My Nonprofit Reviews

Wow! In reading over these reviews, I find myself saddened by all of the people who made the choice to give up on themselves, for that is exactly what they did, and are now blaming the program for their own bad choices. I entered the Recovery Ventures Program in July of 2004. At first, I too was disillusioned. I didn't like the work, after all I had been laying on a couch, doing exactly as I pleased, and mooching off of others for years. Eight to ten hours a day as a sever, kitchen worker, or simply as someone doing household chores?? No thank you very much!!!! Working a regular job, contributing and being responsible are difficult for addicts, who have spent their lives crafting ways to take advantage of others and pursuing their demons every single second of every single day for years.

When a client enters RVC, they are asked if they are "willing to do whatever it takes" to change their lives and enter recovery. Many people forget this when they are faced with the realities of daily life in the program. I know that I did at first. However, even though adjusting to the work and group schedule was difficult, I knew that the staff members at the time really did care about me and that they accepted me without judgment or condemnation. As someone who had tried 7 other inpatient rehabilitation facilities and still couldn't stop; who lost everything, including a son, during her addiction and who survived two suicide attempts, Recovery Ventures was really a last resort. A two year therapeutic community is designed for chronic substance abusers who need intense treatment to change a lifetime of self destructive behaviors. Recovery Ventures intake staff make this clear during the initial interview. I know they did with me. I understood and agreed, as does every other person who is admitted as a resident of the program.

The two years I spent at Recovery Ventures were the two most difficult, challenging, and rewarding years of my life. Extra duty, "being on the move", was something I had a hard time with. What addict wouldn't? What addict likes to be accountable? None that I can name. However, time "on the move" taught me a valuable lesson. It taught me that my actions, even small seemingly insignificant ones, have consequences. It taught me to be aware and to be responsible. It taught me that I couldn't just act on my feelings simply because I wanted to and that my actions affected not only myself, but those around me. It taught me acceptance. It taught me that not everything in the world works the way I think it should. It taught me that I am not always the one in charge and that sometimes saying OK and doing as I am asked really can be the best choice. I needed to be held accountable, as I had always been able to manipulate myself out of every single situation in my past. I had always been able to convince my family to rescue me. ( Family members, understand that an addict cannot be an addict by themselves. It is impossible. Remember that when you buy into complaints from the addicts in your lives. It is possible to love someone to death. Literally.). Being held accountable at Recovery Ventures taught me to take personal responsibility and to hold myself accountable. Those lessons have served me well in the years since I graduated the program and stepped back into my life. I am grateful for every single second I spent "on the move." With me, it worked as it was designed to. I was ready. I was willing to do anything.

For me, the hardest part of RVC was not the extra duty, the confrontation, or the sometimes long work hours. It was the fact that, at RVC, I was forced to face myself. In my life before RVC, I had always been able to blame someone else for my problems. It was never really my fault. I was "sick" or someone who loved me hadn't stepped up to the plate when I needed them. At RVC, I came to understand that I alone am responsible for my actions and that even though I feel something strongly, that I do not need to act on it. My behavior is a direct result of my thoughts and feelings. No-one can "cause" me to do anything. I am responsible for myself. I learned that, even though others might engage in behaviors that I strongly disagreed with, I was there to heal myself and reconcile my past. I was there to build a foundation for a future for myself. I learned that to blame someone else's actions for my bad behavior was my problem, not theirs. This has proved to be the most valuable lesson I could have ever learned. It has allowed me to remain in recovery, with my life continually moving forward, since my graduation in 2006. Does this mean I'm perfect or that I haven't faced hard times? Absolutely not. What it does mean is that RVC taught me how to make mistakes, take responsibility, and pick myself back up.

As for the work schedule, I laugh when I hear people complain about how hard it is. Does anyone have any clue what they would be paying out of pocket for two years of quality residential treatment? The most affordable inpatient treatment center I am familiar with charges around $7,000 per month. Multiply that times 24 and you have about $168,000. No-one I know has paid that much back to the program through the work they did there. Yes, work was tough and the hours could be long. The lesson I learned from that was humility. I thought I was "too good" to wash dishes or to sweep floors. I learned better. I learned to be grateful for any opportunity to do good work and develop my work ethic, which was non-existent before walking through the doors of RVC. The work schedule taught me what it was like to get up every single day, put my feet on the floor, go to work, come home and do what it takes to take care of myself and my family. I can tell you that, nothing that I did during my time at RVC has been as difficult as dealing with life outside of a therapeutic community. Without the lessons I learned at RVC, I would have given up along ago and would not be the student, wife, mother, counselor, friend and volunteer that I am today.

Recovery Ventures gave me the opportunity to save myself from myself, and I took it. Many others do not make that choice and I have compassion for them. Recovery is not about who you are allowed, or not allowed, to date in the program. It is not about what clothes you wear or if you like the staff or they like you. It is about learning to get up and do what you need to do every single day regardless of anything that is making you angry or making things hard. It is about personal accountability and holding yourself to a standard so that others don't have to. It is about developing gratitude and giving back. It is about learning that your family and friends owe you nothing and that your job in recovery is to make amends to them and to repay, where you can, all they have given you.

Nine and a half years into recovery, I am still grateful for the program and credit it with giving me the opportunity to save my life. The program offers everyone the same opportunity, but the road is a difficult one and many choose to give up on themselves and their families and blame the program and the staff for their lack of dedication and commitment to themselves.

I have known David Martin, Will Carter, Mark Somers, William Faulkner, Brent Child, and Michael Fort - all directors and staff members at RVC, almost since I walked in the door. I know without a doubt that each of these team members learned the same lessons that I did in the program and that they try to help others learn the same lessons every single day. David Martin and Brent Child were present in my marathon group. I remember the fear and shame I felt as I poured out every single painful detail of my past. I just knew that I would be judged, turned away, ridiculed as the failure and horrible human being I believed myself to be. What I remember about that are the hugs I received from both of my recovering brothers and the words of understanding and acceptance I received from them. There was no judgment. There was no condemnation. There was only respect, understanding, and empathy. That is what RVC is really about. It is a recovering community. It is not always easy and, at times, is incredibly hard. However, no matter how hard it gets; no matter what mistakes you make or how much you want to give up and walk out the door, there are people there who have walked in your shoes and who support and genuinely care for you. That was true when I was there and it is true now.

Recovery Ventures gives people society has long ago turned it's back on another chance at life. The path is a difficult one and it is designed to be so. If it had been easy, I do not believe that I would be here today writing this. I would be dead or in jail. I needed to face myself. I needed to be held accountable. Also, I need to be accepted, loved, and supported. The people at RVC recognized my potential long before I did and they supported as I fought my way into beginning to realize it. I am grateful for the program. I appreciate those who work there and know that they truly want each and every associate to succeed and go on to live productive and healthy lives. However, not everyone succeeds. Not everyone thrives and not everyone makes it through the program. From experience, I know that this is purely a matter of personal choice, of lack of commitment, and a decision to continue to try to do things "their way". It is not the fault of the program itself or anyone who works there. It is a sad reality that many addicts will try to continue to actively choose not to fight for themselves; they are not willing to do "whatever it takes" to change their lives and improve their relationships. However, for those who are willing to work hard and truly face themselves; for those who are willing to be held accountable, take personal responsibility, and hold themselves accountable; for those who are looking for the support and unconditional acceptance of other recovering addicts, Recovery Ventures is there for you and it will work for you. It is up to each and every client. It is up to you.

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