The document summarizes the story of Brooke Bouwman, a recovery coach with the Safe Passages Program. Brooke struggled with substance use disorders for many years and lost custody of her oldest daughter to the foster care system. After getting sober and maintaining her recovery for over three years, she now works to help other parents in similar situations regain custody of their children. The Safe Passages Program aims to increase the rate of children being reunited with their families from 38% to 66%. Brooke draws on her own experiences to support and coach clients through recovery and rebuilding their lives.

1. Living LargeWINTER 2016-2017DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN RECOVERY
A PUBLICATION OF RECOVERY ALLIES OF WEST MICHIGAN
In 1982, in response to the growing number of children
in foster care throughout the country, Congress passed the
Family Reunification Act. As its name implies, the purpose
of this act was to increase the number of children return-
ing to their biological parents following foster care. At that
time, there were approximately 260,000 children in the na-
tion’s foster care system. Now over twenty five years later,
there are over 400,000 children in foster care in the United
States!
Why is it that the net result of an act of Congress intend-
ing to increase the rate of reunication has been to increase
the number of children in foster care by over 144,000?
While there may be several factors, chief among them
has been the failure to address the main reason children
are removed from their homes in the first place. For years,
it has been understood that 75% of the children in our fos-
ter care system have parents with untreated substance use
disorders.
Some communities have chosen to address this issue in
a variety of ways. Fortunately, West Michigan is one such
community. On October 1, 2016, the Safe Passages Pro-
gram opened—offering recovery support services to biolog-
ical parents within Kent County’s foster care system. These
services are funded by a grant through the Michigan Health
Endowment Fund and provided through a partnership of
D.A. Blodgett-St. John’s and Recovery Allies of West Mich-
igan.
The Safe Passages Program offers the recovery support
services of a certified recovery coach to a parent whose child
is in foster care. The goal of the program is to significantly
increase the rate of reunification of children in foster care
with their biological parents. Currently, less than 40% of
these children return to their homes; the goal of the Safe
Passages Program is to return 66% of these children to their
families.
In this issue of Living Large, you will read about one of the
recovery coaches in the Safe Passages Program. Her name
is Brooke Bouwman. Like all recovery coaches, Brooke has
“lived experience,” meaning she has had her own struggles
with mood-altering substances and the foster care system.
More importantly, she has had her own triumphs as well.
Brooke’s story recounts those elements of her own recovery
that made a very real difference and ultimately led to the
restoration of her family. And, as you might expect, those
are the very things she tries to bring to her clients.
As most of us in the recovery community know, there can
be many different elements of recovery beyond sobriety:
employment, housing, legal assistance, transportation, and
physical well-being to name a few. Not everyone needs the
same things—except, of course, one thing: hope. That is
the most important element Brooke and her fellow recovery
coaches will provide abundantly.
The reunification rate for foster care cases in Kent
County is 38%. This means 38 out of 100 children get to
go home with mom or dad. It also means 62 out of 100
children do not. My name is Brooke Bouwman and am a
person in long term recovery. For me that means I have
not had any mind or mood altering drugs for over 3 years.
I am also a proud mother of two beautiful daughters. Ar-
ianna is 3 and one of the 38 able to come home with her
parents. Lainey is 11 and one of the 62 not returning home
with her parents.
Lainey was placed in foster care services with my sister
Melissa in 2007 when she was 18 months old. A CPS and
foster care case were opened at that time. I was addict-
ed to drugs and not ready to quit. After a year of trying
to get well, going to multiple inpatient treatment centers
and mutual aid groups, I surrendered my parental rights
to avoid termination.
I continued using drugs and continued entering inpa-
tient treatment facilities as well. For many of us it’s as if
we are divided into two parts, one part that can’t fathom
getting well and one that won’t quit trying. I would con-
sistently get successfully discharged only to pick right
back up from where I had left off each time.
In February of 2013 I became pregnant. Again. There
were not many, if any, who believed my partner and I
could be parents to this child. I tried to convince myself to
consider other options, either to terminate the pregnancy
or consider adoption at birth, but I could not. I wanted to
be a mother.
During my pregnancy I did the best I could at that time.
I rationalized using prescriptions medications (illegally)
because it was not heroin or crack. About 9 weeks be-
fore my due date I moved back to my hometown. The
supports were too little and the temptations too strong. I
began using heavily.
I went into labor on September 17, 2013. I was treated
like any other mother at first. While trying to give me
an IV, the nurse saw the tracks and bruises lining all the
veins in my hands and arm. I was asked, “Are you an
IV drug user?” There are many instances when a person
addicted to drugs and or alcohol will tell you that telling
the truth didn’t work out for them. This was one of those
times. Through tears I said with all honesty, “Yes. I am
addicted to heroin and crack. I just want you to know
so this baby can receive the best possible care you can
provide.” Unfortunately after that, I was treated very dif-
ferently. The atmosphere changed in the hospital room.
They were no longer smiling. My partner Ryan was told
he was not allowed to hold my hand any longer while the
planned C-section was performed. He was told to sit in
the chair across the room and be quiet. Hospital securi-
ty came in and our room and all of our belongings were
searched. What was supposed to be one of the bright-
est days of our lives had turned very dark and dreary. Of
course I knew it was because of the choices I had made. I
just didn’t know why I made the choices I had.
THE SAFE PASSAGES
PROGRAM:
HOPE FOR CHILDREN IN
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
ONE OF EACH
Recovery
ALLIES
ADVOCATE • CELEBRATE • EDUCATE
recoveryallies.us
Kevin McLaughlin, Executive Director
Recovery Community Organization (RCO)
Phone: 616-226-6567• Email: info@recoveryallies.us
r a
Around 1:00 am
on September 18,
2013 my youngest
daughter, Arianna,
was born. She was
born addicted to
heroin and crack.
Later in the after-
noon that same day
a CPS worker came
and delivered the
message that we
would need to be
in court the next
day. I was going to
be given six weeks
until termination
of my parental rights. I was terrified of that. I was also
asked many questions. I talked about the 17 treatment
centers I went to and had been successfully discharged
from. I talked about recovery. I talked about how I had
confidence that I could get well and raise a child. I talked
about how I had not given up. I talked about how I knew
that no matter what, I can never quit quitting. I could
never quit trying to change my life. What I found, though,
was that the very argument ‘I have never quit quitting’
which I thought was showing my conviction to getting
better, seemed to cement the case that I was ‘untreatable’.
Arianna was treated with great care and only needed
treatment for one day as opposed to the sometimes two
weeks needed. This comforted me. Mothers who go
through this share how the guilt and shame are so over-
powering all hope can be lost. For some reason, this time
I had hope. Ryan was given a drug test and was cleared to
take Arianna home with him.
Two weeks prior to my termination hearing, a CPS case
was opened for Ryan. Since he had no previous cases with
CPS and foster care services, he received the typical one
year to get well. Because they were giving him that time,
Continued on page 2
Ryan and Arianna

2. WNTER 2016-2017 n Living Large2
What is LifeRing?
