ROAD RECOVERY is dedicated to helping
young people battle addiction and other adversities by harnessing
the influence of entertainment industry professionals who have
confronted similar crises and now wish to share their experience
and knowledge.
With support from the mental health field, ROAD
RECOVERY provides hands-on mentorship training, educational/performance
workshops, peer-support networking, and “all access” to
real-life opportunities by collaborating with young people
to create and present live-concert events.
ROAD RECOVERY empowers
young people of all backgrounds to face their struggles and
helps them develop comprehensive life skills, guided by professionals
and supported by a community of like-minded peers..
ROAD RECOVERY BELIEVES...
... that not everyone who drinks is an alcoholic
and not everyone who dabbles with drugs becomes addicted. But for
some, it takes just one time – one experiment following another,
leading to a painful and often catastrophic end.
...that knowledge,
shared personal experiences, open dialogue, interdependence and
the power of positive example has a profound impact on others (and
often, ourselves).
... there is no such thing as a quick fix. Our
programs are built on establishing relationships and trust, over
time.
... that through action, change is possible. Our programs
are action-based, action-driven.
... that everyone has something
to learn . . . and, something to teach. We believe in mentorship
and sharing personal experiences, to help young people "connect
the dots" towards a healthy
future.
... in crisis prevention, while also providing avenues of
care for those who seek help from their active addiction or adversity.
ROAD RECOVERY WORKS...
... by harnessing the power of the entertainment
industry to break through communication barriers that often exist
with young people, creating an environment fostering open, interactive
discussion about addiction, adversity and recovery. We provide
young people "All Access" to the entertainment industry,
via artists and professionals whose lives have been personally
affected by addiction or other adversities.
... because we partner
with neighborhood support organizations, certified licensed mental
health professionals, treatment facilities, schools, youth centers,
outpatient programs, educators, and parents, to help young adults
in danger of returning to active addiction and other self-destructive
behaviors. We deliver effective programming and tailored referrals
for those in need.
... by creating customized programs with young
people, for young people, that engage young people.
... by empowering
young people to take responsibility for their own choices. 'The
road is what you make it.'
... because we know what it takes to
put the message across. ROAD RECOVERY changes lives, first by
changing ourselves: All our staff have faced addiction and other
adversities in their own lives. But we all share the belief that
by giving back and mentoring, we can help young people and ourselves
make better choices. Mentoring with a message is what ROAD RECOVERY
is all about . . . and the message is powerful and to-the-point.
In February, 1992, Gene Bowen was faced with
the reality of imminent death from an out-of-control habit. For
ten years, he had been a tour manager for a variety of artists.
Since 1982, Gene’s daily routine included obtaining drugs
not only for himself, but for many of the international artists
and road crews with whom he worked and toured. Ironically, he was
also responsible for helping particular artists stay "clean."
With
the help of family, friends and music industry colleagues, Gene
was one of the lucky ones who embraced recovery. Understanding
how lucky he was to survive, Gene set out to build an organization
to educate young people about addiction and other adversities.
He looked to publicize the many strengths and resources available
from the music/entertainment industry and the mental/health drug
and alcohol treatment communities.
His mantra was not that drugs
are bad, but that recovery is awesome.
With the support of Sony
Music Entertainment and Dreamworks Records, as well as mental
health/substance abuse specialists, music industry pros and those
in recovery, the ROAD RECOVERY FOUNDATION, a non-profit (501c)
organization, was established in February 1998.
2008 Lewis Hine Award
presented to: Road Recovery Founder, Gene Bowen, In Recognition
of Outstanding Service on Behalf of Children and Youth
By the National Child Labor Committee
Edward Aussem
Jack Bookbinder
Gene Bowen
Tiffanie DeBartolo
Mike Greece
Todd Ketterman
Steve Martin
Alex Rene, Esq.
Eric Ringwall
Victor Wlodinguer, CPA
Walter Yetnikoff
Dee Dee Acquisto, MS - MusiCares
Kim Ahearn - CSW (Certified Social Worker)
Alice in Chains
Trey Anastasio, Singer/Songwriter, PHISH
Michele Anthony – 7H
Buddy Arnold - Executive Director Musicians' Assistance Program – MAP
Joseph Arthur – Artist
Robert Astor - Poet
Elaine Bartlett – Author, Activist
Sandy Bell – Singer, Songwriter
Jim Bell – Drummer
Barry Bergman - President Music Managers Forum / Entertainment Consultant
Blackheart Records
Scott Bienenfeld, MD
Toni Blackman – U.S. Hip-Hop Ambassador
Norma Nieves-Blas - Deputy Director/NYC Department Mental Health/Alcohol
Services
Scott Booker – World's Fair, Manager for The Flaming Lips
Karen Bromley - The Bromley Group
Jerry Cantrell - Musician, Alice In Chains
Wendy Caplan – Artist, CSW
Alan Chanzis, CPA - Wlodinguer, Erk, & Chanzis
Michael Clouse - Producer / GSI Records
Jules Cohen – MSW
Owen Comaskey - Artist, Entertainer
Ray Copeland - Manager/Movie Producer
Wayne Coyne - of The Flaming Lips 'category'
Crazy James Band - Parents
Louis D. Cox, Ph.D.
