Archways' Threads

A Conversation with Karen Welford – Part 3

Listen to part one of this conversation here - https://share.transistor.fm/s/19935724

Listen to part two of this conversation here - https://share.transistor.fm/s/f2130591

In this final installment of our three-part series, Michelle Lennon concludes her insightful conversation with Karen Welford about the transformative power of the strengthening families framework. Together, they delve into the five protective factors and discuss their application in family support practices across the U.S. Learn how these principles empower families, foster resilience, and strengthen communities.

Key Takeaways

00:00 - Intro

00:28 - Introduction to the Five Protective Factors

01:20 - The Evolution of Protective Factors in Family Resource Centers

03:01 - Parental Resilience and Growth

04:17 - Building Resilience Through Problem Solving

08:38 - The Importance of Healthy Social Connections

14:15 - Concrete Supports in Times of Need

19:31 - Realistic Expectations for Child Development

20:15 - Parenting Education and Substance Recovery

The strengthening families framework equips family support professionals with tools to address challenges holistically. Karen highlights the role of relationship-building and nonjudgmental attitudes as foundational qualities in family support workers. These principles help families navigate crises, find stability, and build a brighter future.

Families often seek support during times of acute stress, such as food insecurity or financial emergencies. Karen and Michelle share inspiring examples of how timely assistance can be a lifeline, preventing cascading challenges. By fostering trusting relationships, family support workers enable families to identify and address underlying issues beyond immediate crises.

Parent education emerges as a recurring theme throughout the conversation. Michelle’s personal story of transforming her parenting approach illustrates the profound impact of knowledge and empathy. By emphasizing the importance of emotional competence and realistic expectations, family support programs empower parents to nurture their children’s development while fostering healthier relationships.

If there's a topic you'd like to see us cover, email us at [email protected] or call us at 603-960-2128. Visit our website at https://www.archwaysnh.org to learn more about the Archways family of recovery and family resource centers.

If your business or organization has been thinking about creating a podcast and aren’t sure how to start, reach out to our producer at https://smithdouglass.com.

Conversations with Cheryle Pacapelli - Part 2

Link to Part 1 of the conversation - https://share.transistor.fm/s/df5940a4

Welcome to the latest episode of Archways Threads! In part 2 of this 3-part interview, Michelle Lennon continues her insightful conversation with Cheryle Pacapelli, Project Director of the Recovery Centers in New Hampshire. They dive deep into the complexities and successes of the peer recovery support movement, sharing personal stories, discussing the challenges of supervision, and exploring the vital role of harm reduction in recovery.

00:00 - Introduction and Recap

01:20 - The Role of Education in Peer Recovery

06:03 - Challenges of Licensing and Supervision

13:12 - Harm Reduction and Peer Recovery

16:47 - Supporting Multiple Pathways to Recovery

Michelle and Cheryle discuss the importance of education for peer recovery support workers, debunking the myth that peers lack educational qualifications and sharing inspiring stories of peers advancing their education and careers. The conversation then shifts to the complexities of licensing requirements for peer support workers, exploring the tension between medical models and peer support practices, and the need for better training for supervisors.

Michelle and Cheryle also delve into the controversial topic of harm reduction, discussing its importance in keeping people safe and alive, and the different approaches taken by recovery centers across New Hampshire.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of recognizing and supporting multiple pathways to recovery, from harm reduction to abstinence, and the ongoing need for education and conversation within the recovery community.

Part 3 of this conversation will be posted on October 1, 2024. Please subscribe so you’ll be notified when it’s posted.

If there's a topic you'd like to see us cover, email us at [email protected] or call us at 603-960-2128. Visit our website at https://www.archwaysnh.org to learn more about the Archways family of recovery and family resource centers.

If your business or organization has been thinking about creating a podcast and aren’t sure how to start, reach out to our producer at https://smithdouglass.com.

Conversations with Cheryle Pacapelli - Part 1

Archways' Threads is a show designed for people interested in the practices of supporting families and individuals affected by problematic substance use. Each episode, Michelle Lennon (President and CEO of Archways Recovery Community Organization and Family Resource Centers) and guests speak about topics of hope, strength, frustrations, and successes. Sometimes intuitive and insightful, and other times a bit fresh and cheeky, join us our as we share stories from peers and participants in the field and practice of Peer Recovery Support and Family Support & Strengthening.

0:00 - Introduction to Archways' Threads

7:09 - Role Clarity in Peer Support

11:11 - The Gradual Process of Recovery

14:44 - Building Trust through Peer Support

16:44 - Inserting Peers into the Recovery System

19:25 - Impact of Recovery Community Generosity

In part 1 of this 3-part interview, Michelle is joined by Cheryle Pacapelli, a prominent figure in New Hampshire's recovery community. They delve into the vital role of peer recovery support specialists in the recovery process, highlighting their unique contribution to helping individuals rebuild their lives beyond traditional treatment settings.

Cheryle, with her extensive experience and long-term recovery, discusses how peer supporters provide practical assistance and community resources that extend far beyond what is offered by 12-step sponsorship or clinical treatment. The conversation explores the evolution of recovery support services, the importance of integrating peer support within recovery community centers, and the impact of a recovery-oriented system of care.