LifeRing Secular Recovery is an abstinence-based, worldwide network
of individuals seeking to live in recovery from addiction to alcohol or
to other non-medically indicated drugs. In LifeRing, we offer each oth-
er peer-to-peer support in ways that encourage personal growth and
continued learning through personal empowerment. Our approach is
based on developing, refining, and sharing our own personal strate-
gies for continued abstinence and crafting a rewarding life in recovery.
In short, we are sober, secular, and self-directed.
it was decided I would receive that much time as well.
On December 4, 2013 I entered treatment. Ryan was
arrested that same day. We did not know it at that time,
but this is the day we entered long term recovery.
After 101 days I was successfully discharged from inpa-
tient treatment. I think the difference this time was what
happened after discharge. I was very dedicated to being
the best mom I could be. I utilized multiple different
pathways to maintain my recovery. These included Vivit-
rol, mutual aid groups, individual therapy, church, medi-
tation, recovery housing, and a recovery coach. Although
all of these played a role in my recovery, the presence of
a recovery coach was critical. During the overwhelming
process of putting a shattered life back together, one can
and does experience periods of hopelessness. Sometimes
as in my case we are putting a life back together that has
new components. I had never really been a mother before.
I had never really had to budget money or plan meals. I
was suddenly going to have to be an adult! It was not real-
ly ‘me against the world’; it was more like ‘me and how do
I survive in the world’. The coach was there during all of
this. So while my therapist was helping with the ‘me’ stuff,
the coach helped with ‘world’ stuff. Together they helped
to turbo charge my recovery.
In October 2014, my youngest daughter was returned
to our care. She moved into an apartment with her father
Continued from page 1 and me. At the time, I was managing three women’s re-
covery houses in Grand Rapids. Her father has a fantastic
job working for good people as a siding installer.
Today I work as a Recovery Coach for Recovery Allies of
West Michigan within the Safe Passages Mentoring pro-
gram. The goal of the program is to increase the family
reunification rate within the Kent County foster care sys-
tem by providing comprehensive peer-based substance
use disorder services for families. Giving back helps to
make sense of all of the suffering I endured. I am grateful.
My oldest daughter is now in Junior High. She still
resides with family members. Lainey and I have a very
good relationship. She knows I am her mother and she
calls me “Mom”. She is able to spend a lot of time with
her younger sister. I have talked to her about the Safe
Passages Mentoring Program and the work we are doing.
I told her about the statistics. I could see the thinking
going on in her head. I asked her how it felt to know she
was one of the 62 children who didn’t get to live with her
parents, while her sister is one of 38 who was able to go
home with her parents. Her response, “I don’t like those
numbers, Mom. Maybe we had to go through this expe-
rience because we were strong enough to make it. There
are probably people out there who aren’t, so now you and
your team will be able to be able to help them not to ever
have to feel that way”.
The essence of what a Recovery Coach does.
Brooke and Lainey
Women For Sobriety, Inc. is a non-profit
organization dedicated to helping women
overcome alcoholism and other addictions. It is,
in fact, the first national self-help program for
women alcoholics. Our “New Life” Program helps
achieve sobriety and sustain ongoing recovery.
WFS has been providing services to women
alcoholics since July, 1976. The WFS “New Life”
Program grew out of one woman’s search for
sobriety.
WFS self-help groups are found all across
this country and abroad. Based upon a Thirteen
Statement Program of positivity that encourages
emotional and spiritual growth, the “New Life”
Program has been extremely effective in helping
women overcome their addictions and embrace
a new positive lifestyle. For additional support,
subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Sobering
Thoughts, which is available free electronically
through our Email Updates Service.
Jean’s Bio
Dr. Jean Kirkpatrick couldn’t cope with
the fact that she was the first woman
to receive the Fels Fellowship award at
the University of Pennsylvania, so she
went out and got drunk. Fearing that a
mistake had been made and the funds
to write her doctoral dissertation would
be taken away, Dr. Kirkpatrick broke 3
years of sobriety with a drunk that lasted
13 years.
In Turnabout: New Help For The Woman Alcoholic, Jean
Kirkpatrick describes these years, the self-destruction and how
she finally was able to stop drinking.
With her own sobriety established by methods other than
the traditional AA Program, Dr. Kirkpatrick formed the
organization and Program, Women for Sobriety, Inc. in 1975
and has since devoted her life to helping women alcoholics.
WFS “New Life” Acceptance Program
1. I have a life-threatening problem that once had
me. I now take charge of my life and my disease.
I accept the responsibility.
2. Negative thoughts destroy only myself. My first
conscious sober act must be to remove
negativity from my life.
3. Happiness is a habit I will develop. Happiness is
created, not waited for.
4. Problems bother me only to the degree I permit
them to. I now better understand my problems
and do not permit problems to overwhelm me.
5. I am what I think. I am a capable, competent,
caring, compassionate woman.
6. Life can be ordinary or it can be great. Greatness
is mine by a conscious effort.
7. Love can change the course of my world. Caring
becomes all important.
8. The fundamental object of life is emotional
and spiritual growth. Daily I put my life into a
proper order, knowing which are the priorities.
9. The past is gone forever. No longer will I be
victimized by the past. I am a new person.
10. All love given returns. I will learn to know that
others love me.
11. Enthusiasm is my daily exercise. I treasure all
moments of my new life.
12. I am a competent woman and have much to
give life. This is what I am and I shall know it
always.
13. I am responsible for myself and for my actions.
I am in charge of my mind, my thoughts, and
my life.
To make the Program effective for you, arise each morning
fifteen minutes earlier than usual and go over the Thirteen
Affirmations. Then begin to think about each one by itself.
Take one Statement and use it consciously all day. At the end
of the day review the use of it and what effects it had that day
for you and your actions.

3. Living Large n WINTER 2016-2017 3
MAY BREAK MY BONES BUTWORDS...
- A CALL FOR CLINICAL (AND PEER) HUMILITY -
The following is a blog post by Bill White that can be found at www.williamwhitepapers.com
The history of addiction treatment includes a
pervasive and cautionary thread: the poten-
tial to do great harm in the name of help. The
technical term for such injury, iatrogenesis
(physician-caused or treatment-caused illness),
spans a broad range of professional actions that
with the best of intentions resulted in harm to
individuals and families seeking assistance. My
recounting of such insults within the history of
addiction treatment also includes the observa-
tion that such harms are easy to identify retro-
spectively in earlier eras, but very difficult to see
within one’s own era, within one’s own treat-
ment program, and within one’s own clinical
practices.
The challenges for each of us who work in this
special service ministry and for the specialized
industry of addiction treatment include conduct-
ing a regular inventory of clinical and admin-
istrative policies and practices to identify areas
of inadvertent harm, altering conditions linked
to such harm, making amends for such injuries,
and developing mechanisms to prevent such
injuries in the future. In my own professional
life, many of the projects in my later career were
products of such an inventory and served as a
form of amends for actions I took or failed to
take in my early career due to lack of awareness
or courage.
There have also been times I have taken the
larger field to task for practices I deemed harm-
ful. I have suggested at times that what were
perceived as personal failures to achieve lasting
recovery could be more aptly characterized as
system failures. I have suggested at times that
the field was becoming addicted to professional
power and money and that the field itself was in
need of a recovery process that should include
processes of rigorous self-inventory, public con-
fession, and amends.
