Hope House Leaders Note Her Interest
Suzanne Youngkin spent an afternoon at the Hope House in Buena Vista June 30 speaking with the staff about their programs and efforts, and listening to their stories.
A strong advocate of recovery herself, she discussed the importance of recovery, as well as addressing mental health and substance abuse during her visit to Buena Vista. She stated, “If I can do anything to encourage people to come out of the shadows and really step into a place of recovery and of addressing mental health and substance abuse disorder issues, I stand ready to do that.”
She champions prevention, education, and recovery through her statewide initiative, “It Only Takes One.” This initiative focuses on raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and the opioid crisis; empowering communities with tools, resources, and hope in the fight against deadly fentanyl; encouraging open conversations about fentanyl to reduce stigma surrounding treatment and recovery; highlighting the importance of recovery housing as a critical need; and partnering with organizations and individuals in recovery to amplify their stories and provide support.
“It was an honor to host Mrs. Youngkin,” said Paula Hubbard, director of residential services. “She was genuinely interested in the work of the Hope House, in our residents, and in the staff who make our success possible. We have worked to build a recovery program that prepares our men for reintroduction to society. Recovery is about progression, not perfection. It is a journey with ups and downs, but continuous effort and movement forward are key.”
The HOPE House operates on Three Phases of Recovery, which was recently modified to include the evidence-based “Real Life” curriculum focused on trauma-informed care and behavior modification. This approach is unique due to the complexity, intensity, and significant training required to implement it. The curriculum’s behavioral modification focus inspires participants to face their problems and overcome their addictive lifestyles, whether it is to drugs, alcohol, dealing drugs, or other behaviors that placed them in their current situation, and so often kept them caught in the cycle time and time again.
The Hope House recently earned recertification with the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences (VARR) , an affiliate of the National Association of Recovery Residences (NARR) and is also certified by the Department of Health and Behavioral Services Rockbridge Recovery is the organization that oversees the Hope House. They offer a variety of services, including support groups, one-on-one counseling, harm reduction, REVIVE! training with free Narcan, walk-in support, assistance in job search and accessing other local resources, and a 24/7 WARM line with access to a peer recovery specialist at any hour.
“This was such a great opportunity for us as peers to be able to speak to the First Lady of Virginia,” said Joshua Clark, director of substance use services. “We were able to share our lived experiences with her so that she can help support our efforts.”
To learn more about Rockbridge Recovery or the Hope House, visit the website at https:// www.rrhopehouse.org or call (540) 572-2312.