Mike D. - Comedian
Marty Diamond – President, Little Big Man Booking
Paula Mondschein-Daley - M.Ed., C.A.S.A.C., Opera Singer
Bobby Danelski – Production Manager
Chris Difford - Artist, Musician – Squeeze
Elizabeth Dworkin - Dworkin & Company
Perry Farrell, Artist
Ritch Esra – Publisher, Music Business Registry
Michael Fayne, Ph.D - Clinical Psychologist / New York Rep. (Musicians'
Assistance Program)
Charlie Feldman – VP, BMI
Jeanette Friedman - CSW
Doug E. Fresh – Parent, Artist
Bruce George - Co-Founder of Def Poetry Jam
Jimmy Gnecco - Artist, OURS
Julie Greenwald – President, Atlantic Records
Charles Grodin – Parent, Actor, Writer
Reggie Griffith – Tour/Production Manager
Andrea Gruber – Soprano
Mary Guibert - Estate of Jeff Buckley
Arliss Howard – Parent, Actor
Poul Jensen – President, CEO, Graham-Windham Services, Inc.
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Joan As Police Woman – Artist
Dr. John – Parent, Grandfather, Artist
Eldred Johnson – Bassist
Emily Jones – Scholastic Books
Sarah Jones – Actress, Poet
Zella Jones – Market by Market Communications
Katell Keineg – Songstress
Cara Kleinhaut – Caravents Inc.
Dave Konig – Comedian
Margaret Kramer - Artist Manager
Wayne Kramer – Artist, Writer, Activist
Paul Krasner - Actor
Bob Kravitz, Film & Television Producer
Dave Kushner – Artist, Guitarist, Velvet Revolver, Wasted Youth,
Loaded
Kenny Laguna
Wendy Laister – Manager, Magus Entertainment
Christopher Kennedy Lawford - Actor, Activist, Writer
Denis Leary - Comedian, Actor
Gerry Leventhal – VP Westchester-based services/Graham-Windham
Services
Laurie B. Levine, Ph.D.
Jason Little – Dean of Students/Acting Faculty – Stella
Adler Studio of Acting
Leigh Lust
Kevin Lyman, Founder of The Vans Warped Tour
Douglas O'Dell - St. Christopher-Ottilie Services
Casey McPherson – Artist, Alpha Rev
Don Miggs, Artist
Mikey - Drummer, Shiny Toy Guns
Tom Morello - Artist, Activist, The Nightwatchman, Audioslave, Rage
Against The Machine
Keith Murray – Artist
Pedro Navarro – "Sober" Guest Speaker(s) Coordinator
Ejovi Nuwere – Security Specialists, Author
Ozzy Osbourne
Harold Owens - SR. Director, MusiCares/MAP Foundation
Padilla Spears Beardsley (PSB)
Perri Peltz – Reporter, WNBC-TV Channel 4 News
Nadia Prescher – Agent & Manager, Madison House, Inc.
Leah Reid – Label Manager, Rockingale Records
David Ritz – Writer, Author
Jay Rodriguez - Composer/Musician
Henry Rollins - Singer/Songwriter, Spoken Word Artist, Author, Actor,
and Publisher
Chris Rucker – The Rucker League/Rucker Clothing
Sage - Musician/Artist
Steven Schub - Actor/Lead Singer, The Fenwicks
Shelly Schultz – Trident Media Group, L.L.C.
Scott Schumaker – Bright Antenna Records
Jonas Selenis - Multimedia Developer
Evan Seinfeld - Musician, Actor
Mary-Ann Sessler, CSW
Tony Shellman - co-founder of The ENYCE Clothing Company
Slash – Artist, Guitarist, Velvet Revolver, Guns N' Roses
Dr. David Smith - Founder, Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic
Darryl & Charisse Strawberry - Parents
Ken Sunshine - Ken Sunshine Consultants, Inc.
