Be a Part of the Conversation

In September, we celebrate the strength, resilience, & courage of those on their recovery journey.

Recovery is a deeply personal process that takes time, patience, & self-compassion. Whether you're just starting out or have been on this path for years, know that you are not alone.

Let’s use this month to raise awareness, offer support, & encourage understanding. Every step taken toward recovery is a step toward healing & hope.

Remember, it’s okay to take things one day at a time. You are stronger than you know, & your journey is worth celebrating. 💚

If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out. We offer a variety of free support & can point you in the right direction or connect you with dedicated, educated professionals. There’s a community here ready to support & uplift you..

Are you or someone you know a parent/caregiver struggling with addiction in your family?

Our free, online, peer-led Family Recovery Course would be an excellent resource & there are spots available for our course starting 9/9!

Part 1 – Addiction 101: Exploring this complex disease
Part 2 – Family Foundations: Understanding the family disease of addiction
Part 3 – Family Recovery: Building a recovery plan for life

Register at: conversation.zone/frcsep9z

Join us for the Annual Bobby Browne Memorial Golf Outing! ⛳

📅 Saturday, September 14, 2024
📍Five Ponds Golf Club in Warminster

There will be golf, lunch, dinner, gifts, contests & raffles!

Please consider sponsoring this GREAT event!!

All proceeds directly benefit Be a Part of the Conversation 💚

Register: conversation.zone/event/golf

There were so many great nuggets from our webinar, 'Healing the Traumatized Family'! Thank you to Mary Cosgrove, MS, Family Support Services Coordinator, Lauren Williams, MSS, LSW, CTP, CRS, CFRS, Experiential Trauma Therapist Phoenix Trauma Center & Colleen for sharing your insights!

If you haven't checked out the full program, it is now available to watch on our YouTube page!

Congratulations to Donna Jacobsen for having her piece published by The Response in Berks County! 🎉 This article was wonderfully written & will provide comfort & guidance to families in similar situations.

A huge thank you to Donna for mentioning BPOC in the article! We are honored & grateful to have been able to have played a role in your family’s story. We cannot thank you enough for the continuous work you do for families in our area 💚

Thank you for your vulnerability & honesty in writing this piece.

Article linked below for anyone interested:👇🏻
issuu.com/nhgi/docs/responsesummer2024issuu

Smile spotlight with some of our faves ✨📸😁

This 4th of July, know your triggers & have a plan for how to handle them.

We hope you have a safe & happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

Anyone emotionally invested in someone with a Substance Use Disorder is at risk of experiencing trauma.

Parents, especially, may lose sight of their own wellbeing while managing their child's recovery. The stress & emotions—grief, rage, depression, shame, & fear—can take a devastating toll on health & relationships.

If you or someone you know may benefit from this free program, learn more or register at:
conversation.zone/event/healing

Starting next Tuesday, 7/9!!

Join our FREE, virtual 3 part Family Recovery Course. This program is an excellent resource for parents or caregivers whose child has struggled or is struggling with addiction.

Register: conversation.zone/event/frcjuly9z

TONIGHT @ 7pm on Zoom!

Why is the LGBTQIA+ community at a greater risk for Substance Use Disorder? 🌈

Individuals defined as “sexual minorities” are more than twice as likely as heterosexuals to have used any illicit drug.¹

Social stigma, discrimination, & other challenges can lead to stress & treatment barriers that put this population at risk for addiction & other behavioral health challenges.

Join our FREE online program as we chat with treatment specialists & those with lived experience.

Regsiter here👇🏻👇🏼👇🏽👇🏾👇🏿
conversation.zone/event/lgbt/

¹NIDA. “Substance Use and SUDs in LGBTQ* Populations.”

Talk about ! 👏🏻 This is one INSPIRING group of people right here!

At our Spring Brunch this year, we honored individuals who embodied the theme of ‘Building Bridges’ in the recovery space. 🏆

These folks have closed gaps in prevention, acknowledged where we as a society can do better, & have dedicated their work to doing so.

