Submission #22095 by Ohev Shalom Men's Club - Maitland, FL (1316)
I have read the 2021 Torch Awards Program Guidelines.
B'ri'ut Substance Use Disorder
Health and Wellness
Page 1
We have developed a community-wide program to aid the Central Florida Jewish community in our struggles with substance use disorders.
"The tragic deaths of several young adults in our midst from drug overdoses not only devastates their families and breaks our hearts, it diminishes our community and calls us to action.
Pik’uach Nefesh, the obligation to save a life in jeopardy, is a fundamental Jewish value. And there are many lives, young and old, at risk from the insidious disease of substance abuse. " Quotation from Donna Abramson, CRJ
"The tragic deaths of several young adults in our midst from drug overdoses not only devastates their families and breaks our hearts, it diminishes our community and calls us to action.
Pik’uach Nefesh, the obligation to save a life in jeopardy, is a fundamental Jewish value. And there are many lives, young and old, at risk from the insidious disease of substance abuse. " Quotation from Donna Abramson, CRJ
Substance Use Disorders - Community Wide Program Now called B’ri’ut
(B’ri’ut is Hebrew for “health”)
Introduction
We have developed a community-wide program to aid the Central Florida Jewish community in our struggles with substance use disorders.
There are several main goals or arms to B’ri’ut: 1) Education. We provide education to Jewish organizations, including synagogues, religious schools, and community organizations, to enable their staff to recognize substance use disorders in their membership, 2) Community Education. We are providing education to the community at large to recognize substance use disorders. 3) Motivation. We have trained staff at a number of local Jewish Organizations in a technique called Motivational Interviewing, which can be used by laypersons to help convince people experiencing substance use disorders to seek treatment, 4) Direction. We are developing resource guides, to provide individuals with options of places to seek treatment, 5) Action. We are enabling individuals and organizations in the community to request Narcan, to help prevent opiate overdoses. 6). Hope. We will be developing local support groups for individuals struggling with Substance use disorder. Many Jewish individuals do not feel comfortable with AA, NA and the Salvation Army due to the religious bent of these organizations. 7) Acceptance. We want to bring substance use disorders in Central Florida out into the open, to make them acceptable to discuss, to remove the stigma, and thus to make it easier for individuals to seek and receive help.
We have fourteen Jewish organizations that recognized a need for this program. This list includes every Jewish organization in the Maitland area. We invited all Rabbis, Cantors, Educators, and Executive Directors to participate.
Approach
Our approach was to develop multiple programs. The first would take the front line personnel (Those that have contact with members of the organization, clients, etc.) and provide orientation and education (1/2 day) on how to recognize substance abuse. This included anyone interested in this program. The second portion was (1/2 day) training on how to interact and deal with someone needing assistance. This portion was limited to 35 participants. As more classes are needed, we will schedule additional sessions. Both sessions were led by certified trainers.
In parallel with this activity, we are constructing a Social Media program for college students and young adults. Most of them are well aware of the issues and have attended many lectures on this subject. They are looking for assistance but not in a group setting.
We are also producing a referral guide; indicating where someone would go for assistance if needed.
For the immediate future all referrals would be directed to a specific contact at Jewish Family Services (JFS). We have plans to work with Project Opioid in Florida (Houston Spore) on the development of an “App” for mobile phones for the future referral information. We see this as an effective way to provide individuals with needed info and an effective way to keep this current.
We are forming support groups for our Jewish community who are struggling with issues regarding substance use disorders. These groups will be established for various age groups and will be led by community members to be trained to lead such groups. We believe those that have suffered and/or recovered will make the best group leaders
We are also providing Narcan (a medication that counteracts opioid overdoses) to all organizations to have on hand, just in case. This is being funded by Project Opioid at no charge to our community.
