“Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”
– Mattie Stepanek-Poet
I have been member of the SOLUTIONS team since 2007 and am pleased to talk about our newest venture. SOLUTIONS has expanded our program into two phases, moved buildings, added staff and built a more robust curriculum. We have continued our partnership with Colorado Mountain College (CMC) to offer men in recovery a path to return to academics.
Phase One of SOLUTIONS is now housed on 734 Main Street. The men are loving the new “digs” with its restaurant style kitchen, dining area which becomes board game central at night, the man-cave lounge area and multifaceted meeting/study area. Phase One is a 90-day program, with a Stage II recovery model. It is designed for men who are ready to assume personal accountability in a supportive environment. We encourage reintegration into the workplace or college is on a part-time basis. Phase Two of SOLUTIONS is housed across the street at the Wilke building. It provides the participants the opportunity to fully matriculate in college and live in an apartment-style sober setting.
Personally, I am excited about our expanded team’s plethora of experience and new programing. First of all, we seem to blend well with our individual interests and strengths. With years of varied clinical experience as our foundation, our energies naturally fall into our strength areas. We have the service whisperer, the educator, the assessment person, the organizer and the client facilitator. I see us as a group personally dedicated to the wellness of our clients.
Service work remains integral part of the SOLUTIONS Program. As we know giving back is a key of recovery and the foundation of our 12-Step Philosophy. Clients volunteer regularly with local groups including Habitat for Humanity and the Colorado Animal Shelter. Plus, we are known in the community a people call us for help. We’ve had the opportunity to plant trees for the town of Carbondale, to help local schools with special projects and paint a local non-profit building. Some of our out-of-town service trips included working with the Grand Canyon Trust in Utah, The St. Bernard Project in New Orleans, the Redfeather Organization at the Hopi Reservation in Arizona, Re-member at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and the Volunteers of America near Lyons, Colorado. So, we helped build homes ruined by a tornado and hurricane, save the integrity of western land, build a straw bale house for a Hopi family, provide beds for Lakota children and clear away flood debris. I can’t say enough about the opportunity these trips provide for men in early recovery. Each has found both the cultural experience and act of giving back to people in need the highlight in recognizing their own personal worth in a greater community.
With the expansion of our program, we have had the opportunity to include Communication and Leadership group and a Health and Wellness Group presented by outside experts. The men have found both useful in adding to their life skills. Additional life and recovery skills are targeted in a Focus Group, Relapse Prevention, Trauma and Stress Releasing group, Inventory and Process groups. We also are an active program allowing the men the chance to do Crossfit, martial arts, yoga, kickboxing and kettle-bells and of course, plenty of time to ski or snowboard.
What I appreciate the most about working a Jaywalker and being a long time member of the Solutions team is the opportunity to challenge myself and others to grow. We always seem to be seeking a higher playing field and we do it as a team.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others.” – Ghandi
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Jacquie Wheeler
Solutions Senior Counselor