Congratulations again to our 2024 Spring Brunch Honorees! You have shown great dedication, empathy, strength & diligence in your work & are an inspiration to all of us! 👏🏻

An interesting opinion essay by David Sheff in The New York Times sheds light on the harsh realities of addiction & the impact it has on families.

As a father who watched his son struggle with substance use, Sheff shares his personal journey & the profound challenges faced when a loved one is battling addiction.

At Be a Part of the Conversation, we resonate deeply with his message. Sheff underscores the urgency of intervention, highlighting that waiting for individuals to seek help on their own can be ineffective.

Read the full article here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/12/opinion/addiction-treatment.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0U0.fnAk.SWSNmLU1gQFz&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Why is the LGBTQIA+ community at a greater risk for Substance Use Disorder? 🌈

Individuals defined as “sexual minorities” are more than twice as likely as heterosexuals to have used any illicit drug.¹

Social stigma, discrimination, & other challenges can lead to stress & treatment barriers that put this population at risk for addiction & other behavioral health challenges.

Join our FREE online program as we chat with treatment specialists & those with lived experience.

Regsiter here👇🏻👇🏼👇🏽👇🏾👇🏿
conversation.zone/event/lgbt/

¹NIDA. “Substance Use and SUDs in LGBTQ* Populations.”

However your Father’s Day looks, please take time to rest & reflect this weekend. 🌸

From the BPOC staff, we hope you have a wonderful Father’s Day 💚

The results are in- we’ve raised $110k in funds to aid in our mission to support families struggling with addiction! 🙌🏻

Our deepest gratitude to every sponsor, donor, volunteer, & attendee for helping us achieve this goal! We couldn’t have done it without you 💚

Bob Hope once said, “I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.”

We hope you can find a moment to laugh today 💚

A recent study by The Johns Hopkins University reveals a sobering truth: nearly one-third of U.S. adults know someone who has died from a drug overdose.

As Assistant Professor Alene Kennedy-Hendricks poignantly states, "Although large numbers of U.S. adults are bereaved due to overdose, they may not be as visible as other groups who have lost loved ones to less stigmatized health issues." This underscores the urgent need for compassion, awareness, & action to support those affected by this crisis.

Let's work together to reduce the stigma & provide the help & understanding that every grieving person deserves.

https://hub.jhu.edu/2024/05/31/nearly-one-third-of-us-adults-experience-overdose-loss/

hashtag hashtag hashtag

Nearly one-third of U.S. adults know someone who has died of drug overdose Johns Hopkins researchers' survey also finds that familiarity with a fatal overdose death bolsters recognition of addiction as an important policy issue that spans party lines

Join Us Online! 💻

🗓️ Saturday, June 8, 2024
⏰10am - 12pm ET

Free 2-Hour CME Training: ‘Healthcare, Youth & Cannabis’

This program is for healthcare professionals treating children, adolescents, or young adults. With increased access to medical ma*****na and potential legalization, understanding cannabis’s effects on youth is crucial.

Presenters & Learning Objectives:

Libby Stuyt MD - Addiction Psychiatrist, IASIC
Talk: ‘Negative Impacts of High Potency THC Ma*****na on Patients and Community Safety: This is not “Medicine”’

Dr. Stuyt will discuss the unintended consequences of high potency THC products, supported by scientific evidence.

Objectives:
• Differences in today’s ma*****na vs. past.
• THC levels supported by research.
• THC’s effect on the developing brain.
• High potency THC’s role in addiction, anxiety, depression, psychosis, and more.

Mo Sarhan, MD - Addiction Medicine,

Talk: Dr. Sarhan will share “Candidly Cannabis: Real Stories, Real Impact” with anonymized cases from the past year.

Objectives:
• Define addiction per ASAM.
• Diagnose Cannabis Use Disorder using DSM V criteria.
• Presentations and consequences of Cannabis Use Disorder.
• Multidisciplinary management of cannabis use disorder.
• How to seek assistance using ASAM criteria.

