FOCUS on recovery in September

FINDLAY — Awareness is the first step to lessening the stigma around recovery, and that's what FOCUS Wellness and Recovery Community sets out to accomplish every September during National Recovery Month. "This year we're doing (our) Recovery Palooza," said Brooke Nissen, executive director at FOCUS. "It's a day to celebrate recovery." While many may assume that when someone is in "recovery" they're recovering from substance abuse, Nissen and FOCUS want to make it known that it's more than that. "It's just not solely substance use. It includes mental health and trauma experiences," she said. "Recovery isn't always just linear. Everyone's recovery pathway can look different." Nissen said the Recovery Palooza will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Mark's United Methodist Church Dock, 800 S. Main St. "We're going to (have) a guest speaker, John Nimmo, who's in long-term recovery himself and has been a champion of recovery and spreading awareness," she said. Nimmo is a peer recovery support specialist and a member of the National Peer Recovery Alliance's Ohio Affiliate. A recovery walk from the Dock to the Courthouse will begin at 10:30 a.m. "We're also having a recovery panel of individuals with different lived experience to speak from their lens," Nissen added. "We'll also be providing some fun entertainment for families. There'll be a photographer there, face paint for kids, bouncy houses and food." Individuals needing transportation to the Recovery Palooza can reach out to FOCUS and receive a taxi voucher to get to the event. "(The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services) just actually gave FOCUS a grant to be able to purchase transportation for people to recovery events," she said. Another big part of FOCUS' goals for Recovery Month is connecting with inmates at the Hancock County Jail. "We also are doing a small resource fair in the jail to give individuals who are experiencing incarceration the ability to get connected more to resources," said Nissen. "The jail does a great job with permitting people to come in and do that." The organization's four-person community outreach team has hit the ground running despite only being established two years ago, Nissen added. "We've reached over 80 different agencies within Hancock County to put our flyers at, to offer services and educate, which is a huge number," she said. A fundraiser in partnership with the Hancock Hotel for Recovery Month will be held on Sept. 26 from 5-8 p.m. "It's a silent auction style art show," Nissen said. "They had staff that reached out to us because they identify as huge supporters." Tickets for the fundraiser are $35. Admission includes a shirt, light refreshments, music and additional family-friendly entertainment. Nissen's message to those with family, friends or loved ones struggling with mental health issues, a substance abuse disorder or trauma is to "always come at it from compassion and empathy." "Keep the judgment out," she said. "A lot of people feel judged, and if you let them know, 'I'm here to walk alongside you or I want to support you,' that would help them." Visit https://focusrwc.org for more information about the organization's events and programming.