John Taylor – bassist, Duran Duran
Chris Theberge – Percussionist, Groove Collective
Michael Tighe – Artist
Larry Tobin, CS-R – Substance Abuse Coordinator, The Graham
School
Peter Tork - Musician
Laurie Trombley, Marketing Director, MuchMusic USA
Jen Turner – Artist
Joe Walsh – Solo Artist, The Eagles
James Walsh – Producer/CEO Major Who Media
Merril Wasserman - VP Sony Music Publishing
Smokey Wendell – Tour Manager, Joe Walsh
Debra Winger – Parent, Actress
Alan Wolmark - C.E.C. Management
Kenny Worthy – Musician, Alcohol - Substance Abuse Counselor
Voices Project
– Haines, Alaska
Contracted
Services -August 2006 – Present.
Road Recovery Performance
Workshops, spanning (1) week involving (20) Haines, Alaska
teens (ages:14-18) and staff associated with the Voices Project.
Voices Project: A local Alaskan-based
program designed to increase education and awareness of the
impacts of substance abuse on people’s lives in the small rural
town.
"Watching Road Recovery’s team - Charles, Meghan, Owen,
and Jay literally create an instant connection and rapport
with the teens in the workshop was astounding to behold.
Road Recovery’s
ability to share their enormous talent, model courage and
communication, and inspire kids to do the same is a miracle
to witness. This year, I was most impressed with the meetings,
and the level of sharing that came from the youth, some of
whom struggling with serious issues. They felt safe beginning
to talk and share – which
is especially difficult to do in a small town. The music
rocked, the meetings were powerful, and the kids left the
experience expressing a great sense of accomplishment and
hope. All the youth who participated continue to rave about
the experience and plead for more. We’re
definitely looking forward to next year!" –
Tania Danielski, Voices Project
Coordinator
Notre Dame of Mt.
Carmel – Cedar Knolls, NJ
Contracted Services – January – June
2007.
Road Recovery Performance Workshops involves over 25 teens
(ages: 15-18) and staff, spanning 12 weeks.
Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel, (a Roman
Catholic parish dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, and
spiritual needs of their parish & community
in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey celebrate the impact on all those
involved in Road Recovery’s Performance Workshops 2007 programs.
"Before recovery, I got arrested and I violated probation
twice with narcotics. I was sent to an in-patient place.
I knew I needed it. I had wanted to stop for a year before
that, and I just couldn’t stop. The Road Recovery staff gives
us a place to share what’s on our mind; no matter what it is...everyone
gives feedback from their experiences. No one is judgmental.
We all learn from one another.
After we huddle together to
share what’s going on in our lives
we practice and create a performance. I have never performed.
I was really scared the first time I sang in front of people.
Everyone was so supportive and helpful which relieved a lot
of the stress. The creative aspect of Road Recovery is so special
and very important. It expresses everything we are feeling. The music
excites things more, and addicts need to be excited. We all play
together, so we work as one, we become one through the process
of Road Recovery." – Inha, Road Recovery program participant (17 years old)
Henry Ittleson
Center/Jewish Board for Family & Children Services
Contracted Services – January
2004 - Present.
Road Recovery Performance Workshops involves over
30 Ittleson Center kids (ages: 6-13) and staff, spanning
14 weeks.
Based in Riverdale, the Ittleson Center
is a residential program of the Jewish Board of Family and
Children's Services. Ittleson helps children who have experienced
trauma in their young lives and as a result have significant
problems in learning, in making or keeping friends, and managing
feelings. Staff and volunteers work closely with each child
to re-build a sense of self and improve their responses to
the world around them. Ittleson provides its children with intensive
clinical services and special education in small classes, all within
a nurturing and structured environment.
"Road Recovery was a great
experience for all our residents. It was creative, expressive,
therapeutic, and fun for all. What a great way for emotionally
disturbed kids to learn and perform together. We hope Road Recovery
can come back next year for more!" – Dr. Elizabeth Osborn,
PhD, Clinical Director, Henry Ittleson Center for Children Research
Linden Hill, Goldsmith
Center / Jewish Board for Family & Children Services
Contracted Services – January
2007 - Present.
Road Recovery Performance Workshops involves over
70 Linden Hill & Goldsmith Center teens (ages: 13-19)
and staff, spanning 14 weeks.
Linden Hill and
Goldsmith Programs:
The Residential Treatment Facilities (RTFs) Linden Hill and
Goldsmith Center are programs that work with adolescent
boys and girls with emotional and behavioral difficulties. These programs
provide a therapeutic milieu for teens whose emotional
problems have left them unable to function as well as they would like.