Michelle and Cheryle also reflect on the historical context of recovery advocacy and the significant strides made in reducing stigma and enhancing support. The episode underscores the value of continuous support in recovery, the generosity and kindness of individuals in recovery, and the critical role of community resources in sustaining long-term recovery. Through Michelle and Cheryle's insights and experiences, listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the essential functions of peer support and its transformative effect on individuals and communities.

If there's a topic you'd like to see us cover, email us at [email protected] or call us at 603-960-2128. Visit our website at https://www.archwaysnh.org to learn more about the Archways family of recovery and family resource centers.

Thank you again to our sponsor, Health Market Connect, providing unbiased health insurance assistance for New Hampshire residents. Find more information at https://www.hmcnh.com

If your business or organization has been thinking about creating a podcast and aren’t sure how to start, reach out to our producer at https://smithdouglass.com.

Welcome to Archways’ Threads, a show focusing on the threads of family and recovery support services that help make up the tapestry of life in recovery. Join us as we share stories from peers and participants in the field and practice of peer recovery support and family support and strengthening. This podcast is sponsored by Health Market Connect, providing unbiased health insurance assistance for New Hampshire residents.

My name is Michelle Lennon. I'm the President and CEO of Archways family of family resource centers and recovery community centers. And I'm happy to be with you today to share a little bit about our upcoming launch of our podcast: Archways’ Threads. We believe that there are many threads that make up the tapestry of life and for individuals in recovery, and those receiving family support services. That is just so true. Life is complicated. Addiction is complicated. Recovery is complicated. And for the workers that support people, life can be hard. It can be joyful. It can be so purpose filled at times, but there's so much to learn. And we know that basic training just doesn't cover the gamut of what we go through in this job. In a conversation with staff, they had shared they would like to have something that was just for them. What we really wanted to address is having a place to go to ask questions, to get questions answered, to have special guests about different aspects of peer recovery support services, and family support services, that may not be covered in the training. We find the boots on the ground sometimes come up with the most innovative solutions to issues that we face. And sometimes that information isn't shared it out widely. And we want to change that. I know for me, I've been to so many self care trainings, but some of the things that have really made a difference in my life, I didn't hear from trainings. I've heard from a mom that had seven kids and ran a business and figured out a way to kind of take care of herself on the fly. Things like that. And the peer support networks, werre just so innovative, and we would like to have a venue to share out information. So our hope is that this podcast will be hosted by us, but that nationally, we have so many friends in the peer support world, in the family support world, that we share and support each other. Our hope is that for every podcast we provide, there is some actionable item that's going to make life easier or better for those of you doing this work. Thank you so much for joining us in this effort. Take care.

If there's a topic you'd like to see us cover, email us at [email protected] or call us at 603-960-2128. Visit our website at archwaysnh.org to learn more about the Archways family of recovery and family resource centers. And thank you again to our sponsor, Health Market Connect, providing unbiased health insurance assistance for New Hampshire residents. Find more information at hmcnh.com.

Theme music: Back Roads, by Taylor Hughes - https://open.spotify.com/track/5LuKxn1d04u7kCHqVFbGIN?si=cd9baa6688174a3c

Used with permission

Produced by Smith Douglass Associates – smithdouglass.com

Conversations with Cheryle Pacapelli - Part 3

Link to Part 1 of the conversation - https://share.transistor.fm/s/df5940a4

Link to Part 2 of the conversation - https://share.transistor.fm/s/eba97cd7

Welcome to the latest episode of Archways Threads! Today, we conclude our powerful 3-part conversation with Cheryle Pacapelli, Project Director for New Hampshire’s recovery centers. In this episode, we dive deep into the intersection of abstinence-based recovery, harm reduction, and the continuous journey of healing from addiction.

00:00 - Introduction and Recap

00:55 – Abstinence and Harm Reduction

02:52 – Navigating Addiction in the Family

04:18 – The Brain's Resilience in Recovery

08:01 – The Need for Long-Term Recovery Support

13:33 – Coping with Loss in the Recovery Community

Michelle and Cheryle discuss the balance between abstinence-only recovery and harm reduction models. Cheryle shares her concerns, based on personal experience, about the potential challenges of transitioning between these approaches.

Michelle also shares her husband’s experience with opiates and how his recovery journey has influenced difficult decisions about pain management, reflecting the impact addiction has on families.

Cheryle then reflects on the brain’s remarkable ability to heal and the ongoing cravings she faced after using opiates for a short time despite 21 years of sobriety. This highlights the vulnerability in long-term recovery. Michelle and Cheryle emphasize the importance of sustained recovery support beyond the initial crisis phase, discussing how critical it is for individuals to stay engaged with resources even after stabilization.

Both Michelle and Cheryle reflect on the emotional toll of losing friends in recovery and share their personal strategies for coping while continuing to advocate for those still battling addiction.

If there's a topic you'd like to see us cover, email us at [email protected] or call us at 603-960-2128. Visit our website at https://www.archwaysnh.org to learn more about the Archways family of recovery and family resource centers.

If your business or organization has been thinking about creating a podcast and aren’t sure how to start, reach out to our producer at https://smithdouglass.com.