The shift from acute care models of addiction
treatment to models of sustained recovery man-
agement (RM) and recovery-oriented systems
of care (ROSC) involves dramatic changes in
clinical practices, including a shift in the basic
relationship between the service provider and
service recipient. The service relationship within
the RM/ROSC models shifts from one dominat-
ed and controlled by the professional expert to
a sustained recovery support partnership, with
the provider serving primarily as a consultant to
the service recipient’s own recovery self-man-
agement efforts. Those who have made this
relational shift inevitably look back on areas of
potential harm that emerged from the expert
relational model they once practiced. And then
the question inevitably arises, “How does one
make amends for past harm in the name of help
within the context of addiction counseling?”
Chris Budnick, an addictions professional in
North Carolina and founding Board Chair for
Recovery Communities of North Carolina, Inc.
(RCNC), recently responded to that question
by preparing a formal letter of amends to the
individuals, families, and communities he has
served. Below is the text of that letter, which
was presented at the North Carolina Recovery
Advocacy Alliance Summit, February 24, 2016.
(The link to the video is: https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=A5MYhZbnhfU)
My name is Chris Budnick and I am a Licensed
Clinical Addiction Specialist. I first began work-
ing in the addiction treatment and recovery
field in 1993.
There are many components involved in the
broad issue of substance use disorders and re-
covery. Employers, first responders, the crim-
inal justice system, policy makers, politicians,
companies, advertisers, treatment providers,
addiction professionals, the recovery communi-
ty, families, and the individual with the sub-
stance use disorder. Of all these components,
individuals with substance use disorders face
the greatest scrutiny, stigma, discrimination
and blame. For too long they have stood alone
bearing the full brunt of this responsibility
while systems of care and policies impacting
housing, education, and employment have
largely conspired to undermine any chance of
sustaining recovery.
Last week I found myself approaching a police
department to apologize for failing them. When
they reached out to us in the middle of the night
seeking services for a young woman we told
them “no.” “We can’t help her tonight.” She
was killed within hours of this decision leaving
behind a 2-year-old daughter. I told the officer Continued on page 4
that we pledge to do better.
This experience has nudged me to put to paper
ideas that I’ve articulated and ideas I’ve only
contemplated. I feel compelled as an addiction
professional to make amends and pledge to do
better.
While I have changed my attitudes and practic-
es over the years, I have not spoken up to say
I’m sorry. So here are the things I want to make
amends for:
I’m sorry for all the barriers you confront when
trying to access help.
I’m sorry for contradictory “sobriety” and
“active use” requirements you encounter when
trying to access services.
I’m sorry for the harm that has come to you,
your family, your unborn children, and your
community when you have not been provided
services on demand.
I apologize for expecting that you will provide
all the motivation to initiate recovery when I
have assumed no responsibility for enhancing
your readiness for recovery.
I am sorry for creating unrealistic expectations
of you.
I’m sorry for provider success statistics that
have misled you and your family.
I’m sorry that I have discharged you from
treatment for becoming symptomatic.
I’m even more sorry, though, for abandoning
you at your time of greatest vulnerability. And
I am sorry for how this failure has contributed
to the heartbreak of your loved ones.
I am sorry for abandoning you when you have
left treatment, either successfully or unsuccess-
fully.
I am sorry for the irritation in my voice when
you have returned following a set-back because
you didn’t do everything that I told you to do.
I am sorry for my arrogance when I’ve as-

4. WNTER 2016-2017 n Living Large4
sumed that I am the expert of your life.
I am sorry for privately finding satisfaction in
your failure because it reinforces the fallacy
that I know best and if you just do as I say,
you’ll recover.
I am sorry for not celebrating as enthusiastical-
ly your successes when you have achieved them
through a different pathway or style then me.
I am sorry for being a silent co-conspirator
for the stigma that has resulted in systems of
punishment and discriminatory policies and
practices.
I’m sorry for turning you away from treatment
because you’ve “been here too many times.”
I’m sorry for not referring you to different
services when you have not responded to the
services I offer.
I am sorry for allowing you to take the blame
when treatment did not work instead of defend-
ing you because you received an inadequate
dose and duration of care.
I am sorry for reaping the benefits of recovery
yet failing to do everything I can to make sure
those benefits are available to anyone, regard-
less of privilege, socio-economic status, educa-
tion, employability, and criminal history.
I’m sorry for being an addiction professional
who has not provided you with the recovery
supports needed to sustain recovery. More
importantly, I apologize for conspiring through
silence and inaction with a system that ill pre-
pares you to achieve success.
I’m sorry for not calling to check on you when
you don’t show up for treatment.
I’m sorry for not calling to support you after
you leave treatment.
I’m sorry for letting society maintain the belief
that you used again because you chose to.
I’m sorry for not fighting for adequate treat-
ment and recovery support services. All persons
with substance use disorders should be entitled
to a minimum of five years of monitoring and
recovery support services.
I’m sorry for not advocating for you to have op-
portunities to gain safe and supportive housing
and non-exploitive employment.
I am sorry for being so self-centered that I only
think about you in the context of treatment
while failing to fully understand the environ-
mental and social realities of your life and how
they will impact your ability to initiate and
sustain recovery.
I am deeply sorry to your loved ones who have
been robbed of chances to have a healthy mem-
ber of their family. I am deeply sorry to your
community, who has been robbed of the gifts
that your recovery could have brought them.
I’m sorry that systems of control and punish-
ment has been the response to communities of
color during drug epidemics.
I am sorry that through my silence and inac-
tion that I have contributed to belief that per-
sons with substance use disorders are criminals
and should be punished.
I am sorry for not speaking as a Recovery
Ally to families, friends, neighbors, colleagues,
policy makers, and public officials about why I
support recovery.
I’m sorry for all the things that I have left off
this list because I’ve failed to regularly solicit
your feedback about how effective I have been
in supporting you in your recovery.
This sorrow is the foundation of my commit-
ment to improve the accessibility, affordability,
and quality of addiction treatment and recov-
ery support services and to create the commu-
nity space in which long-term personal and
family recovery can flourish.
Chris Budnick
Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist
This is a remarkable statement worthy of em-
ulation. I look forward to the day when leaders
prepare such a statement of amends to indi-
viduals, families, and communities on behalf
of American addiction treatment institutions. I
look forward to the day when clinical humility
becomes a foundational ethic guiding the prac-
tice of addiction counseling.
