19.

At the same time, the demand for services has increased dramatically. At the time of the printing of the 2020 Annual Report (April of 2021), the wait list had grown by almost 36% to 163 people and that number was dramatically lower than the Covid high of over 200 people on the wait list.

A February 2021 study by Ipsos highlighted how Canadians were struggling with addiction as follows:

The study says “Sixteen per cent (16%) of Canadians report they find themselves struggling with addiction issues such as alcohol or drugs, more than they did before the pandemic. That number is most acute among younger Canadians aged 18-34, where close to a quarter (24%) say they are struggling with addiction issues. Middle aged Canadians (35-54) also report challenges as two in ten (20%) say they are struggling with addiction issues. There are no significant variations by region, gender or by those who have kids at home.

The national number for those who report struggling with addiction is relatively unchanged since November (19% in November compared to 16% in February), but men (24% in November compared to 18% in February) and those with kids at home (25% in November compared to 19% in February) appear to be faring better now than they were before. Nonetheless, a significant portion of the population in certain groups appear to be facing down not only COVID-19 and the anxieties and mental health challenges that come with it, but also issues around dependency that may persist after the pandemic.”

Thanks to you and your support, GlobalGiving recently entrusted $20,000 USD to Fresh Start to continue to help people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic with our 46% greater capacity as a result of acquiring a second treatment facility in Souhern Alberta in November of 2020.

Fresh Start and the people we serve are truly grateful for the direct and indirect support that you have helped to make possible.

Regards,

Wayne Steer

Director of Fund development

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