Funded by Montgomery County Office of Drugs & Alcohol, in collaboration with Caron Treatment Centers.

Register now to secure your spot! 👇🏻
https://conversation.zone/event/cme/

Tomorrow @ 10AM on ZOOM! 💻

Free 2 hour online CE training for PA Psychology, LSW/LCSW, LPC, & LMFT’s!

Hosted by Jessica Molavi, this training will provide an overview of trauma and offer education on what defines trauma overall 🎙️

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants are able to understand trauma and identify at least one warning sign related to the negative impact of unresolved trauma.

2. Participants are able to differentiate between compassion fatigue and burn out

3. Participants are able to learn at least one intervention for vicarious trauma

4. Participants are able to learn about the “Healthy Helper” model and define at least one workplace wellness strategy to reduce the impact of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.

Register here:
https://conversation.zone/event/ceu/

In case you weren't able to join us this year, our 2024 Spring Brunch Award Ceremony is now available to watch in full on YouTube!

Thank you to Damian Holbrook & 2020 Visual Media for helping us hosting another successful Brunch!

Congratulations again to all of our awardees & thank you to our attendees, volunteers & sponsors!

2024 Spring Brunch Program | "Building Bridges" On Sunday, May 19, 2024, Be a Part of the Conversation hosted their annual fundraiser at The Farmhouse at People's Light in Malvern, Pennsylvania. After ming...

Congratulations to our very own for receiving a 2024 Prevention Award from the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance! 🏆🎉

Congratulations to .laurel.517 & the other awardees as well! We are happy to stand among these amazing folks! 👏🏻

Join us for a free 2 hour online CE training for PA Psychology, LSW/LCSW, LPC, & LMFT’s! 💻 🧠

Hosted by Jessica Molavi this training will provide an overview of trauma and offer education on what defines trauma overall.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants are able to understand trauma and identify at least one warning sign related to the negative impact of unresolved trauma

2. Participants are able to differentiate between compassion fatigue and burn out

3. Participants are able to learn at least one intervention for vicarious trauma

4. Participants are able to learn about the “Healthy Helper” model and define at least one workplace wellness strategy to reduce the impact of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue

Register here:
https://conversation.zone/event/ceu/

Have you met our Board of Directors? 👋🏻 Without these folks, many of our free programming would not be possible.

Many thanks to this group of wonderful humans for believing in our mission & supporting BPOC! 🫶🏼

Say cheese! 📸 😁

The photos from our 2024 Spring Brunch are now available for viewing & downloading at👇🏻(link in our story as well)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/beapartoftheconversation/albums/72177720317145292/with/53735935370

📷

Thank you so much to everyone who was involved with our 2024 Spring Brunch! 🌼

Our donors, volunteers, attendees, partners, staff, & crew are so incredibly generous & talented! Your dedication to supporting families impacted by addiction is truly an inspiration to us all! 💚

Whether you were with us yesterday or there in spirit, we again want to thank you again for helping us continue with our mission 🫶🏼

Join us for an open conversation about teens & Cannibus.

We will discuss:
💚 The components of va**ng, including flavored liquids, ni****ne, & cannabis, & their respective impacts
💚 Trends, results, & ways to change perspectives around va**ng
💚 Strategies to support young individuals in resisting societal influences & promoting healthier lifestyle choices

Register at: 👇🏻
https://conversation.zone/event/sfasd/

More fun photos from Prevention Day! 📸

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated this past week! Your commitment to early prevention & fostering a brighter future is truly inspiring 💚

Prevention starts early, & it begins with us. By having honest conversations with our children, students, & community, we pave the way for open dialogue & understanding.

Let’s continue to support one another & build a foundation of trust & communication 💙

Some shots from our ‘Mock Teen Bedroom’ display at the Prevention Day Conference & Block Party yesterday! 🎤 We had a great time chatting with our wonderful community colleagues!

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to learn about us & our programs 💚