Continued from page 3

5. Living Large n WINTER 2016-2017 5
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43. Candace Plattor. M.A., http://candaceplattor.com/blog/
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48. Reach Out Recovery, http://reachoutrecovery.com
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51. Sandy Swenson, http://www.sandyswenson.com/blog/
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63. Bye Bye Beer, http://byebyebeer.wordpress.com
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74. Barbara Cofer Stoefen, http://www.barbaracoferstoefen.com/
75. The Drug Class Blog, http://drugclass.ca
75 AMAZING RECOVERY BLOGS
11 AMAZING RECOVERY PODCASTS
1. Smart Recovery and Special Event Podcasts, http://smartrecov-
ery.libsyn.com/webinar-act-smart
2. Recovery 101, http://recovery101.podomatic.com/
3. Addicted to Addicts, http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/
addicted-to-addicts-survival-101/
4. Growing Up Chaotic, http://growingupchaotic.com/
5. The Bubble Hour, http://www.thebubblehour.com/
6. 100 Pedals, http://www.100pedals.com/category/addiction-con-
versation-podcast/
7. Sober Conversations, http://recoveryhealthcare.me/category/so-
ber-conversations/
8. Recovered Podcast, http://recoveredcast.blogspot.com/
9. Addiction Recovery Radio, http://www.addictionrecoveryradio.
com/podcast/
10. The Recovery Show, http://therecoveryshow.com/
11. Addiction and Recovery Podcast, http://paulgarrigan.podbean.
com/
Introducing mirecovery.info blog

6. WNTER 2016-2017 n Living Large6
866.852.4001
pinerest.org/addiction-services
Recovery is Possible
Pine Rest offers a full continuum of addiction services. With
one call, we can guide you through the process of inquiry,
assessment and admission to the most appropriate level of
care. We will assist you with understanding your insurance
benefit or what other sources of funding might be available,
and we’ll qualify you or your loved one for treatment.
Our commitment is to treat you and your family with a
welcoming heart, provide compassion and understanding in
time of need and offer hope for recovery through excellent
care.
• Individual Outpatient Therapy at 14 licensed locations
• Intensive Outpatient Therapy (IOP) in Grand Rapids and
Kalamazoo
• Outpatient Opioid Detoxification
• Residential Detoxification
• Residential Addiction Services
• Short-Term Residential Services
• Transitional Recovery Housing
• Integrated Substance Use/Psychiatric Inpatient Services
• Partial Hospitalization Program
• Relapse Prevention Groups
• Intervention and Family Services
From introduction to the book-
Refuge Recovery is a practice, a process, a set of tools, a treatment, and a path
to healing addiction and the suffering caused by addiction. The main inspiration
and guiding philosophy for the Refuge Recovery program are the teachings of
Siddhartha (Sid) Gautama, a man who lived in India twenty-five hundred years
ago. Sid was a radical psychologist and a spiritual revolutionary. through his
own efforts and practices, he came to understand why human beings experience
and cause so much suffering. He referred to the root cause of suffering as
“uncontrollable thirst or repetitive craving.” This “thirst” tends to arise in
relation to pleasure, but it may also arise as a craving for unpleasant experiences
to go away, or as an addiction to people, places, things, or experiences. This is
the same thirst of the alcoholic, the same craving as the addict, and the same
attachment as the codependent.
Eventually, Sid came to understand and experience a way of living that
ended all forms of suffering. He did this through a practice and process that
includes meditation, wise actions, and compassion. After freeing himself from
the suffering caused by craving, he spent the rest of his life teaching others how
to live a life of well-being and freedom, a life free from suffering. Sid became
known as the Buddha, and his teachings became known as Buddhism. the Refuge
Recovery program has adapted the core teachings of the Buddha as a treatment
of addiction.
Buddhism recognizes a nontheistic approach to spiritual practice. The Refuge
Recovery program of recovery does not ask anyone to believe anything, only to
trust the process and do the hard work of recovery.
This book contains a systematic approach to treating
and recovering from all forms of addictions. Using
the traditional formulation, the program of recovery
consists of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold
Path. When sincerely practiced, the program will
ensure a full recovery from addiction, and a lifelong
sense of well-being and happiness.
Of course, like every path, you can only get to
your destination by moving forward, one foot in front
of the other. The path is gradual and comprehensive,
a map of the inner terrain that must be traversed
in the process of recovery. The path includes daily
meditation practices, written investigations of the
causes and conditions of your addictions, and how
to find or create the community you will need in
order to heal and awaken. We have also included
stories of people who have successfully recovered
with the help of Buddhist practices.
Learn more about
Sarah’s story and
about mirecovery at
mirecovery.info

7. Living Large n WINTER 2016-2017 7
SUNDAY
9:30AM Balcony Sunday Morning Group
9:30AM 1 ExpectA Miracle
9:30AM 2 Al-Anon SunA.M.
9:30AM 3 Breakfast Group - C
n No Noon Meeting On Sundays
2:00PM A Sunday Serenity Group
3:30PM A Sun Big Book Study
5:30PM Balcony Friendship Group - C
7:00PM 2 Al-Anon Book Study
7:00PM C ACOA
8:00PM Balcony Young People’sAA
8:00PM C Sun Night Beginners Group
8:00PM 5 12&12
MONDAY
9:00AM A Eyeopener Group
9:00AM 1 Breathe Easy
9:00AM 2 Al-Anon Steps to Serenity
11:00AM C DoubleTrouble (Mixed Recovery)
Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group
Noon A AA Lunch Group - C
Noon B NA-Keep Coming Back
Noon 1 Surrender Group
Noon 3 No First Drink
Noon 4 Noon Promises Group
Noon 5 Women’s Stag -AA
5:30PM Balcony Friendship Group - C
5:30PM C Free Pizza Group
8:00PM A Monday NiteAA
8:00PM Balcony Life Club Group (Mens) - C
8:00PM 3 NA Open to Change
TUESDAY
9:00AM A Eyeopener Group
9:00AM 1 Breathe Easy
Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group
Noon A AA Group Issues &Tuesday
Noon C AA Beginners Group - C
Noon 1 Surrender Group
Noon 2 Al-Anon
Noon 3 No First Drink
Noon 4 Noon Promises Group
4:00PM Balcony FoodAddicts
5:30PM 1 Friendship Group - C
5:30PM C Free Pizza Group
