New Recovery Center to Offer Services for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorder
BETHLEHEM, PA – The Speak Up for Ben, Inc. Board of Directors has announced that it has approved the establishment of the Oasis Community Center to support families impacted by substance use. The center, opening July 1, will be operated under the auspices of Speak Up for Ben, and will be located in the Park Plaza Farmhouse, 3400 Bath Pike, Bethlehem, Northampton County.
The establishment of the Oasis Community Center is made possible through support from the County of Northampton Drug and Alcohol Division. The Center will provide supportive services and healing activities for hundreds of families and friends affected by Substance Use Disorder (SUD). A grand opening is slated for Friday, June 28, at 12 noon. Local, county and state officials will speak at the grand opening.
“As a nonprofit organization, we are thrilled to announce the approval of the Oasis Community Center for Northampton County,” said Rhonda Miller, Speak Up for Ben Executive Director. “Opening a recovery center for families has been a dream of ours for many years as we battled alongside our son Ben’s disease of Substance Use Disorder.”
Miller added, “We know first hand that families often lack the support they need. We are excited for this project to finally come to fruition.” The Miller family founded Speak Up for Ben, Inc. after losing their 23-year-old son and brother, Ben, to the Opioid epidemic in 2016. The Oasis Community Center is not a drug and alcohol or mental health treatment facility, nor will anyone reside at the location. Rather, the space will serve families who have experienced substance related loss and for those currently dealing with a loved one’s substance use by offering resources, support and holistic healing activities.
The Oasis Community Center will include family support meetings, grief recovery groups, and experiential healing activities. Details on the center’s events and programs will be determined by the executive director and a steering committee comprised of Northampton County community residents who are committed to promoting and advancing family recovery.
According to Matthew Bartos, Speak Up for Ben Board President, the center will offer many methods for family recovery and will support activities and events that are healing for those in recovery from a loved one’s addiction. “On any given day, for example, there may be a 12-step family support meeting, an art or cooking class, and a children’s program,” Bartos noted. “The healing modalities will be very nurturing. We welcome anyone who has experienced a loved one’s substance use to visit.”
The drop-in Center will be open weekdays for regular programs and on occasional weekends for special events. At least one Certified Family Recovery Specialist (CFRS) will be on-site. A Certified Family Recovery Specialist is specifically trained in supporting family members seeking recovery from a loved one’s addiction.
Additional information regarding the Center’s grand opening on June 28, its hours of operation, availability of specific programs and services, and other pertinent information will be made public in the coming weeks.
