RISE: Reconnecting and Inspiring Self-Empowerment

In July, we got the opportunity to speak with Melissa Snyder, the Director of Prevention and Recovery Services at Herkimer County about the RISE Program and its Recovery Community & Outreach Center (RCOC).

The RCOC supports people through their recovery through peer-to-peer services, wellness activities, sober events, education and training opportunities. Learn more about how we're helping our neighbors in Herkimer county through their recovery journey.

The Recovery Community & Outreach Center (RCOC) Provides individuals and their families with recovery support through peer-to-peer services, wellness activities, sober events and education and training opportunities.

Tell us about you. What is your title, when did you start, what are your responsibilities?

I’m currently the Director of Prevention and Recovery Services, but I’ve held various titles in my time with Catholic Charities of Herkimer County as I started my employment with the agency in 2007. In my role as Director of Prevention Education overseeing the Herkimer County Prevention Council and TREATY Program, I wrote and was awarded a grant to open the RISE recovery center which opened in October 2019.

Tell us about your program & your staff.

The RISE Program is a Recovery Center that is open to anyone in recovery and also serves friends, family and offers resources and referrals to individuals still struggling. Not a treatment center, more of a drop in center- rec center, table tennis, craft room, support meetings and it’s a place for people to socialize and peers helping peers. We provide Recovery Coach Training, link people with resources, help individuals who are looking for treatment and link them with providers. We recently held a member picnic where were we rented a gazebo, had food and games and enjoyed the outside.

Most importantly we provide peer to peer engagement and support to individuals looking to sustain their recovery, which includes skill building groups; support groups, we have done book clubs and movie nights. The ultimate goal is to provide a safe and sober environment for the individuals we serve.

What population do you serve and what services do you provide?

We provide services to individuals in recovery and provide resources to those still struggling with addiction. We also provide services to loved ones who have been impacted by addiction. Additionally, we provide outreach and training to the community and local agencies to educate and reduce the stigma surrounding substance misuse.

How many people & families have you served?

From January 2021 until now, we’ve served just over 100 unduplicated individuals. In 2020 we served a total of 184 unduplicated individuals. COVID-19 had a significant impact on our unduplicated count for 2020 and early 2021 as programming was switched to a virtual capacity.
We are starting to see the numbers increase again. Overall, participation ebbs and flows on any given day. It’s pretty consistent to see between 5-10 people in the center a day.

What’s coming up for RISE?

International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31 will be our next big event. We are also coordinating activities for Celebrate Recovery Month in September. We are looking at increasing some activities like movie night and brining karaoke back. Members have also given us some additional ideas like a chicken riggies cook-off, and participating in a canal cruise. We are always taking feedback and looking at new ideas.

What’s the best part of working with RISE?

Seeing the growth in the people that come in - sometimes we get people early in their recovery process, watching their pride and self-esteem grow, seeing them overcome obstacles in a sober environment, get jobs, and watching them change from focusing on the negative to focusing on the positive/making the positives happen, has to be one of the best parts of the job. Feeling like we get to be a little piece of that makes all the hard work worth it.

How can people help?

Donate online: https://ccherkimercounty.org/donate/

Financial support is always welcome. We also take donations for gently used books, DVD’s, craft supplies, coffee, snacks, bottled water, juice, socks, gloves and hats. Contact Melissa Snyder at msnyder@ccherkimer.org or 315-219-5393 to donate. Donations are greatly appreciated.

The center also accepts volunteers. Anyone interesting in volunteering can contact Barb Bellstedt at bbellstedt@ccherkimer.org or 315-219-5393.

The recovery center consists of 5 amazing staff; all staff are either certified or in the process of becoming certified as NYS Recovery Peer Advocates. The center offers a number of ASAP New York Certification Board and OASAS approved trainings. These trainings include Recovery Coach Academy and Ethical Considerations for Recovery Coaching which fulfill the 46-hour training requirement needed to obtain the Certified Peer Recovery Advocate certification. Recertification trainings also offered. Training information can be found on RISE’s website at www.risercoc.org or Facebook page www.facebook.com/risercoc or by contacting Jeff Petrie at jpetrie@ccherkimer.org or 315-219-5393.

RISE Recovery Center is a program of Catholic Charities of Herkimer County and is funded under SAMHSA’s State Opioid Response funding provided by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS).