READING, Pa. – The Berks County Board of Commissioners held its annual tradition Thursday of inviting officials and clients enrolled in recovery programs to recount their stories and the work the organizations offer.
The month of September is set aside to recognize National Recovery Month, and board Chair Christian Y. Leinbach said it’s a continuing learning experience for him to hear the stories of the lives that have been changed.
Yvonne Stroman, community programs specialist for the Berks County Council on Chemical Abuse, shared that she is a long-term recovery person and has been clean since 1990.
“As we observe National Recovery Month, communities across the nation come together to celebrate the strength and resilience of individuals in recovery and to honor the families who support them and to recognize the professionals and organizations who worked tirelessly to make recovery possible,” Stroman said.
“While we don’t have an exact number for Berks County, what we do know is that there are over 30,000 residents in addiction recovery here in Berks County,” Stroman added.
“I just want to say thank you to our county commissioners for ongoing commitment to our health and well-being in our communities,” she said. “I will tell you from my conversations that no other county matches the commitment from Berks County. And for that, we really truly thank you for your support to create an environment where recovery can flourish.”
Scott Althouse, the executive director of Easy Does It — a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of lives of individuals in recovery from substance abuse — commented about the urgency for funding in light of uncertainty at the state and federal levels.
“We are operating with both the federal funding uncertainty and of course at the state level,” Althouse said. “Without a state budget, the burden is shifted on to providers to front the money to provide the essential governmental services that state and county governments have the responsibility to serve to our community.”
“I’m happy to report that EDI is able to foot that bill and front that money for some period of time, but certainly not indefinitely,” Althouse said, “and I know not every organization or provider is fortunate to be in the position that we’re in.”
“I would hate to see, particularly for any drug and alcohol treatment service providers, to be threatened to shutter their doors or any housing agency be threatened to shut their doors on account of the inability of our state legislators to do their jobs,” Althouse added.
Leinbach thanked Althouse for making the comments.
“Our Commonwealth needs to hear the reality of their failure to pass a timely budget,” Leinbach said. “I’m glad that you pointed that out because it has real serious impact; it’s not a game.”
Stroman reported that the Council on Chemical Abuse, through contractual services with the county and publicly funded dollars, provides about $1.5 million in recovery housing annually.
“Statistics demonstrate that for every dollar put into recovery, we save $7 from people having to enter into emergency rooms, from people having to enter into the criminal justice system, and from people having to be hospitalized,” Stroman explained. “And so, we really need to recognize that those dollars are very well spent.”
Jenna Rivera, a case manager at the YMCA, thanked the commissioners for their continued investment in programs and services that bring hope and stability to individuals and families who need it most.
“The decisions that you guys make and the support that you provide have a direct impact on the lives of the people that we serve every single day,” Rivera said.
The commissioners spent most of their weekly Thursday meeting hearing from clients enrolled in recovery programs and how they have made a powerful impact to make positive changes in their lives.
“I know it (addiction) through the eyes of people like yourselves,” Leinbach said. “It is rough, and it’s trying to take you down. And I appreciate each of you and your stories.”
“For skeptics on the outside, they’ve got to understand that one dollar to save $7 is real because if there’s no help, you’re back in our jails, you’re back in our hospitals,” Leinbach added.
“And in many cases, you’d be dead instead of being a part of this community and being in a position to give back to the community,” he said, “so thank you very much for the decisions that you’ve made to get back up each time you got knocked down.”