6:00PM 3 Women’sWayThru Steps - C
8:00PM 2 Al-AnonTues Step Mtg
8:00PM 3 24 Hours Group
WEDNESDAY
9:00AM A Eyeopener Group
9:00AM 1 Breathe Easy
9:00AM 2 CourageTo Change (Al-Anon)
Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group t
Noon A AA Lunch Group - C
Noon B NA- Keep Coming Back
Noon 1 Surrender Group
Noon 2 Al-Anon
Noon 3 No First Drink
Noon 4 Noon Promises Group
5:30PM Balcony Friendship Group - C
5:30PM C Free Pizza Group
6:00PM 2 Al-Anon
6:30PM 4 Zen Recovery Meeting
6:30PM 5 ShopliftersAnonymous
7:00PM 3 Powerless Not Hopeless
8:00PM Library Women’s Big Book Study
8:00PM B Bond Street Group (Mens) - C
8:00PM 1 Men’s Stag-Honesty Group
8:00PM 2 Al-AnonWed Mens Stag
8:00PM C Barefoot Group-Open
THURSDAY
9:00AM A Eyeopener Group
9:00AM 1 Breathe Easy
Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group
Noon A AA Lunch Group - C
Noon 1 Surrender Group
Noon 2 Al-Anon
Noon 3 No First Drink
Noon 4 Noon Promises Group
5:30PM Balcony F riendship Group - C
5:30PM C Free Pizza Group
n Club Closes At 7:00 pm
FRIDAY
9:00AM A Eye Opener Group
9:00AM 1 Breathe Easy Group
9:00AM 2 Stepping Stones (Al-Anon)
Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group
Noon A AA Lunch Group - C
Noon B NA-Keep Coming Back
Noon 1 Surrender Group
Noon 2 Al-Anon
Noon 3 No First Drink
Noon 4 Noon Promises Group
Noon 5 12 & 12 Study (open)
5:30PM Balcony Friendship Group - C
5:30PM C Free Pizza Group
7:00PM Balcony KCCO Speaker Meeting
8:00PM A Friday NightAA (Mixed)
8:00PM 1 Mens Stag-Honesty Group
8:00PM 2 Fri Night OpenAl-Anon
SATURDAY
8:00AM Balcony FoodAddicts
9:00AM A Eyeopener Group
9:00AM 1 Breathe Easy Group
9:00AM 3 JohnWayne - Men’s Stag - C
Noon A Smart Recovery
Noon Balcony Men’s Stag
Noon 1 Surrender Group
Noon 2 Al-Anon Sat Sunshine
Noon 3 Sat Noon Men’s Stag
5:30PM Balcony Friendship Group - C
7:30PM 1 NarcoticsAnonymous
7:30PM Balcony Saturday Night Live Speaker
NORTH ALANO CLUB MEETINGS NON-SMOKING FACILITY. CLOSED MEETINGS – C. 1020 COLLEGE NE, GRAND RAPIDS – *
GR.ALANOCLUB.ORG
CHECK OUT OUR NEW MEETING OPTIONS • INCLUDING S.M.A.R.T. & DOUBLE TROUBLE
VANDENBOSCH COUNSELING
MARK A. VANDENBOSCH, LMSW, CAADC
THERAPIST/ADDICTIONS COUNSELOR
41 Washington Ave., Suite 368 • Grand Haven MI 49417
231.670.7631 markhvb@gmail.com
www.VandenboschCouseling.com

8. WNTER 2016-2017 n Living Large8
1,2, 3, 4 –A week of the month
B – Barefoot
C – Closed, addicts only
H – Handicap accessible
IP – IP discussion
Lit – Literature Study
O – Open - all are welcome
OP – Open podium
OT – Open topic
RR – Round Robin
S – Speaker meeting
St – Step Study
S/T – Step/Tradition Study
Ti –Ticket
Tr –Traditions
W – 2nd meeting for women
NA MEETING SCHEDULE
SUNDAY
7:00PM Principles B4 Personalities Location: St.Andrew’s Episcopal Church
1025 3 Mile Road NE, Grand Rapids
O,H, St(1st) Lit(2nd),T(3rd), Lit(4th & 5th)
7:00PM The Path BeginsThe Journey Location: 1440 FullerAve, SE, Grand Rapids
7:00PM Open-Minded Group Location: Immanuel Lutheran Church
725 FullerAve, Big Rapids
OT
MONDAY
8:00AM SunriseTo Sunset Location: Matthew’s House of Ministry
766 7th St. NW, Grand Rapids
O, Lit, BasicText
11:00AM No Name Location: Grace Christian Reformed Church
100 Buckley SE, Grand Rapids
O, H, Lit
Noon Keep Coming Back Location: NorthAlano Club Room B
1020 CollegeAve NE, Grand Rapids
5:30PM Downtown Resting Place Location: Heartside Ministry
54 South Division, Grand Rapids
O
7:00PM KeepingThe DreamAlive Location: Bates Place (next to 1st Christian Ref
Church) 650 Bates St SE, Grand Rapids
O, OT
7:00PM New Beginnings Location: 4242 Plainfield NE, Grand Rapids
IP (1st) O, OT
8:00PM OpenTo Change Location: NorthAlano Club Room #3
1020 CollegeAve. NE, Grand Rapids
TUESDAY
8:00AM Sunrise to Sunset Location: Matthew’s House of Ministry
766 7th St. NW, Grand Rapids (atAlpine)
O, OT
11:00AM No Name Location: Grace Christian Reformed Church
100 Buckley SE, Grand Rapids
O, H,Ti
6:00PM Just Hope 1717 MadisonAve, SE, Grand Rapids
O, H,Ti
7:00PM Progress Not Perfection Location: St. Paul’s Campus Parish
1 Damascus Rd. Big Rapids (on the campus
of Ferris State University)
C, H, Lit
7:30PM Natural Life Location: New Community Church
2340 Dean Lake Drive NE, Grand Rapids
WEDNESDAY
8:00AM SunriseTo Sunset Location: Matthew’s House of Ministry
766 7th St. NW, Grand Rapids (atAlpine)
O, Lit (ItWorks How/Why)
11:00AM No Name Location: Grace Christian Reformed Church
100 Buckley SE, Grand Rapids
O,H,RR
Noon Just ForToday Location:Trinity United Methodist Church
1100 CollegeAve, NE, Grand Rapids
Noon Keep Coming Back Location: NorthAlano Club Room B
1020 CollegeAve. NE, Grand Rapids
5:30PM Downtown Resting Place Location: Heartside Ministry
54 South Division, Grand Rapids
O, H, S/T
7:00PM We Qualify Location: HolyTrinity Episcopal Church
5333 Clyde ParkAve. SW,Wyoming
O (1,3), Lit (2,4), B (5)
7:00PM Open-Minded Group Location: Immanuel Lutheran Church
726 FullerAve, Big Rapids
O, OT
8:00PM SurrenderToWin Location: Clancy Street Ministry
940 ClancyAve NE, Grand Rapids
4-RR, 5-S
THURSDAY
8:00AM Sunrise to Sunset Location: Matthew’s House of Ministry
766 7th St. NW, Grand Rapids (atAlpine)
O,T
11:00AM No Name Location: Grace Christian Reformed Church
100 Buckley SE, Grand Rapids
O, H, B
7:00PM Home Group Location: Lifequest
1050 Fisk St SE, Grand Rapids
O, H
7:30PM Natural Life Location: New Community Church
2340 Dean Lake Drive NE, Grand Rapids
8:00PM Young In Recovery Location: God’s Kitchen
303 South Division, Grand Rapids
O, Lit
FRIDAY
8:00AM SunriseTo Sunset Location: Matthew’s House of Ministry
766 7th St NW, Grand Rapids (atAlpine)
O, OT, S(1st)
11:00AM No Name Location: Grace Christian Reformed Church
100 Buckley SE, Grand Rapids
O, H, IP (1st & 3rd), S (2nd & 4th)
Noon Keep Coming Back Location: NorthAlano Club B
1020 CollegeAve. NE, Grand Rapids
5:30PM Downtown Resting Place Location: Heartside Ministry
54 South Division, Grand Rapids
O, H, OP (1st)
7:00PM T.G.I.F. Location:Trinity Reformed Church
1224 DavisAve. NW, Grand Rapids
O, H, Candle Light
7:00PM Staying in the Solution Location: Church of the Holy Spirit
1200 Post Drive NE, Belmont
*the 4th Friday of the month is an Open Meeting
C, Spkr
SATURDAY
11:00AM Sisters of Sobriety Location: Matthews House of Ministry
766 7th St. NW, Grand Rapids (atAlpine)
O, Lit, S,W
11:00AM Men of Character Location: 1072 JeffersonAve SE, Grand Rapids
3:00PM Welcome Back Location: Open Heart Community Church
841 Burton St. SWWyoming (The entrance is located in the
back of the church next to the parking lot.)
