How do you define success?
Graduating high school by 18? Purchasing a house by 26? Getting married before you’re 30? Or maybe it’s some other monumental task society says should be done by a certain timeframe. Well, I challenge you to redefine success. For those who have experienced...
The Magic of Christmas
At this time of the year, I am always in awe of the spirit of generosity that blankets The Center for Great Expectations, and the sense of gratitude that fills its residents. Rewind 12 years. It was the first time I volunteered to assist at...
CGE’s Response to the New Jersey Department of Health 2016-2018 Maternal Mortality Report
Issued November 2022 The Department of Health’s recently released “New Jersey Maternal Mortality Report 2016-2018” brings to light important factors related to New Jersey’s unfortunate distinction as a state with one of the highest disparities in maternal mortality...
It’s Time to Go Inside
Recently, a client at CGE found herself having a close encounter with her own darkness, feeling the feelings that she had tamped down with substances up until this point. Her external ways of managing her pain were no longer accessible to her in our treatment program: no substances, no self-harming behaviors, no unhealthy relationships to distract her from her internal feelings. Just like the fall season calls us to reflect on our inner world, this moment called for the client to go inside. However, at CGE, no client does this alone.
Getting a Headstart
Katy’s Place—CGE’s on-site child development center for the children of clients in both the Adult and Adolescent Residential programs—and its licensed clinical and child development staff, provide education services to children three years old and younger. CGE’s Early Relational Health Specialists refer children over three to our local Head Start Program, informing clients of the program’s many benefits available to them as they transition back into the community.
Yes, it is still valid that it takes a village to raise a child. However, it takes connections to support and sustain the child’s village. This is a core tenet of CGE’s treatment philosophy.
Recovery Month Reflection
A stone ceremony is a tradition that CGE has established to honor a mother’s time in our care. Each stone has a different message: Heal; Serenity; Love; Let go; Breathe; Wisdom; Inspire; Pray; Imagine; Pause; Faith; Relax; Trust. This tangible transitional object is symbolic, carrying within it the teachings, love and lessons one experienced through her time in care with us. She gets to carry it into her future to remember where she came from, what she learned, and how that foundation can only help her grow more.
I am reminded, too, of how the wheels of life continue to turn, as another newcomer enters the program. During a room check, it was noticed that her calendar on the wall had been marked up a bit. Upon closer look we saw, “3 days clean,” “4 days clean,” “5 days clean.” Today is day 88. Her daughter was born while she was in our program and due to her ability to sustain her sobriety, her child was not removed from her care at the hospital by the Department of Child Protection & Permanency (DCP&P). The baby came home to mom at CGE. Mom has the cutest nickname for her baby. They are learning about one another in very special ways.
You again? The stigma of addiction I experienced firsthand.
Stigma is defined as “a mark of disgrace or infamy.” The stigma of addiction – or the mark of disgrace or infamy associated with this brain disease – stems from negative attitudes towards people coping with substance use disorders. This discrimination comes from institutions, like treatment centers and hospitals as well as from family, friends and the general public who openly express their negative attitudes, thoughts and actions towards people living with the disease of addiction.
Despite its benefits, Black mothers still have to overcome a lot of barriers to breastfeed.
According to the CDC, an increase in breastfeeding among Black women could decrease infant mortality rates by as much as 50%. Unfortunately, despite this health benefit, there are still many systemic barriers like poverty, early return to work, and access to breastfeeding information and support that make it difficult for Black mothers to breastfeed.
It’s time to stop the cookie-cutter approach to treating substance use.
Are substance abuse centers addicted to the wrong method of treatment?
If their program places a heavy emphasis on abstinence-based methods and the “28 Day Cure”, then the answer is, “yes, they are”. Learn why we need to stop taking this cookie-cutter approach to treating substance use.
It’s 2022. Why are minorities still finding it hard to receive adequate mental health care?
July is National Minority Mental Health Month. And it’s time those of us who are not a part of the minority community recognize the barriers this population faces when seeking quality mental health treatment.
Lack of insurance. Lack of diversity among providers. Limited understanding of the different mental health needs across minority groups. Cultural insensitivities. All if these issues contribute to the lack of quality mental health care. Now add the stigma associated with seeking treatment for mental health issues and you start to see why minority communities are experiencing adverse mental health outcomes and increased suicides.