Road Recovery took a ground breaking expansion trip to rural Alaska where Road Recovery’s staff made a powerful impact on the entire town of Haines (population 2,500). Road Recovery’s Performance Workshops program in collaboration with the 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.

"Road Recovery impacted our kids & community in a most extraordinary and unique manner, imparting deeper awareness of substance abuse. The program gave meaningful life tools for sobriety and drug-free lifestyle to addicts and non addicts of all ages, with a focus on creative expression as a means of communicating thoughts and feelings, in the context of community." - Cherri Rakers, Parent Haines , Alaska

"Road Recovery’s Jay and Charles concocted a compelling energy virus that proved infectious with the kids. I love witnessing the moment when values systems 'click'. It happened many times." - Dan Henry Program Director, KHNS-FM, Haines, Alaska

www.voicesproject.org

Fr. Jude Salus, Pastor - Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel, a Roman Catholic parish in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey discovered Road Recovery while searching for a solution to his community’s crisis after witnessing firsthand the devastation of drug overdoses and deaths among the youth in his community. The number of deaths climbed almost 70 percent from the previous year's total of 26, with victims between 17 and 59 years old, according to law enforcement officials.

"I am both bi-polar and an addict. Before recovery, I was not going to school. I tried to commit suicide. I was with an abusive boyfriend. Basically, I was out of control and no one knew how to handle me. I knew I needed help and was sent away…

In other programs, people are there because they have to be. The court made them go. In Road Recovery, people come because they want to. Road Recovery is fun. The staff people are fun. The music is fun. I feel free when I’m at Road Recovery. It doesn't matter what you sound like, the staff always says we are great. I had no music experience at all. The Road Recovery folks always find a part for you and encourage all of us to keep moving forward. Road Recovery is a place where I want to come. We’re like a little family."
– Amber, Road Recovery program participant (17 years old)

The Graham School, located in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, is part of Graham-Windham Services, which has been providing a way to take care of New York's orphaned, abandoned and neglected children for over 200 years. Graham-Windham Services helps under-served children overcome obstacles on the path to self-sufficiency by giving them the skills to succeed, supporting and strengthening their families and, when necessary, supplementing their families.

"What happened in our 'old' gym is something spectacular. In a world that exaggerates and wears out words by overusing them, spectacular may be an understatement. Eighty-two students took part in the total Road Recovery production. This is 50 percent of our total census. Amazing!! An average of twenty-five students attended Monday night 'Recovery/Sobriety Meetings' with our staff, Road Recovery staff and Road Recovery contacts. These meetings are powerful. As a result, substance abuse is down on the campus. The drama, dance, jazz, stage art, video production, and musical composition were all original pieces. Wow!!

Road Recovery’s programs have opened up a whole new area of career opportunities for our students. We hope to have a long lasting relationship with Road Recovery."– Gerry Leventhal, Vice President of Westchester-based Services/Graham-Windham Services

Based in Riverdale, NY, 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.

"Road Recovery utilizes a unique and wonderful method of bringing people together in a positive way through music, dance and rhythm. It is a remarkable program in its ability to help, direct, and inspire young people. The Road Recovery staff is truly outstanding, and the creativity and energy of the final performance were incredible. Road Recovery is inspired and imaginative, and was able to bring out the artist in each child at Ittleson!" – Kathy Forte - Director, Henry Ittleson Center for Children Research

"The hours that the Ittleson kids spent with the Road Recovery program were some of the happiest, liveliest, and most worthwhile hours the Ittleson community has ever seen. It is really a terrific program, which we hope returns to Ittleson in the years to come." – Toni Bernstein - Ittleson Divisional Committee Member, Jewish Board for Family and Children Services

"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, dance and the arts 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

The mission of the Caron Foundation, a not-for-profit drug and rehabilitation facility, is to provide an enlightened, caring treatment community in which all those affected by alcoholism or other drug addiction may begin a new life.

"Teens in early recovery look for ways to recuperate lost time. They also have an urgent need to recreate their place in youth culture. Road Recovery is one of the few groups to understand this need and to provide a response. By joining new-found energy and commitment to sobriety with the creative opportunities that Road Recovery provides, Caron Foundation of New York is sending a clear message of the importance of helping youth reclaim their birthright to a healthy and positive future where any dream is possible." – Jeanette Friedman, CSW/Director Adolescent Services for Caron NY

“The addition of Road Recovery to the treatment team in the Caron Foundation of New York Recovery Center is truly an innovative approach to helping kids in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. We know that one of the major influences for youth is music. By incorporating recovering musicians as mentors and providing our young people an opportunity and environment to be musically and artistically creative under the direction of these mentors, music can become a strong positive influence." – Michael Early, Executive VP/Chief Clinical Office Caron Foundation