6:30PM Sat. Night Candle Light Location: Pine Rest Retreat Center Bldg
68th St. and S. Divison, Grand Rapids -Take the main entrance
off 68th Street - just east of S. DivisionThe meeting is in the first building on
the left in room 175.
O, H, S/T (2nd & 4th)
All Meetings are Non-Smoking
unless listed Abbreviation Key
Advocacy T-Shirts!
They start some conversations,
that’s for sure!
Only $20
Proceeds benefit Recovery Allies.
Get yours today! Call 616-254-9988
We’d like to recognize
Susan Rook for her contribution...
it’s her quote!

9. Living Large n WINTER 2016-2017 9
FELONY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYERS
AAMCO
ACE HARDWARE
ALBERTSON’S
AMERICAN GREETINGS
APPLE INC.
APPLEBEE’S
ARAMARK
AVON PRODUCTS
BAHAMA BREEZE
BASKIN-ROBBINS
BED, BATH & BEYOND
BEST WESTERN
BLACK & DECKER
BRAUM’S INC.
BRIDGESTONE
BUFFALO WILD WINGS
CAMBELL’S SOUP
CARL’S JR.
CARRIER CORPORATION
CEFCO
CDW
CHICK-FIL-A
CHIPOTLE
CHRYSLER
CINTAS
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE
COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTERS
CONAGRA FOODS
COPART
COSTCO
DAIRY QUEEN
DART CONTAINERS
DEER PARK SPRING WATER CO.
DELTA FAUCETS
DENNY’S
DOLE FOOD COMPANY
DOLLAR TREE
DIVIZIO INDUSTRIES
DR. PEPPER
DUNLOP TIRES
DUNKIN’ DONUTS
DUPONT
DURACELL
EDDIE V’S
EMBASSY SUITES
EPSON
ERMCO, INC.
FIRESTONE AUTO CARE
FLYING J
FOOD SERVICES OF AMERICA
FRITO-LAY
FRUIT OF THE LOOM
GENENTECH
GENERAL ELECTRIC
GENERAL MILLS
GEORGIA-PACIFIC
GOLDEN CORRAL
GOODMAN
GRAINGER
GREAT CLIPS
HANES
HH GREGG
HILTON HOTELS
HOLIDAY INN
IBM
IHOP
IKEA
IN-N-OUT BURGER
INTERNATIONAL PAPER
INTERSTATE BATTERIES
JACK IN THE BOX
JIFFY LUBE
JIMMY JOHNS
KELLY MOORE PAINTS
KFC
KOHL’S
KRAFT FOODS
LABATT FOOD SERVICES
LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE
MCDONALD’S
MEN’S WEARHOUSE
METALS USA
MILLER BREWING COMPANY
MOTOROLA
NFI
NORDSTROM
O’CHARLEYS
OLIVE GARDEN
PACTIV
PAPPADEAUX
PEPSICO
PETSMART
PFS
PHILLIP MORRIS INC.
PILGRIM’S
PRAXAIR
RADISSON
RALPH’S
RC WILLEY
RED LOBSTER
RED ROBIN
REI
REPUBLIC SERVICES
RESTAURANT DEPOT
REYES BEVERAGE GROUP
RUBBERMAID
RUBY TUESDAY
RUMPKE
SAFEWAY
SAFELITE
SALVATION ARMY
SARA LEE
SEASONS 52
SHELL OIL
SHOPRITE
SMASH BURGER
SONIC DRIVE-IN
SONY
SUBWAY
SYSCO
TESLA
TRADER JOES
TYSON FOODS
US FOODS
US STEEL CORPORATION
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
WASTE CONNECTIONS
WENDY’S
WHOLE FOODS
WINCO FOODS
WYNDHAM HOTELS
YARD HOUSE
For more employers visit exoffenders.net
If your company hires us folks... please let us know
and we will add you to the list!
CCAR: Recovery Coach Academy®
Cost: $500 Dates: WEEKEND EDITION! Location TBD (Grand Rapids)
***Would you like to do the Recovery Coach training but cannot get time off of
work? We would like to offer this training over 2 back to back weekends this winter.
Dates are Friday evenings, Sat/Sun February 3, 4, 5 and 10, 11 and 12.
Time: Fri. evenings from 5 – 8pm, 9-5 Sat. and Sun. 2 back to back weekends.
The CCAR Recovery Coach Academy© is a 5-day intensive training that focuses on providing
individuals with the skills needed to guide, mentor, and support anyone who would like to
enter into or sustain long-term recovery from an addiction to alcohol or other drugs.
The materials will provide participants with training that focus on developing and refining skills
necessary to responsibly provide the services of a Recovery Coach. This includes learning new
and less stigmatizing language, the art of active listening, and understanding your role in the
community. The training will provide participants with tools and resources that will give the
participants confidence in their ability to provide recovery support services. These resourc-
es will provide a base to help link people in recovery, to link people in recovery to needed
supports within the community. Along with the materials and lectures, the interaction between
participants will be a valuable part of the program.
CCAR Recovery Coach Academy© participants will:
– Describe Recovery Coach role and functions
– Understand the stages of recovery
– List the components, core values and guiding principles of recovery
– Describe the stages of change and their applications
– Build skills to enhance relationships
– Increase their awareness of culture, power and privilege
– Explore many dimensions of recovery of recovery and recovery coaching
– Address ethical and boundaries issues
– Discover attitudes about self-disclosure and sharing your story
– Experience recovery wellness planning
– Practice newly acquired skills
IN AN EMOTIONALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENT
Who Should Attend?
The RCA is open to individuals who have an interest in providing support, mentorship, and
guidance to persons with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders.
Individuals who are interested in the RCA must be approved for participation by their employ-
er, a coordinating agency or endorsed by someone in the community that can speak as a ref-
erence. RCA participants should themselves be individuals in stable recovery, as it is important
to those served, that their coach have a personal understanding of addiction and recovery.
What if I am not a person in recovery?
We welcome all individuals in the community who would like a better understanding of what
a Recovery Coach does. In the past we have enjoyed the company of social workers, doctors,
psychologists, and other clinicians in our RCA. Each individual left with a better understanding
about the future of recovery supports.
COST & MCBAP HOURS: The cost of this training is $400.00 and is worth 32 MCBAP hours.
Lunch is included for each day of training.
CCAR’s Ethical Considerations
for Recovery Coaching®
Cost: $200 Dates: January 26 and 27 Time: 9am – 5pm
Location TBD (Grand Rapids) (We chose our location based on class size so thank you in
advance for working with us!)
Recovery coaching as a peer-to-peer recovery support service has grown exponentially over
the past seven years as seen through the training of over 10,000 coaches. When CCAR
designed this course, we sought to address a critical need amongst Recovery Coaches: the
issue of ethical considerations. Ethics had been discussed in many Recovery Coach circles;
yet formal training has been lacking. This two day training addresses this critical need. Using
presentations, small group work, role play and a decision making matrix many areas will be
addressed including: defining the coaching service role and functions, coaching standards,
issues of vulnerability, ethical decision making, performance enhancement and legal issues.