The programs staff are dedicated to helping residents find the inner
strength to cope with the emotional, social, and developmental
challenges they face.
"The children and adolescents representing
the Residential Treatment Facilities of the Jewish Board
of Family and Children’s
Services, like many of the Road Recovery staff, have faced
many difficulties in their young lives and are using music
and dance as an alternative to the negative behaviors they
may have used in the past. I am so pleased to have Road Recovery
working with us and hope that we can continue to work with
them for a long time to come." -
Kathleen Forte, MA - Director of RTFs and Children’s Day Treatment
Division
Caron Foundation,
New York Recovery Center
Contracted
Services – May 2003 – July 2007.
Road
Recovery Performance Workshops, spanning
52 weeks involving Caron teen alumni (ages:14-25) and staff
associated with Caron’s New York Recovery Center.
"Caron Foundation is pleased to
partner with Road Recovery as we move forward with providing excellence
in addiction treatment at our New York Recovery Center. The opportunities
available through Road Recovery, combined with treatment provided by
the Caron Foundation, will afford these young people an opportunity
to experience how to be creative without using drugs, a true example
of experiencing life on life's terms." – Doug Tieman
President/CEO Caron Foundation
The Graham School/Graham-Windham,
Inc./Greenburgh-Graham
Union Free School District #11
Contracted Services - 2001 -
2007.
Road Recovery’s Performance Workshops involves
over 80 students (ages 8-19) and more than 12 staff, spanning
16 weeks.
"As the Director of the residential program and School
Board member of our Union Free School District, I am very
aware and appreciative of the impact Road Recovery's program
has had on our children.
Alcohol and substance abuse
has affected a majority of our children's lives and combining
the right message regarding substance abuse with a theatrical
program could not have been better designed for our population.
All studies I have read regarding risk factors for substance
abuse emphasize the combination of education and meaningful
use of free time as our best weapons against the tragedies
that occur daily when youth use drugs. After three years with
Road Recovery, your name and influence on the culture of our
program is dramatic. Students have found a great outlet and
opportunity in the theatre arts, and recognize your efforts
as part of the treatment and rehabilitation on our campus.
Thank you Road Recovery for your commitment. It has made
a real difference in our student's lives." –
Gerald S. Leventhal, VP - Westchester Division, Graham-Windham
City of New York
NYC 2000 - Millennium Celebration
Sponsored by: Office
of the Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani. Awarded City of New York
Event Contract of $76,000.00 to Produce "First
Night Queens, NY" - Flushing Meadows Corona Park -
Unisphere Monument, Road Recovery 'Live' Outdoor Music Performance,
December 31, 2000.
"On behalf of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, it was a pleasure
working with Road Recovery on this special non-alcoholic New
Year's Eve celebration. The Road Recovery team were able to
overcome many obstacles, including a snowstorm, to manage
a professional, exciting and fun celebration."–
Marcia G. Lee - Executive Director, Millennium Committee NYC
2000, Office Of The Mayor.
New York Community
Trust - Administrators of Philanthropic Funds since 1923
Recipient of the Isabel C. McKenzie/New
York Community Trust Grant of $25,000 (August 1999).
"Summer In The City '99 Finale" August 30, 1999,
Roy Wilkens Park, Queens, NY - New York Community Trust presented
Road Recovery with a great opportunity and wonderful challenge
to create an event targeting more than 2,000 ( 5- to- 13-
year olds) enrolled in the NYCT/NYC Human Resource's "Summer
In The City" programs.
January 17, 2006 – New
Program Yields Important Findings for
Helping Kids Stay Sober
Longer
New York, New York.
Since 2003, Road Recovery's "Keeping It Real" program
at Caron's NY Recovery Center has provided a forum for
young people (aged 15 to 25, returning from inpatient
treatment) to receive the support needed to maintain
a sober, productive life through mentorship and guidance
from Road Recovery's creative staff and Caron's clinicians.
The Caron Foundation has released its
first field study of the 'Keeping It Real' program
through the collection of statistical data recorded
by the first twenty-one (21) subjects enrolled from
November 2004 through December 2005.
ROAD RECOVERY STATISTICS:
The Caron Field Study of Road Recovery’s "Keeping It Real" Program
is longitudinally implemented over a fourteen (14) month period starting November
2004 through December 2005. Staff collected data by recording 21 subjects (program
participants) by age, gender, length of participation in the program, reported
abstinence time at baseline, as well as any reported incidents of interruption
of the abstinence and reasons for leaving the program. The data represents
a full (non-randomized) sample of subjects: every participant who has enrolled
was a subject on whom data was collected.
