Credo Community Center and The Seven Challenges®

 CREDO COMMUNITY CENTER LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE

SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENTS

WATERTOWN, NY - Credo Community Center for the Treatment of Addictions, Inc. is collaborating with The Seven Challenges® to bring an evidence based substance abuse and co-occurring disorders treatment program to adolescents in Jefferson County.

According to the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the percentage of ninth through 12th graders who used marijuana within the previous 30 days increased since 2007 from 19.7 percent to 23.1 percent last year; the percentage who ever tried marijuana grew during that same period from 38.1 percent to 39.9 percent. A survey in 2009 indicated 43.5 percent of high school seniors had used alcohol in the prior month, while 27.4 percent admitted to consuming an amount that made them feel “drunk.”

“Local educators and parents will no longer need to search outside of the county for the support to effectively help their adolescent with drugs and/or alcohol. Credo is now offering these services for adolescents by establishing a partnership with parents locally to get their children the help they need,” said Lila Love, a clinical supervisor of the new program.

The Seven Challenges® model, which was created and written by Dr. Robert Schwebel, has become increasingly successful in targeting hard to reach and hard to engage adolescents.  Instead of a one-size-fits all approach, the Seven Challenges Program is individualized with careful attention to meeting youth where they are at and providing successful counseling interventions.  This helps young people look at themselves, understand what it takes to give up a drug abusing lifestyle, and prepare for success when they commit to change.  More information on The Seven Challenges® can be found at www.sevenchallenges.com. Elizabeth Stevens, clinical director of the Credo Community Center’s Outpatient clinic adds, “We are very excited to have trained professionals ready and able to serve the North Country to effectively make a difference in the lives of adolescents who need interventions before their substance abuse continues on through their adulthood.”

Dr. Schwebel has worked for more than 35 years in the prevention and treatment of adolescent and young adult substance abuse.  He has conducted training and workshop sessions for professional and community audiences around the country, published numerous books and articles, and developed prevention and treatment programs for schools, and public and private agencies. Regularly called for comments and interviews by the national and local press, Dr. Schwebel has appeared on the Oprah Show, The Today Show, numerous CNN interviews, and The CBS Early Show.

Credo Community Center has been in the business of providing outpatient and residential chemical dependency treatment for individuals, groups, families, adults, adolescents and children, whose lives have been negatively impacted by substance abuse since 1970. Credo also hosts a free family support group at their outpatient clinic twice a month for those individuals impacted by a family member’s substance abuse. Credo’s new collaboration with The Seven Challenges ® will offer youth opportunities to increase self awareness, develop skills, and utilize strengths, enabling them to become healthy, contributing members of their communities and families.

Community professionals including school counselors, court officials, parents, and citizens are welcome to learn more about The Seven Challenges Program on July 31st, 2013 from 4pm-5:30 pm.  Elizabeth Stevens of Credo along with Rick Barr of The Seven Challenges® will be presenting an overview of the program at the Credo Community Center Outpatient Clinic located at 595 W. Main Street in Watertown, NY.  For more information regarding The Seven Challenges ® please contact Elizabeth Stevens at (315) 788-1530.  For further inquiries about the free family support group please contact Lila Love at (315) 788-1530 or visit www.credocommunitycenter.com.

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Monday Motivational

Greetings readers-

This week’s motivation comes from the Exxon Valdez oil spill problem. More than 20 years after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, cleanup teams in subarctic waters still struggled because oil became so thick at low temperatures that it was difficult to pump it from barges to onshore collection stations. 

In search for a solution, the Oil Spill Recovery Institute decided to frame the problem as one of "materials viscosity" rather than "oil cleanup" and used language that was not specific to the petroleum industry. 

The goal was to attract novel suggestions from many fields since they didn't seem to be finding solutions within those studying petroleum. And, on cue, a chemist in the cement industry proposed a modification of commercially available construction equipment that vibrated the frozen oil, keeping it fluid, and thus making it easy to pump. 

There aren’t many moments that we become inspired by the oil and cement industries but this is certainly a great example on how getting creative, asking for assistance and reaching out paid off! 

This week, let's experiment with different definitions of problems for creative solutions.

Have a wonderful week from your friends at the Credo Community Center!

Team Credo participates in the North Country Community Cup

The 22^nd annual North Country Community Cup is all about community involvement, spirit and sport!

Team Credo was among 13 teams participating in this year's community cup and we were pleased to take home 1^st place in the bocce ball tournament as well as 1^st place for the tug of war competition.  Team Credo brought home 9th place overall. 

Participation in this event was organized by team captains Kelly McNierney and Kristen Reed. In addition, support for participation was encouraged by our agency wellness committee.

We congratulate The Children's Home of Jefferson County for coming in first place overall as well as The WorkPlace for best sportsmanship honors and Cornell Cooperative Extension for their spirit award.

In addition, we thank Jefferson Community College for hosting this year.

From dodgeball and home run derby to bocce and tug of war, the event was a chance for staff members and their families to show the community just how spirited and strong we can be.

Thank you to everyone who cheered us on and we are looking forward to seeing everyone at Community Cup 2014. 

Henderson Harbor Triathlon

Greetings everyone-

We are very excited to share information regarding the quickly approaching 22nd Annual Henderson Harbor Triathlon to be held on July 13th, 2013.

The 22nd Annual Henderson Harbor Triathlon is presented by the Children’s Home of Jefferson County and the Credo Community Center. This event takes place in the beautiful Henderson Harbor, New York. Each year, the proceeds are split between the two agencies to help fund their community-based programs. This year we will feature two events an Olympic Event and a Sprint Event.

