http://www.horizon-health.org/contact-us/donation/jeremy-hitt-marathon/shtml

http://www.restoration-societyinc.org/up-coming_events.shtml

http://www.buffaloaany.org/newsletter.htm

http://buffaloagainstbullying.org/index.html

The following are some stats from our vocational program thus far in 2011:

• 57 clients placed
• 54%- full-time
• 46%- part-time
• 81%- making over $8
• 52%- with Benefits
• 69%- had convictions
• 85%- retained employment 90 days
• 46%- retained employment 180 days

To find out more about Horizon’s Vocational Program and other support services visit our site or call (716) 831-1800 and ask for Admissions.

ALCOHOL/DRUG ASSESSMENT SCREENING TEST

If you answer “Yes” to any question, it is time to seek professional evaluation.

• Do you drink more than 14 drinks (12 ounce beer, 5 ounce wine, 1 ounce liquor) per week?
• Have you used drugs other than those required for medical reasons?
• Have you abused prescription drugs?
• Do you abuse more than one drug at a time?
• Have you had “blackouts” or “flashbacks” as a result of alcohol or drug use?
• Do you ever feel bad or guilty about your alcohol or drug use?
• Does your spouse (parents) complain about your involvement with alcohol or drugs?
• Has alcohol or drugs created problems between you and your spouse or between you and your parents?
• Have you lost friends because of your alcohol or drug use?
• Have you neglected your family because of alcohol or drug abuse?
• Have you been in trouble at work because of alcohol or drug abuse?
• Have you lost a job because of alcohol or drug abuse?
• Have you gotten into fights when under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
• Have you engaged in illegal activities to obtain alcohol or drugs?
• Have you been arrested for possession of illegal drugs?
• Have you ever experienced withdrawal symptoms (felt sick) when you stopped taking alcohol or drugs?
• Have you had medical problems as a result of your alcohol or drug use (e.g. “shakes”, memory loss; hepatitis; convulsions; bleeding, etc.)
• Have you ever gone to anyone for help with an alcohol or drug problem?
• Have you been involved in a treatment program specifically related to alcohol or drug use?

If you answer “No” to any question, it is time to seek professional evaluation.

• Can you get through the week without using alcohol or drugs?
• Are you always able to stop using alcohol or drugs when you want to?

Ned Perlman applied at Horizon fresh out of college just wanting a job, but he got so much more.

After graduating from the State University of New York at Albany, Ned was anxious to get back to Western New York, an area he’s called home his entire life.  “The economy had just taken a turn for the worse and here I was, looking for a job,” says Ned, who still can’t believe his good fortune.

Luckily, Horizon hired him as a job training specialist with the promise of possible advancement if he worked hard and succeeded.  Just nine months later opportunity knocked and eventually led to his current position as supportive housing supervisor.  “It was just a year ago that I took over as supervisor,” says Ned, who did to through training for his new role late in 2009.

He currently oversees a staff of three who work with homeless individuals and families who need permanent housing and supportive services.  Ned serves as a liaison with Erie and Niagara counties, working closely with their housing authorities to ensure Horizon is meeting all established housing regulations.

“It’s an extremely rewarding job.  To help our clients set goals and become self sufficient is something my entire staff takes pride in.”  Looking towards the future Ned is anxious to grow the program.

But for now, Ned feels he’s lucky to be a part of Horizon and to serve the Buffalo-Niagara region.  “I look forward to what’s ahead for me and for Horizon.”

Download our Tabacco Free Toolkit:

http://horizon-health.org/hhpdfs/TobaccoFreeToolKit.pdf

In it you’ll find out how the body recovers after quitting smoking, facts about second hand smoke, quit smoking resources and much more!

If it was raining, somehow Miranda managed to make her mom feel responsible. But her grades were good and there were no major problems, so Peggy assumed Miranda would outgrow her issues.

When it was time for college, Miranda enrolled at Buffalo State College. But after one semester, she couldn’t handle the stress and she dropped out. Peggy tried to encourage Miranda to get a job, but was unsuccessful. It was getting more and more difficult to reach Miranda. She had begun using self-mutilation techniques. She was showing signs of anorexia.

“I had no self-esteem,” says Miranda. “I felt ugly and I hated myself. I didn’t know it, of course, but it was all due to my illness. It was a very difficult time, and it upsets me to look back.”

