I have worked for Recovery Resources for less than two years but have experienced intrinsic rewards through service work at Recovery Resources that far exceed my work experience in theyears prior. Going to work everyday is a blessing for anyone, however I believe that there aren't many agency that offer the comfortable, family atmosphere for both employees and clients.

I was recruited to be a founding member of the Associate Board of Recovery Resources a dozen or more years ago. I remain committed as a member of the Board of Directors because of the compelling mission of the organization, the inspiring stories of recovery I have witnessed and the compassionate and dedicated staff of professionals I am pleased to support. To know the people of Recovery Resources is to love them.

You know a great nonprofit organization when it keeps “appearing” before you, when its’ many services present themselves to you with little or no effort on your part. I am referring in particular to Recovery Resources Employee Assistance Program. My employer receives staff training through this program ranging from Ethical Conduct to Drug Free Workforce training, to name just a few. The trainings are informative and interesting.

Another part of Recovery Resources EAP Division is Assist NOW which is a prepaid company benefit designed to help employees and family members with a wide range of personal challenges. With the help of Recovery Resources a company has an avenue to reach out to their staff and let them know they are valued and that help is available when needed. Confidential help is available on a wide range of issues including family conflict, substance abuse, marital/relationship issues, emotional distress, legal and financial difficulties among others.

Recovery Resources continues to be an extended helping hand wherever it is needed. The organization actively seeks new opportunities for growth, rooting them each time more firmly in the community and making a difference in each life that is touched.

The Mandel School of Applied Social Studies (MSASS) at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio prepares graduate students to receive a Master’s in Social Work. I. as a faculty member, originally began the Alcoholism Specialization in 1975 – this program has evolved into both drugs and alcohol and more recently has added curriculum in co-occurring disorders of mental and substance use disorders. MSASS has had a long history with Recovery Resources dating back to when it was the Cleveland Center on Alcoholism in the 50s and 60s and continuing through two mergers, and I, and my students, have been around through both of those mergers. As Recovery Resources has developed to keep up with the changes in the field, so has MSASS -- our curriculum, training programs and research activities have long reflected the changes in the field, and often times those changes have come about not from the faculty, but have been inspired from the field which speaks to the important role that Recovery Resources has played in the development of our specializations, our research agendas and our other community activities.

We have had the good fortune to have many of our students receive excellent training at Recovery Resources for over 35 years during my tenure - students who have gone on to play very important roles, not only at Recovery Resources, but in just about every major treatment center in Cuyahoga Cuyahoga and surrounding counties.

Debora Rodriquez and her administrative staff as well as previous directors (Myrtle Muntz and Helen Jones) and the Board of Directors have continued the legacy of this outstanding treatment program through the years which has provided excellent service to the local community and to the region for over 50 years and has worked so closely with the school for many years.

Again, on behalf of other faculty as well as our field instructors at MSASS, I would like to recognize the commitment and caring of this agency and hope that you will see fit to honor them with your award. which I know they will put to good use.

Thank you
Lenore A Kola, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Social Work
Co-director of the Ohio Center for
Evidence Based Practices

My son who had just moved to Austin, called me in a panic stating that he was coming home and had been suffering from this extreme case of anxiety.
He came home within a few days and we were thrown into this awful roller coaster of anxiety and stress. He mentioned that he had very negative thoughts about hurting himself. I was stricken with a panic I had never experienced in my life, a desperation I could not explain. A friend of mine got ahold of Ms. Rerko from Recovery Resources and she saw David right away. Within hours he was talking to Dr. Hill and his staff. We accompanied him to a few appts throughout this past 6 months. He was hooked up with Dr. Hill and Joe Cummins from Recovery Resources. I can not tell you how thankful we are for these people. We were just taken in by them immediately and cared for with the utmost respect. My son has just started a job two hours away. He continues to talk to these wonderful people. They do not just let go. They make sure you are still o.k. I can not begin to tell you how thankful we are that they reached out to us and helped. Forever they will be in my thoughts and prayers.

I was asked to serve on the board because the organization wanted to expand its reach into the minority community and to better assist those returning from a period of incarceration.

Virtually all of the ideas and suggestions I put forth were implemented, and the willingness to be inclusive has been heartwarming. An already very effective organization got even better.