During early stages of recovery and treatment, it can be difficult or impossible for clients to hold a fulltime job, and that can mean lean Christmases and birthdays for their children. WSTC tries to do a toy drive each year to make their holidays brighter, and this year, even though we got started a bit…
Author: Beth Wilson
WSTC Renames Women & Children’s House to Honor George R. Fuller
Over the course of the 40 years since it began as Awareness Express in 1982, West Sound Treatment Center has seen many changes. When it was located across the street from the County Courthouse in Port Orchard, Awareness Express was also near the county coroner’s office where George R. Fuller worked. Because he had two…
Lindsay Devitt: Peer Recovery Coach for the REAL Program at WSTC
Lindsay Devitt has been working here at WSTC in the Washington Listens program, supporting callers who suffer COVID-19-related emotional and mental issues. As that program ends, a new program is in the works, and Lindsay has accepted the position of Peer Recovery Coach for the Recovery, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Linkage (REAL) Program. Learning the Program…
Congratulations, Kelley Lovelace!
It’s time to celebrate! Kelley Lovelace has completed her supervision education and certification, which means she’s now legally able to supervise clinical staff! Not only that, but CEO Ken Wilson also offered her the position of Clinical Supervisor in Bremerton, and she accepted. “Over the past 3 1/2 years,” Ken said, “I have watched Kelley…
Meet the Navigator: Part Two
Employment Having a job is key to self-sufficiency as well as recovery. Rebecca says that participants who have trouble finding employment tend to leave the program. “The frustration over the lack of resources often keeps them from feeling like they’re going to succeed.” So Rebecca works hard to eliminate as many barriers to employment as…
Meet the Navigator: Part One
Drug Court participants who come to Rebecca Carr’s office will find she’s ready for them, with snacks and a hot drink maker, pamphlets, resources, and writing supplies. The Drug Court program has provided her with funding to help cover some of their other needs, as well. But the most important resource that Rebecca has for…
WSTC Celebrates the Success of Le’Roy Smith Jr.
Congratulations to Le’Roy Smith Jr.! He passed the NAADAC National Certified Addictions Counselor, Level I Exam, which will now allow him to apply for the certification for Substance Use Disorder Professional and drop the “Trainee” designation on his title. This marks a major milestone in his career! I asked Le’Roy about the challenges and opportunities…
What Purpose Do Collateral Consequences Serve?
Do you remember learning about consequences as a kid? A parent or teacher may have warned you about what might happen if you didn’t stop a behavior or action. Maybe you did stop and avoided the dire prediction. Maybe you didn’t, and the lesson about consequences got a lot more real. Punishing Bad Behavior Without…
Recovery and Employment Should Go Hand in Hand
According to research, most people in recovery want to work. Anecdotal evidence in the form of client testimony and experience backs this up, too. If there’s a choice between being employed or being unemployed, most people in recovery want to take the job. Employment is especially valuable for recovery. SAMHSA reports that having a job,…
Home Depot Donates to O’Hana House
We announced a while back that the Home Depot Foundation was donating some closet organizers and cabinets for our O’Hana House. And now they’ve arrived! This is a big deal for the women and children who live there. While we have made the bedrooms of this sober living home nice — including a number of…