Following the March training sessions the individuals who attended have expressed and exhibited a level of energy and a desire to keep the conversation going. These participants wanted to provide information to their congregants/members to alert them to the urgency of the situation. Our kids are being exposed to drugs and we have lost some to overdoses. Additionally, they wanted them to discuss substance use with their families and provide support for those suffering. Accordingly, we are scheduling a community wide session on substance abuse with the objective of reaching young families with children (all ages), young adults and older members of the community. The objective is to get the discussion started to eliminate the stigma and sense of embarrassment typically felt in the community when confronted with a family member or friend with substance use problems. This has been scheduled for May 27, 2021 (Zoom and Live). This will be a panel discussion moderated by our Clinical Director at JFS. The panel will include four individuals; Law enforcement, Parent who has lost a child to an overdose, the Head of the Project Opioid, and a recovering addict. The publicity will be led by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando (JFGO). The intention is to have all organizations publicize the event through their social media, newsletters and Web sites.
(B’ri’ut is Hebrew for “health”)
Introduction
We have developed a community-wide program to aid the Central Florida Jewish community in our struggles with substance use disorders.
There are several main goals or arms to B’ri’ut: 1) Education. We provide education to Jewish organizations, including synagogues, religious schools, and community organizations, to enable their staff to recognize substance use disorders in their membership, 2) Community Education. We are providing education to the community at large to recognize substance use disorders. 3) Motivation. We have trained staff at a number of local Jewish Organizations in a technique called Motivational Interviewing, which can be used by laypersons to help convince people experiencing substance use disorders to seek treatment, 4) Direction. We are developing resource guides, to provide individuals with options of places to seek treatment, 5) Action. We are enabling individuals and organizations in the community to request Narcan, to help prevent opiate overdoses. 6). Hope. We will be developing local support groups for individuals struggling with Substance use disorder. Many Jewish individuals do not feel comfortable with AA, NA and the Salvation Army due to the religious bent of these organizations. 7) Acceptance. We want to bring substance use disorders in Central Florida out into the open, to make them acceptable to discuss, to remove the stigma, and thus to make it easier for individuals to seek and receive help.
We have fourteen Jewish organizations that recognized a need for this program. This list includes every Jewish organization in the Maitland area. We invited all Rabbis, Cantors, Educators, and Executive Directors to participate.
Approach
Our approach was to develop multiple programs. The first would take the front line personnel (Those that have contact with members of the organization, clients, etc.) and provide orientation and education (1/2 day) on how to recognize substance abuse. This included anyone interested in this program. The second portion was (1/2 day) training on how to interact and deal with someone needing assistance. This portion was limited to 35 participants. As more classes are needed, we will schedule additional sessions. Both sessions were led by certified trainers.
In parallel with this activity, we are constructing a Social Media program for college students and young adults. Most of them are well aware of the issues and have attended many lectures on this subject. They are looking for assistance but not in a group setting.
We are also producing a referral guide; indicating where someone would go for assistance if needed.
For the immediate future all referrals would be directed to a specific contact at Jewish Family Services (JFS). We have plans to work with Project Opioid in Florida (Houston Spore) on the development of an “App” for mobile phones for the future referral information. We see this as an effective way to provide individuals with needed info and an effective way to keep this current.
We are forming support groups for our Jewish community who are struggling with issues regarding substance use disorders. These groups will be established for various age groups and will be led by community members to be trained to lead such groups. We believe those that have suffered and/or recovered will make the best group leaders
We are also providing Narcan (a medication that counteracts opioid overdoses) to all organizations to have on hand, just in case. This is being funded by Project Opioid at no charge to our community.
Following the March training sessions the individuals who attended have expressed and exhibited a level of energy and a desire to keep the conversation going. These participants wanted to provide information to their congregants/members to alert them to the urgency of the situation. Our kids are being exposed to drugs and we have lost some to overdoses. Additionally, they wanted them to discuss substance use with their families and provide support for those suffering. Accordingly, we are scheduling a community wide session on substance abuse with the objective of reaching young families with children (all ages), young adults and older members of the community. The objective is to get the discussion started to eliminate the stigma and sense of embarrassment typically felt in the community when confronted with a family member or friend with substance use problems. This has been scheduled for May 27, 2021 (Zoom and Live). This will be a panel discussion moderated by our Clinical Director at JFS. The panel will include four individuals; Law enforcement, Parent who has lost a child to an overdose, the Head of the Project Opioid, and a recovering addict. The publicity will be led by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando (JFGO). The intention is to have all organizations publicize the event through their social media, newsletters and Web sites.
Page 2
Original Program