Recovery coaching is not just about knowing skills and content. It is and always will be about
the people…your stories, your experiences and the transformation that happens. This is the
art of Recovery Coaching.
We hope this course will not only help Recovery Coaches explore ethical considerations that
arise when serving others but will help why it is so important to maintain good boundaries
when making decisions that both err on the side of the recoveree and err on the side of being
generous.
Learning Objectives - Participants will:
• Understand what ethics are and why ethics are so important when performing Recovery
Coach Services
• Learn how to stay in your lane as a recovery coach
• Understand the decision making process
• Develop guidelines for making ethical decisions
• Apply the new learning to your every day work as an RC
Please use the the form, at www.recoveryallies.us/recovery-coach-academy/, to register the
person who is attending the session.
Trainings Offered By Recovery Allies

10. WNTER 2016-2017 n Living Large10
The Purpose Of Pathways.
There is a Recovery Revolution. Come, be a part.
Remember the Wizard Of Oz?
Remember the Yellow Brick Road?
Remember the message?
Bet you did not remember how powerfully that
message connected to the recovery community and
those working to conquer a Substance Use Disorder.
How could you? That connection has not really
been a message that has been shared much at all in
the world at large. But, that is starting to change
and this iconic and classic film is a surprisingly pow-
erful metaphor for it.
In the film, the Yellow Brick Road is a pathway for
Dorothy and the others to follow to a place where
their strongest desires will be fulfilled. For Dorothy
it's the desire to be home. To be in a safe place of
comfort, security and wellness. It's to be in a place
that is familiar and filled with safety. It's a place
nearly all of us can relate to, in some form or anoth-
er: Home.
To get there she and her friends must follow a long
road of yellow bricks, a pathway which will have
challenges - yes - but ultimately the answers needed
to fulfill their desires. Follow the pathway, one step
at a time, and the answers will be revealed to allow
you to have what you desire. Follow the pathway,
carefully and purposefully, and challenges can be
overcome and goals realized. Simply follow the
pathway and a better state of wellness can be discov-
ered, uncovered and explored.
That - in a simple form - is the essence of the Path-
ways Concept. Follow the pathway and you'll dis-
cover that the answers and the empowerment have
always been within YOU. We only needed to start to
believe this truth.
So, what does this mean? What's the core?
Well, to best express this I'll need to share a little of
my own story.
Like millions of Americans I began using alcohol on
a regular basis in the late teens and early 20s. For
me it was always connected to a sense of celebra-
tion: The week is over and now I get to celebrate
and reward myself for working hard. Off to the bar.
Off to the club. Off to a party or quietly sitting with
friends or alone. For me the reasons to use were: 1.
It clicked with me physiologically and 2. It was part
of the culture which I lived and embraced.
Those first 10 years there was not an issue.
The next 11-15 the issue became apparent.
The next 16 - 20 the issue became dependency.
For me I began to become aware of "an" issue in
my early 30s, about 10 years into my drinking. I
strived to cut down, to moderate and often did just
that. Still, dependency crept up little by little, year
by year. By 40 alcohol was a completely destructive
force in my life and dependency upon it a perplexing
and confusing and ravaging reality. The Wicked
Witch was there, in full force.
Even with acute awareness that a problem was
forming I was unable to prevent the full effects of
the problem from exploding into my reality.
Why?
For me the answer was simple. Over and over and
wherever I turned I encountered the same message:
1. You'll never be able to drink again. 2. The only
way to wellness is through AA, 12 Steps and a belief
in a higher power. 3. Alcohol is different from and
not the same as "harder" drugs.
I could not swallow this (pun intended) as I did not
want to never drink again. Even if that were to be a
reality I am an agnostic/atheist so belief in a higher
power to yield wellness was simply not an option. It
was a double whammy. And, it was a powerful one.
Looking back it added years to my struggle. I think
it does for many. I believe it does for millions.
12 Step programs work well for many of those whom
engage with them but not all. So, what about the
rest? What about the percentage of those where
the legacy and power of 12 Steps simply does not
work and even alienates? It’s a larger number of
people than some think. What about them and
what do they do once they realize the most famous
and accepted pathway to wellness simply is not the
pathway for them.
In short, in simplistic terms, they just: Follow
Another Pathway. Follow however they choose to
define their Yellow Brick Road.
That's the core of the Pathways Concept and here
that concept is: You define you Recovery and you
and you alone are in complete control of it. There
are a million reasons why people become dependent
upon a substance and there are just as many ways
to, step by step, leave that dependency in the past.
If 12 Step programs work for you then dive into
them as deeply as you can. Spirituality and faith
are powerful allies when we confront life's most
difficult struggles. But, if not, then simply choose a
different pathway and different way to connect with
and draw support from the recovery community.
LifeRing and SMART are two of the primary mutual
aid group alternatives to 12 Steps. Others include
Women For Sobriety, Seeking Safety, Wellbriety and
Refuge Recovery and All Recovery. These mutual
aid groups offer both secular and spiritual solutions.
And, if something does not work then simply seek
out something that does. These options may not be
as famous as 12 Steps, nor with the same longevity
and legacy, but they are options most may not be
aware are there. There are forks and many direc-
tions in your Yellow Brick Road which will still lead
to the same Emerald City of wellness and home.
Mutual aid groups are extremely powerful in help-
ing those to get well from Substance Use Disorder.
Very few, including myself, will argue with this. In
groups you can realize that dealing with a substance
use issue is TYPICAL and something that millions
encounter. You are not alone. No question about
that no matter how much our society may impact
you to feel otherwise. No question about that de-
spite whatever stigmas exist. And there are many.
But, for some mutual aid support groups just simply
are not the way. And - guess what - that's ok too.
Strive to identify those things in life which ignite
your interests and passions. As clarity comes from
physiological wellness, those things in life which
make you smile, which make you content, can be-
come powerful pathways to wellness, too.
For me I made the decision to gain as much from
any group as possible. So, I'll go to anything and
simply pull whatever I can from it. I take it in. I
make it mine. I interpret it however it works for
me. I also practice yoga. I'm working on a novel. I
read about stuff which interests me until I cannot
read any more. I enjoy my morning coffee like I
used to enjoy Friday night Martinis. No, not exactly
the same way. I don't get the same dopamine high
as I did from those strong alcoholic beverages on
the weekend. But, I do get a smaller high each and
every single morning of the week. It's amazing. It's
one of my pathways.
I'm still walking on my Yellow Brick Road. Across
the way I see Dorothy and her friends walking in the
same direction but on a different pathway. Turning
the other direction I see many faces I've met on my
journey, each walking on her or his own pathway.
Turns out there is not just one or two like I believed
for most of my life. There are hundreds. There
are thousands. There are hundreds of thousands.
There are millions. There are as many pathways in
recovery as there are humans alive on this beautiful
planet.
Never saw that one coming.
Perhaps the reason why is that the Emerald City of
wellness gleams brightly in both the sun and moon-
light. The glare and reflections coming from a place
of wellness can be powerful. Yep, it's that good.
That glare and reflection are so powerful it took a
while for me to notice the countless ways people
were all moving towards the same destination.
The tide is turning. A Recovery Revolution has just
begun. That silly witch is still chasing after but my
feet are moving forward just a couple steps each,
one day at a time.
