TLC Family Resource Center adopts recovery center program

CLAREMONT — The Center for Recovery Resources is now officially a program of TLC Family Resource Center. During a recent regular board meeting, the board of directors for TLC voted to adopt the program, according to a press release from TLC.

TLC had been the fiscal sponsor following the announcement in February that the HOPE for NH Recovery office in Claremont was closing.

A local steering committee, including TLC’s executive director Maggie Monroe-Cassel, has been working on developing a plan for the continuation of recovery services. The committee is co-chaired by Mayor Charlene Lovett and Valley Regional Healthcare CEO and President Peter Wright.

“Our work with families has highlighted the need to offer recovery services, for them and others in the community. The support we can now offer on so many levels will help reduce child abuse numbers and strengthen families,” said TLC board of director president Clara Sheehy. “The need for these services is great and this is a huge step forward in the work that TLC does within this community.”

Wayne Miller will remain the program manager for the center. He will have assistance from Jeremy Hartsell, an AmeriCorps member, and Gabrielle Kendall, who has been working with the center as an intern. As the program develops, other staff will be added to meet the requirements of the anticipated state funding.

The Center for Recovery Resources still plans to work with Harbor Homes, which is located in Nashua, as the facilitating organization that offers technical support and collaboration with nine other recovery centers across the state. Harbor Homes will also manage the state contract that provides funding to peer recovery centers across the state. Bridge funding has been provided by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Valley Regional Healthcare, and NH Charitable Foundation.

“It has been a rewarding experience to work with a team of individuals and organizations at both the local and state level who are committed to ensuring that the Claremont community has access to the full spectrum of services needed for long lasting recovery,” said City of Claremont Mayor Charlene Lovett.

Wright also is pleased with the outcome.

“I take great pride in working and living in a community that comes together in times of challenge. The way community leaders assembled to ensure residents/members would not lose service was impressive and reassures me that we can accomplish anything when we pull together!” said the Valley Regional Healthcare CEO.

With things settling down for the center, its program manager is excited for the future.

“I am grateful that the board members were able to recognize the importance of the services and support that the center will provide to the community,” said Miller. “We have recently begun coaching relationships with several new members who were previously unaware of the availability of peer support services in Claremont.”

The first collaboration between the center and TLC began last week with the first meeting of Parents Together, a support group for families in recovery. The group is led by Miller and Liz Morse-Boynton, a parent educator at TLC. The group is supported by funding from the Boyle Pediatric Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation.

While TLC is searching for a location for The Recovery Center to lease in the downtown area, those seeking recovery support may contact Wayne Miller directly at (802) 294-2755 or by email at [email protected]. TLC is enthusiastic that a new location will be announced in June and the doors opened to those in recovery, according to the press release.

“I am looking forward to developing this new space over the coming months,” Miller said. “The Claremont community deserves quality and compassionate care and that is what I intend to deliver. I have continued meeting with many of our community partners to discuss the future of The Center and the various ways that we will be able to collaborate on programming, events, and services.”