Trouble in Paradise
Orcas Island is a fantastic place to live and grow, and when services and help are needed, excellent resources exist if you know how and where to get them. But, for some with mental illness or substance abuse disorders, Orcas can be a place of insurmountable challenges. They are our friends and neighbors, and they are, to many of us, completely invisible.
These islanders need help. As things are, and in spite of the wide array of existing local services and organizations, they’re falling through the cracks. We know from experience there’s a way to prevent that and give them a chance to become productive citizens again, here at home in our own island community.
What We're About
Recovery In Community starts when we hear of an Orcas resident in trouble with mental illness or drug/alcohol problems. If they are isolated from supports and services, we go immediately to the tent or the car they’re living in, the park where they spend their days, the place they ARE, right now.
We try to determine the immediate, short-term needs—to keep them out of harm’s way; to find food or shelter; to get insurance, medical treatment, counseling, or detox—and we do our best to guide them towards these services in our community or elsewhere. We work with our community partners to walk beside them, literally, to bridge the gap between their current circumstance and the resources available. We’re there for them through the transition.
Later, when they’ve gotten some help—counseling or treatment, perhaps—and are ready to re-connect in a fresh and more productive way, we support them through that transition, too. We may help them get a job with a partner employer, find transitional housing through another community partner, get to appointments or meetings, learn how to budget and balance a checkbook from an islander willing to teach those skills. We do our best, at both ends, to ensure they don’t fall through the cracks. And throughout, we’re an advocate who supports and encourages their progress.
Now two years into our work and through the COVID crisis we’ve seen some remarkable successes and faced some daunting challenges. One of the early success stories was told in our local newspaper. Read it here. This man’s story has continued over the past two years and includes some frightening chapters; but with RIC’s continued support, he is now back again on the path to recovery.
With this client, and now more than 25 others, it has been clearly demonstrated the need is there, it persists, and, with RIC here to meet the need, the lives of clients improve!
Recovery In Community starts when we hear of an Orcas resident in trouble with mental illness or drug/alcohol problems. If they are isolated from supports and services, we go immediately to the tent or the car they’re living in, the park where they spend their days, the place they ARE, right now.
We try to determine the immediate, short-term needs—to keep them out of harm’s way; to find food or shelter; to get insurance, medical treatment, counseling, or detox—and we do our best to guide them towards these services in our community or elsewhere. We work with our community partners to walk beside them, literally, to bridge the gap between their current circumstance and the resources available. We’re there for them through the transition.
Later, when they’ve gotten some help—counseling or treatment, perhaps—and are ready to re-connect in a fresh and more productive way, we support them through that transition, too. We may help them get a job with a partner employer, find transitional housing through another community partner, get to appointments or meetings, learn how to budget and balance a checkbook from an islander willing to teach those skills. We do our best, at both ends, to ensure they don’t fall through the cracks. And throughout, we’re an advocate who supports and encourages their progress.
Now two years into our work and through the COVID crisis we’ve seen some remarkable successes and faced some daunting challenges. One of the early success stories was told in our local newspaper. Read it here. This man’s story has continued over the past two years and includes some frightening chapters; but with RIC’s continued support, he is now back again on the path to recovery.
With this client, and now more than 25 others, it has been clearly demonstrated the need is there, it persists, and, with RIC here to meet the need, the lives of clients improve!
What We're About
Recovery In Community starts when we hear of any Orcas resident in trouble with mental illness or drug and alcohol problems who is isolated from options or assistance. If they fit our criteria, we go to the tent or the car they’re living in, the park or library where they spend their days. We go to where they are, and we go right now.
We try to determine immediate needs—to keep them out of harm’s way; to find food or shelter; to get insurance, medical treatment, counseling, or detox. We walk with them, literally, over the bridge from crisis to assistance. And, when they’re ready, we’re there for them again through the transition to living a connected and productive life.
Who We Are
The organizers of Recovery In Community are islanders with experience in this arena and the background to make RIC work. We include veteran trustees of other community organizations, representatives of the 12-Step community, trained counselors. We all have witnessed the impact of a resourceful advocate to guide a troubled islander toward the services and supports they need.
In 2019, we gathered information on the scope of the problem locally and elsewhere, and we looked at efforts to address this specific need in other communities. We raised funds through community outreach, a benefit concert, and a successful grant proposal to the Orcas Island Community Foundation. We enlisted community partners—people and organizations acting as eyes and ears to identify potential RIC clients and provide critical services for them. We identified and trained a cohort of volunteer advocates to work with RIC clients. We continue to track and measure our results.
What We Expect to Do
Your contributions to this seed fund will help us hire and train a part-time Coordinator, who will in turn train a team of carefully selected volunteers to respond to RIC clients. The Coordinator will receive referrals from throughout the community and will qualify potential clients. Importantly, the Coordinator will also continue to form and strengthen alliances with community partners—the organizations, agencies, and individuals whose missions we support and who help us help them support our clients.
Your Help = A Big Impact
Help us reach these people who are struggling in our community. We can tell you from first-hand experience that the results can be powerful and the rewards profound and meaningful. Please, donate today!
Your Help = Big Impact
We are making progress! Have a look at information we’ve presented to our County Council and our County Board of Health. Help us continue to reach these people who are struggling in our community. RIC is on the ground for close to three years and making a difference for our clients. Together we can keep it going!
Please, donate today!
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Contact Us
Direct Contact: 360-317-3119
For inquiries, questions, or additional information about Recovery In Community, please use our web form and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.