(WNY News Now) – A powerful coalition of advocates, law enforcement, and recovery professionals gathered at the Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County’s July luncheon, highlighting local efforts to combat domestic violence, homelessness, and addiction.
Jamestown, N.Y. – The Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County (MHA) welcomed special guests to their July recovery luncheon.
MHA Executive Director Michael Nordin introduced some members of the Chautauqua County Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault who explained their responsibilities and the services they provide.
These visitors included YWCA staffers Empower Her Housing Director Jacqueline Cook and Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Program Director Lauren Peters; City of Jamestown Department of Development Rehab and Code Enforcement Officer & Housing Court Representative Bronson Abbot; and Jamestown Police Department (JPD) Project Crossroads Domestic Violence Officer Emma Ward and Crime Victim Case Manager Allison Murphy. Accompanying Ward was Hope, Project Crossroads therapy and education dog that serves to calm domestic violence situations.
JPD’s Project Crossroads empowers survivors and educates the Jamestown community to stand decisively against domestic violence, offering presentations and in-service training. It facilitates the Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, bringing together service providers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, clergy, and businesses.
Jamestown’s Department of Development responsibilities include administering housing code enforcement programs and connecting people with resources for safe housing.
The YWCA’s Empower Her Housing is a communal supportive housing program that provides a safe and stable environment for adult women and their children who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Its Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange program works collaboratively with local organizations and courts to encourage positive parent-child relationships as well as safe, happy visitations.
For more information about the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, find them on Facebook at CHQUnity.
In addition to presenting a certificate for two years of sobriety, Nordin announced the beginning of three new groups. Participant volunteer Mike Cain is facilitating the Conscience Circle group on Thursdays at 11:15 a.m. Memory Matters, facilitated by Anne Holt, has fun with memory exercises when it gathers at 3:30 on Thursdays.
The Healing Vine is a Christ-centered recovery and support group that has been meeting in Ripley since January. Facilitated by Jessica, Angela and Korey, it meets at the MHA on Wednesdays at 5:15 p.m. and welcomes anyone looking for a safe place to heal from habits, addictions, hurts, and struggles. Their families are welcome.
Becky Hemmis offered grace before the picnic meal that was prepared and served by herself and other members of the Blackwell Chapel AME Zion Church: Shawn Hastings, Burnetta Leeper, Karen Johnson Neal and Kaylee Stanton. Hot dogs were prepared by volunteer Jeff Marsh.
Everyone is welcome to the MHA recovery luncheons at 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month. Like all MHA services, the luncheons are free.
The MHA is a peer recovery center offering support groups and individual coaching for people looking to improve their lives, deepen wellness, thrive in recovery, or support those on a recovery path. Peers use their personal stories to help people find recovery in their own lives in their own way. All MHA services, including Narcan, xylazine wound care kits and fentanyl test kits, are free.
The Jamestown recovery center is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m., and Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.
Hours for the North County recovery center at Grace Lutheran Church, 601 Eagle Street in Dunkirk, are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To learn more about the Mental Health Association, call (716) 661-9044 or visit MHAChautauqua.org or Facebook.com/MHAChautauqua. A schedule with descriptions of MHA’s dozens of groups and classes in Dunkirk and Jamestown is at MHAChautauqua.org/groups.
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