Finally, her parents decided to seek the help of a psychiatrist. Miranda was diagnosed as having major depression and she was put on Prozac. From there, it was a sequence of different doctors, different drugs, participation at mental health clinics and total frustration for Miranda and her family. Then someone suggested to Peggy that she give Horizon a call. “That’s when positive things began to happen for Miranda,” says Peggy. “Finally, at age 20, Miranda was properly diagnosed and treated.”

The diagnosis at Horizon was bipolar disorder. A treatment plan, involving counseling, was set up for Miranda. Her physical state was thoroughly examined. At first, Miranda would not cooperate, and refused to participate in the treatment and counseling program, though she kept in touch with her doctors.

“I had two great counselors at Horizon when I first started,” says Miranda. “But both left and I never bonded with my third counselor, so I got discouraged and wouldn’t participate. That was a big mistake.”

Eventually, Miranda came back to Horizon, continued to see the same doctor she had been working with all along, and once again participated in both individual and group counseling sessions. She also enrolled in Horizon’s vocational program to learn the skills that would prepare her for the job market.

“I have always found everyone at Horizon to be extremely supportive and very patient with me,” says Miranda. “They are very responsive to my needs, very positive-focused and very encouraging. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Horizon.”

Miranda’s mom agrees, saying she also found the staff at Horizon to be very accommodating, very easy to talk to and most reassuring. “They helped me to realize that Miranda’s illness is treatable and that it wasn’t my fault. Without Horizon, Miranda and I would never have the relationship we have now!”

Miranda has learned many things that have tremendously helped her to cope with her illness. She’s more proactive now, rather than reactive, so she’s more aware when the symptoms are creeping up on her and she can deal with them head on. She’s become involved in nutritional groups because she wants to fight her anorexia and improve her physical condition.

But most important, says Miranda, is that she’s learned to maintain a more level grounding. To be hopeful and look forward to things, but not to be overly hopeful or set herself up for disappointment or failure.

“I didn’t even realize how much I’ve learned at Horizon until I find myself using the techniques they taught me,” says Miranda. “Now I don’t define myself as mentally ill, it’s just one part of who I am.”

Today, at 30, Miranda has a very positive outlook for her future. She’s taking her medicine, she’s continuing her counseling at Horizon and she’s looking forward to a job in the florist industry. Perhaps one of the most significant improvements is Miranda’s relationship with her mother. Over the years, as Miranda dealt with her illness, her feelings for her mother fluctuated; she was often very unapproachable and would not allow her mother to show her any affection. Today, they are very close and have a very communicative, open and affectionate relationship, which is very important to both of them.

And, because of all she’s been through, Miranda also wants to volunteer and help others in similar situations to hers. “I know firsthand what they are feeling and what they are going through. If someone else can benefit from my experiences, I would be happy to help them.”

Path To Recovery
The Path To Recovery includes true stories of consumers who overcame many obstacles with the help of Horizon Health Services to turn their lives around. Last names have been omitted for privacy.

She graduated high school and began working, but the drinking continued. Sally tried to stop, even entering an inpatient facility on her own, but that didn’t work. An outpatient stint after a DWI conviction also failed, as Sally continued to drink during and after the treatment.

“I tried to stop drinking, especially when my godchild was born,” says Sally. “But I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to do it.”

As her drinking escalated, so did her problems. She lost her job. She attempted suicide. Friends brought her to the hospital, where she finally realized she had hit rock bottom. But then she was referred to Horizon and, as Sally says, “life got a whole lot better very quickly.”

Sally credits Alcoholics Anonymous and Horizon with helping her to get back on the right track, but she also realizes that, by the time she got to Horizon, she was truly ready to conquer her addiction, and that made all the difference.

“My addictions counselor, Marcia Valente, has been just wonderful,” says Sally. “Both she and my mental health counselor helped me to see I was not a bad person. They made me believe in myself and, most importantly, they gave me hope.”

“Sally has done a remarkable job in terms of becoming sober, remaining sober and making the determination that she wanted to go back to school to become a counselor and working toward that,” says Marcia. “She’s really done well.”

Sally graduated from Horizon’s addiction program last year, and got her old job back with the stipulation that she remain in counseling for 18 months, so she continued in Horizon’s co-dependency program. She has been sober since 2004.

Today, Sally is also attending school to become a full-fledged counselor, where she hopes to apply her knowledge and experience to help those who think recovery is not possible.

“The best gift you can give yourself is recovery,” says Sally. “Because there is hope, there is a way out – for anybody who wants it.”

Path To Recovery
The Path To Recovery includes true stories of consumers who overcame many obstacles with the help of Horizon Health Services to turn their lives around. Last names have been omitted for privacy.