Olympic Event/Sprint Event

Olympic Event Distances: Swim 1.5K    Bike 40K    Run 10K
Sprint Event Distances: Swim .75K     Bike 20K    Run 5K

For more information regarding the event or to register click here. 
In addition, results and photographs from last year's race can be found by clicking here. 

Thank you for reading and we hope to see you in Henderson Harbor this July! 

Monday Motivational

Greetings all-

This week’s motivation comes from corn!

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon.
 
One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.
"How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.

"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn."

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor's corn also improves.

So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

This week, let us remember if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn. Take the time this week to lend a helping hand to someone in need.

Have a wonderful week from your friends at the Credo Community Center!

Program Information

Take a look below for a highlight of the many programs and services available at the Credo Community Center for the Treatment of Addictions, Inc.

Monday Motivational

Hi everyone- 

This week’s motivation comes from the 'Ritz Carlton Brand Building' strategy. Remember how the Ritz Carlton grew its brand? When Jack Canfield, the popular co-author of the 'Chicken Soup' books arrived in Ritz Carlton after a tiring day, he found a bowl of hot Chicken Soup waiting for him on his table. 

It had a note alongside that said 'Chicken soup for Jack Canfield's body' followed by a letter from the manager saying how much the Ritz Carlton team love his books. 

The Ritz Carlton chain has many popular authors and stars who choose to stay with them and with small acts like the warm chicken soup, they manage to win them over and create stories that travel. 

This week, let's remember that the ultimate brand building strategy is one that doesn't require a massive marketing budget. Wonderful service works just fine. Together, Credo is transforming lives through quality treatment and we hope that whether you're an employee, supporter, or grateful family member that you will share your Credo stories with those you know and love as well.

 Have a wonderful week!

Monday Motivational

 

Greetings to our readers! 

This week’s motivation comes from our friends, the butterflies. Each fall, monarch butterflies in Maine begin an unbelievable journey to a hilltop in Mexico. How do they do it? They focus on the goal, not the difficulties. Each day they take their bearings and set off, allowing their instincts and desire to steer them. They accept what comes, some winds blow them off course, and others speed them along. They keep flying grouped together until, one day, they arrive. 

This week, let’s focus not on what our wings can do separately but what we can accomplish when we work together to achieve our goals.

Happy Monday from your friends at the Credo Community Center!

It matters.

This week's motivation comes from the starfish story. 

A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a really terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her and chuckled from afar as she repeated this over and over again. She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. 

You can’t begin to make a difference!” The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she took a breath, bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. 

Then she looked up at the man and replied, “Well, I made a difference to that one!” This week, let’s remember even if you a receiving resistance, laughs, or criticism it is important to keep moving because making a difference to even just one can save a life. 

It matters to that one.

The Drug Laws That Changed How The US Punishes

There was a very interesting report this morning regarding the Rockefeller Drug Laws on the National Public Radio's Morning Edition entitied The Drug Laws That Changed How The US Punishes: Tough-on-crime policies enacted 40 years ago in New York became the new normal across the country.
Please take a few minutes to read the article or listen to the comentary at: http://www.npr.org

Credo Family Support Group

Did you know that the Credo Community Center offers a Family Support group free of charge?

The Family Support Group at the Credo Community Center offers family members of loved ones struggling with addiction the opportunity to have an outlet to share your experiences, ask questions about addiction, and network with other family members in support & hope. Groups are hosted at our Outpatient Clinic located at 595 West Main Street in Watertown.

Recovery is not just a journey for the addict but also to the family impacted as well. It is important for family members to stay informed and knowledgeable so that they may be empowered with information when dealing with difficult situations that may arise with their loved one who has an addiction. In addition, Family Support Group is an excellent opportunity to grow your support network and learn from other individuals who may have experienced some of the same events that you are facing. 

Addiction is a family disease. We can help.

Please view the brochure for our Family Support Group and find out ways that you can connect for support and guidance as a family member. 

Wishing you a very Credo Holiday

Greetings readers!

On any given week the Monday Motivational usually comes from a fun story I find that teaches a funny little lesson out of something either difficult or funny.

This week's motivation is inspired by the Christmas Eve Mass at the Emmanuel Church here in Watertown which is something a tad bit more local.

When I walked into church on Christmas Eve I had the wonderful experience of being able to see poinsettias all around the alter. They were gorgeous with bright red leaves and some sprinkled with glitter. These poinsettias accented the happy spirit and candles so well for the evening before Christmas. As I was taking a look at them I really began to think of all of the many things I was appreciative for this past year.

After taking my seat I began to thumb through my program. During a few occasions I saw Clients from the women's house smile and say hello to me and also had the opportunity to be at the receiving end of a hug from a parent who attends our Family Group here at Outpatient. I know we often joke that sometimes it never feels like we leave work but truly it was a Credo family affair at the Candle Light service.

Before the service started I resumed looking through my program to find the list of memorials and honorary for the poinsettias that had just made me reflect about what I was grateful for. I scanned the list to see the names of my great grandparents and other people who I recognized. Last but certainly not the least at the very bottom of the program it read:

"In Honor of...Our Friends From Credo, Given By. Anonymous"

I thought for this week's motivation I would attach a copy of the program and also the beautiful poinsettias for everyone to enjoy. As I was admiring the beautiful leaves and thinking about what I was grateful for it was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture for someone to be thankful for everything that we do for the people we help.

This week, I encourage everyone to look for signs that remind you Credo is so special. They may not be as clear (especially on rough days) as the writing in the program but the next time you see a poinsettia in person I hope you remember that this holiday season "Anonymous" was touched enough by the services Credo provides to name a poinsettia in our honor and to call us their friends.