Hello RI International Team! October 15th 2015 was Global Peer Supporters Celebration Day. With nearly 600 staff who bring lived expertise to their roles, RI has the largest private team of Peer Supporters in the nation (only behind the VA!). Today we are delighted to thank you for all that you do. The purpose of this day is to increase awareness of who peer supporters are, what they do, and to shed light on the many valuable contributions they (and all of our employees) make to human

services.

FREISE HOPE HOUSE

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November 2015 Volume 4 Issue 6

Hello Everyone. Wow, this has been a busy time of year with a lot of exciting things happening here at

Freise Hope House. We have been participating in community events, as well as celebrating our new

staff and all of the strengths they bring along with them. So before we delve into the last newsletter of

the year, all of us here at Freise Hope House would like to wish everyone happy holidays, happy New

Years, and continue to do the important work of recovery.

This was the 9th annual Recovery conference sponsored by Kern Mental Health and NAMI. Our guests were given the opportunity to attend the luncheon, watch the Recovery Runway Fashion Show, and attend break out sessions of recovery groups. Some groups attended by our guests included Mom’s in recovery, Benefits workshop, Drum Circle, Voices of recovery, conflict resolution, and Solution Focused Group Art Therapy. Among the Keynote speakers this year was our very own Recovery Educator Ron Cordy, and some of our guests won some fabulous prizes.

Recovery Pathways:

Freise Hope House focuses on

one “Recovery pathway” each

week.

During each house meeting, our

Peer Recovery Coaches ask each

Freise Hope House guest “How

they can apply this pathway to-

ward their own recovery?”.

Recovery Environment

It is a community where each

person is valued.

It Allows us to share the load.

Sharing our recovery with others

creates an environment of un-

derstanding and support.

Choice

We make the choice to learn

about our options and to pursue

them.

No one can know us as well as

we know ourselves.

NAMI Walks 2015. Wow, what an event. This year our guests had the privilege of walking in the event to help bring awareness, and reduce the stigma of mental illness. There were many activities through out the day, and there were several local mental health care providers who set up booths to advocate, support, and educate mental health awareness in Kern County. All our guests came together to support NAMI, and each other by dressing as a SUPER WARRIOR sporting their Recovery Innovations International Freise Hope House T-Shirts (which won the best T-Shirt contest) and capes to fight the stigma of mental illness. A great time was had by all. So remember to fight the good fight like Recovery Man, and we’ll see yah next year.

Recovery

Innovations Freise

Hope House

NAMI WALKS 2015

Recovery Pathways

Continued:

Empowerment

It simply means to hold onto

your own power and encourage

others to hold onto theirs.

We speak up for our needs and

choices.

Spirituality

It is a component of recovery

that can help smooth the path to

reconnecting with meaning and

purpose in life.

Spirituality comes in many

forms.

We each decide what works best

for us.

Hope

When we have hope, the sky the

limit. We can see the endless

possibilities that await us and we

know that whatever happens, we

will continue to recover.

721 8th Street

Bakersfield, CA 93304

Tel: 661-326-9700

Fax: 661-326-9709

New Employee Celebration

My name is Teresa Hawley and I am a peer recovery coach at Freise Hope

House. I was working on my MFT degree because I wanted to work with

people in recovery. To my delight while I was taking a break from the MFT

program I learned about this position. It is everything I have always wanted to

do. The peers I work with are awesome, we work together as a team. The

people I work with are so diverse in why they want to be here that I am learn-

ing more about this field than I did in all the education I have had so far. I am

very happy that I found Recovery Innovations Freise Hope House.

I’m Josh Martin and I’m the assistant chef at the Hope House and you’ll most likely see me on the weekends and holidays. I grew up in the food service industry; my parents owned a small restaurant over on ‘H’ street when I was growing up and many of my after school hours were spent washing dishes and peeling potatoes. In fact, my mom recalls catering at the Freise house frequently some 20 years ago. The challenge of learning banquet-style cooking has been an engaging and interesting experience for me; in a small way I feel that I get a little better at it every day. I’m always looking for new dishes to try out, so if you have a personal favorite feel free to toss a suggestion my way.

My name is Ericka Domingo. I have been working as an LVN for 3 years. Prior to

working as an LVN I was a DSP; I worked in group homes for developmentally disa-

bled adults for approx. 6 years. As an LVN I have worked in various fields. I

worked in a drug and alcohol treatment facility and then long term care. My passion

is within the field of mental health. My mom took her own life in 2012; She had a

lot of challenges. She was diagnosed bi-polar the last few years of her life she had

many challenges with medication and getting the proper support. This is a big reason

I have chosen this field to work in. I prayed for a job where I can serve God and

make a difference. I didn’t just want a check, I wanted meaning in my work. And I

have found it here at Freise Hope House.

I’m Sarah Cabral and I’m a new peer recovery coach at the Freise Hope House.

I became interested in mental health through witnessing others’ challenges with

mental illness and battling with some of my own. After seeing the good done by

a combination of medication, the right kind of support, and faith, I became pas-

sionate about mental health and wellness, and seeing people recover and thrive

after battling their own challenges. Recovery Innovations International Freise

Hope House is an organization whole-heartedly dedicated to the wellbeing and

success of the individuals we serve. My favorite part about serving here is wit-

nessing people rediscover their strengths and partake in truly positive, meaning-

ful experiences.

My name is Jarl Johnson and I am one of the new recovery coaches here at Recovery

Innovations. I played arena football for 7 years from 2002-2009, then I spent 2 seasons

on the San Diego Chargers practice team 2010-2012 while finishing my education. I

currently play minor league football for a team here in Bakersfield. I graduated with a

degree in computer programming from SDSU (2010) also from UEI College and became

a certified PC Technician (2011). Since 2002 I’ve worked in different mental health

facilities and none of them offer the classes that Recovery Innovations does for the guests

and that is what made me interested in working here. The staff here is amazing and wel-

comed me with open arms. I look forward to being the best Recovery Coach I can be for

our guests.

Messa

ges of H

ope

Cooking for Wellness with Chef Kati

Pumpkin Roll

CAKE:

1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup 100% Pure Pumpkin

1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

FILLING:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Powdered sugar (optional for decoration)

FOR CAKE: PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprin-

kle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with powdered sugar.

COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and granulated sugar in large mixer

bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.

BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. (If using a dark-colored pan, begin checking for doneness

at 11 minutes.) Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together,

starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.

FOR FILLING: Beat cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully

unroll cake. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle

with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

COOKING TIP: Be sure to put enough powdered sugar on the towel when rolling up the cake so it will not stick.