Although this is a small sample size, the early measurements
indicate the majority of subjects (13 out of 21) participating
in the Program at baseline remained abstinent for the
duration of their participation. Furthermore, of those
who did relapse, 50% retained participation in the
program and 100% were able to arrest relapse within
a 24-48 hour timeline. Also of note is the reported
finding that 100% of the subjects who relapsed addressed
the relapse incident with 50% leaving the program for
an alternate level of care. So while the subject(s)
may have had to leave, the most important element is
the fact that the kids continued with some type of
aftercare treatment.
According to Dr. Thomas McClellan*, Executive Director,
from the University of Pennsylvania’s Treatment
Research Institute (TRI), "I examined the results
of your preliminary examination of Road Recovery’s
program and from my inspection of the data found that
of the 21 participants studied, 13 (62%) maintained
total abstinence while participating on average about
9 months in the program; while 8 other patients had
at least one period of relapse during their treatment,
half of them contained their relapse to less than 48
hours and remained active participants in the program.
The remaining 4 participants (19%) had extended periods
of relapse and were referred to an alternate level
of care subsequently leaving the program. Although
this was not a formal evaluation and it was not a large
group, these preliminary results are encouraging. First,
because the kids seemed to like the program and wanted
to be part of it - so many programs are based on a "no
pain - no gain" model. I think it is a good sign
that you have something that these kids want to be
part of. I also found the very preliminary results
encouraging, especially the findings from those who
lapsed. Half of those that lapsed came back to the
program immediately and became full participants. In
my experience, that is an unusual situation in most
of the programs that I have seen."
It is extremely important to note that for those
participants who did experience relapse, ALL the participants
were back into the mix within a 48-hour period. Such
actions are extremely rare for adolescents, which further
supports the power of the group and Road Recovery’s
program.
"Road Recovery’s 'Keeping It Real' program
has truly had an impact on helping adolescents coming
out of treatment stay engaged and most importantly stay
sober. Road Recovery provides a safe, positive experience,
where over the past 24 months, the 12-15 adolescents
involved in it have stayed sober. The program really
becomes an extended care program for these adolescents
and provides them with sobriety rates of on average at
least 1 year or greater. 'Keeping it Real' helps adolescents
find and express themselves through music and the arts.
Research shows that kids involved with the arts have
positive dramatic long-term impacts on them physically,
emotionally, and spiritually. We believe in Road Recovery
because it provides longer-term care for adolescents
and their families. It's about changing and saving lives
and our experience so far has been terrific. This program
is creating a model that no one else in the country has
in terms of an engaging after care model that helps keep
kids sober."– David Rotenberg , Executive
Director of Adolescent Treatment Services for Caron.
* A. Thomas McLellan , Ph.D. is a
psychologist, Professor of Psychiatry at the University
of Pennsylvania , and founder and Executive Director
of Treatment Research Institute (TRI). He is best known
for his leading role in the creation of the Addiction
Severity Index and the Treatment Services Review, two
of the most widely used instruments in the field of substance
abuse. TRI is a not-for-profit organization dedicated
to reducing the devastating effects of alcohol and other
drug abuse on individuals, families and communities by
employing scientific methods and disseminating evidence-based
information.
The National Council
on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)
Letter of recognition from Robert J. Lindsey, NCADD
President
Better Business
Bureau Charity Seal Participant
The Road Recovery Foundation has been
informed that the organization meets all The Better Business
Bureau Standards for Charity Accountability and receives
The Better Business Bureau's Seal! (March 22, 2005)
2008 Lewis Hine
Award Recipient - Road Recovery, Founder Gene Bowen
Presented in Recognition of Outstanding
Service on Behalf of Children and Youth
By the National Child Labor Committee
New York Office
of the Attorney General
Awarded a State Of New York Office Of
The Attorney General Certificate of Merit, presented by
Eliot Spitzer, Attorney General
(June 8, 1999)
Chase Manhattan
Bank
Awarded the Chase Manhattan Bank's "1999
Drug & Crime Prevention Award" (June 1999)
Long Island Center
For Recovery
"On behalf of The Board of Directors of The Long Island Center For Recovery,
I am pleased to award Road Recovery with six (6) treatment scholarships a year
valued at approximately $50,000.00 to those in need of treatment from active
addiction." – Steve Basis, President / L.I.C.R (February 14,
1998)