Come... join along for the journey. How will you
define your Yellow Brick Road?
In the end... it may not even be yellow.
- Douglas Hulst
“The roads to
recovery are many
and that the resolution
of alcoholism by any
method should be a
cause for celebration
by A.A. members.”
– Bill Wilson, 1944

11. Living Large n WINTER 2016-2017 11
Recovery residences are a safe
place to reside while learning
to live a life free of drugs
and alcohol. In early
recovery housing is
critical. A recov-
ery residence
offers rules,
structure, ac-
countability, and
support.
Today I proudly
claim to be a per-
son in long-term
recovery. It took me a very long time to be able
to earn this title, as I was what may be called
a “chronic relapser”. I went to treatment 18
times, only to use within the first 24 hours of
discharge after each of those trips. Except for
the last.
During my last trip to rehab it was suggested
that I move on to a recovery house upon dis-
charge. I had all kinds of excuses not to go. “I
have a safe place to go with non-using family
members”. “I just did 101 days in treatment,
why the heck would I need more?” “I don’t
want to live with a bunch of other women whom
I don’t know”. All excuses to simply NOT do
what was being suggested of me.
I was a person who could thrive in treatment.
Tell me when to eat, when to sleep, what group
to go to, what topic to talk about and I was set.
I had become “institutionalized”. I could talk
the talk but could not walk the walk. I did not
know how to live in the outside world.
A recovery residence gave me the tools I need-
ed to learn to become a responsible, productive
member of society. I obtained employment. I
learned to cook. I had family like support from
my “sisters” in recovery at the house. I did dai-
ly house chores. I regularly attended parenting
time with my daughters. I learned patience of
myself and others. I attended recovery support
groups regularly.
All things I still do today. Today I am the Di-
rector of Outreach and Women’s Housing man-
ager for a group of recovery residences in the
Grand Rapids, MI area. I cook dinner for my
family most nights of the week, in our home. I
have family like support from my “sisters” in
recovery. I have regained full custody of my
youngest daughter. I spend regular time with
my oldest daughter whom was adopted by a
family member. I still practice patience. I still
regularly attend and serve for recovery support
groups. These are but a few of the many bless-
ings I have gained from living in a recovery res-
idence.
Bill Wilson, cofounder of Alcoholics Anony-
mous once said, “You can’t think your way into
right action, but you can act your way into right
thinking.” This quote guided me into taking
the simple suggestion of moving into a recov-
ery residence. A suggestion that may be one of
the most pivotal moves in my recovery.
Recovery residences offer people a safe place
to start and sustain recovery. The rules, struc-
ture, accountability, and support help guide
people, like me, into long term recovery by not
just thinking about right living; by living their
way into right thinking.
RECOVERY RESIDENCES
Our Approach
• Teaches self-empowerment and self-reliance • Provides meetings that are educational, supportive and include open
discussions • Encourages individuals to recover from addiction and alcohol abuse and live satisfying lives • Teaches
techniques for self-directed change • Supports the scientifically informed use of psychological treatments and legally
prescribed psychiatric and addiction medication • Works on substance abuse, alcohol abuse, addiction and drug abuse as
complex maladaptive behaviors with possible physiological factors • Evolves as scientific knowledge in addiction recovery
evolves • Differs from Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other 12-step programs
Self-Management for Addiction Recovery
KENT COUNTY RECOVERY HOUSING
COALITION - UNITED METHODIST
COMMUNITY HEALTH FIRST STEP
HOUSE – WOMAN’S HOME
Contact: Rose Simmons
Phone: 616-452-3226 Ext. 3037
MailingAddress: 904 SheldonAve. SE
E-mail: rsimmons@umchousegr.org
Website: umchousegr.org
HomeAddress: 922 SheldonAve. SE
HOUSE OF BLESSINGS –
WOMAN’S HOME
Contact: Shellie Cole-Mickens
Phone: 616-634-1972
Address: 938 Humbolt Street Southeast
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
918 Hall Street Southeast
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
NEXT PHASE – WOMAN’S HOME
Contact: Freddy Martin
Phone: 616-450-0686
Address: 368 SenoraAve Southeast
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
SACRED BEGINNINGS –
WOMAN’S HOMES
Contact: Leslie King
Phone: 616-890-8278
HomeAddress: 1165 Hermitage SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
1366 Elliott SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Website: www.sbtp.org
STEP FORWARD RECOVERY HOMES
Address: GrandvilleArea
Contact: Jo Ringnalda
Phone: 616-662-0881
THE COMFORT HOME
Address: South East Grand Rapids area
Contact: Ron and Laurie DeBose
Phone: 616-459-1930
MY SISTER’S HOUSE
(WOMEN IN RECOVERY)
Address:761 Bridge Street NW
Phone: 616-235-0223
RECOVERY ROAD LLC – MEN’S HOMES
ContactWomen: Brooke Bouman
Phone: 616-710-6956
ContactWomen: Scott Borough
Contact: 616-644-7956
MailingAddress: 961Alpine NW, GR MI
E-mail: marvin@recoveryroadllc.com
Website: recoveryroadllc.com
HomeAddress: 961Alpine NW, GR MI
3036 Perry SWWyoming MI 49519
NEXT PHASE RECOVERY –
MEN’S HOME
Contact: Freddy Martin
Phone: 616-450-0686
Address: 1145Alexander SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
FAITH CHARITY RECOVERY CENTER –
COUPLES HOME
Address: 2219 HortonAve SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Contact: Dan or ZoeAnn
Phone: 616-247-4744 or 616-808-5106
TOUCHSTONE RECOVERY
Address: 1328 MaplerowAve NW
Contact: Kevin & Catherine O’Hare
Phone:616-250-8056 Cell:616-309-3091
PINE REST JELLEMA HOUSE
Contact: Derrick Jackson
Phone: 616-222-6861
MailingAddress: 523 Lyon Street
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
BUILDING MEN FOR LIFE
Address: Ottawa County
Contact: JeffVantrees
Phone: 616-795-9969
GRAND RECOVERY
Address: PO Box 1060, Grand Rapids, MI
Contact: Sanford Cummings
Phone: 616-516-6537

12. WNTER 2016-2017 n Living Large12
LAUGHING Matters
mirecovery.info
Recovery Allies of West Michigan would like to introduce you to a new website.
It’s designed to make the search for addiction treatment and recovery supports
a little easier.
Michigan has many options for treatment of addiction and Recovery Supports.
The problem is those options can be tricky for a person to navigate.This is true
no matter whether you’re a professional in the field, the one needing the help,
or a loved one of the person struggling.This website has hundreds of resources
that have been assembled in an easy to use “filtering” system.
If you are in the field, take a look at the site.We welcome your feedback as well
as requests to add additional resources.
If you need help for yourself or a loved one, visit the site. If you have more
questions call us, if you find it helpful, send us an email sharing why. If you
found aspects that could be improved upon, let us know that too.
The project is very new and is a community collaboration involving Grand
Rapids Red Project,The Kent County Health Department and our local
community mental health agency, Network 180. We welcome feedback, hope
you will find it helpful and that you will share with others who will benefit.
Learn more about
Marvin’s story and
about mirecovery at
mirecovery.info