The month of October is designated as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month”. The goals of “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” are to create awareness about preventing domestic abuse and by supporting those who have experienced it.

Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate, promote and support treatment and recovery programs throughout the United States. National Recovery Month also promotes mental health services that can enable those with mental health and substance use disorder to live healthy and rewarding lives. This year, Recovery Month will continue to promote the message that prevention works, treatment is effective and people recover.

Mental Health Awareness Month has been recognized in the United States during the month of May. Mental Health Awareness Month was started by the Mental Health America Organization and has been observed every year since 1949.

The purpose of Mental Health Awareness Month is to help eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness by raising awareness of mental health conditions and the individuals who struggle with these conditions.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is an annual campaign that raises awareness about sexual assault and helps to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. Each year, during the month of April, community organizations, rape crisis centers, government agencies, businesses, campuses and individuals plan events and activities to highlight sexual violence as a public health, human rights and social justice issue and to support the need for prevention and education of sexual assault.

The month of April is National Alcohol Awareness Month. Alcohol Awareness Month provides an opportunity to gain more understanding of how individuals struggle with alcohol abuse, offers help for those who are affected and highlights the serious health issues caused by alcohol.

April is recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It is also a time to support the importance of communities and community organizations who are working together to help families thrive and to prevent child abuse. Throughout the year, communities are encouraged to increase awareness that promotes child and family well-being and work together to implement effective strategies that support families and to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Trauma Informed Care Benefits Substance Abuse Treatment Clients

Trauma and the related symptoms of trauma are often found to be one of the co-occurring disorders with the highest rates of prevalence for patients receiving substance use treatment. Trauma Informed Care recognizes that traumatic experiences can continue to overwhelm and re-victimize an individual. Trauma informed approaches provide approaches that help restore a sense of safety, power and self-worth to a person who has suffered past traumas.

Seeking Safety is an evidenced-based model that addressed both trauma and addiction together. It can be used in group or individual counseling sessions. It was specifically developed to help survivors with co-occurring trauma and substance use disorder in a way that does not ask a client to do a “deep dive” into emotionally distressing trauma narratives.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month

Remedies’ 15th Annual Golf Outing will be held June 9th, 2022 at Aldeen Golf Club.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is widely used in addiction treatment. CBT helps teach those in treatment for a substance use disorder to find connections between their thoughts, feelings, and actions, which helps increase awareness of how these things impact recovery.

Remedies Renewing Lives provides education on healthy relationships to all Rockford Public Schools. The healthy relationship education is provided to all middle through high school students on an annual basis.

Remedies Renewing Lives is proud to announce a grant received from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois through the Meryle A. Stockhus Fund. The grant is in the amount of $45,000 and will be used to support Remedies Renewing Lives Domestic Violence Co-Location Advocacy Project with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

During COVID-19, drug overdose deaths increased in the United States. Many reasons could have contributed to this: isolation, fear of the virus, anxiety, depression. However, even before COVID-19, barriers existed that prevented people from getting help. To some, there is a stigma that those who have a substance abuse problem and need treatment have self-inflicted this crisis or are somehow not deserving of our compassion. Showing compassion and support for those who are struggling with addiction and make the decision to get help can help aid in their recovery and break that barrier.