BALTIMORE (Map, News) - As its name indicates, Recovery in Community Inc., a Southwest Baltimore substance-abuse prevention and treatment agency, sees recovery and domestic stability as interdependent in the reclamation process.

“Recovery in Community is a state-certified, outpatient treatment program with a comprehensive, long-term commitment to substance-abuse intervention, prevention and treatment,” said Lena M. Franklin, the nonprofit’s executive director. “It’s an out-of-the-box kind of thing. Our focus is not on episodic treatment but on retaining people for the longer haul.”

The antithesis of the “28-day detoxification model,” Recovery in Community blends a drug-free regimen, classroom orientation and instruction, group discussion, individual counseling, case management and supportive, transitional housing. The program serves about 300 people a year.

About 40 of the nonprofit’s 103 clients have taken free housing, Franklin said, which is provided by partnering housing nonprofits, such as the Foundation of Hope.

“We’re able to place people in housing for up to three months to help them get their foundation in the recovery process,” she said.

The 11-employee, $580,000 a year nonprofit, started in 1998 as a city health department program with a $2 million grant from the Abell Foundation, even offers house calls and acupuncture — and a gala graduation ceremony each August for graduates who remain drug- and alcohol-free.

“It’s like when you first come into these programs, you really don’t want to be there,” said William Reed, a former substance-abuser who graduated from Recovery in Community in 2005. “But as I kept coming, I realized that there are things that I needed to change in my life — and the counselors there helped me understand what I needed to do.”

Now steadily employed, Reed is planning to purchase the Southwest Baltimore house he currently rents.

“It’s an outstanding program,” said Paul Booth, a volunteer with Operation Reach Out Southwest, a Baltimore economic development nonprofit. “I’ve seen some of the folks who have come out of the program and into our jobs program, and go on to become productive citizens.”

It’s an outcome that may have something to do with Franklin’s philosophy.

“We really believe that addiction should be treated as any other chronic illness,” Franklin said. “We don’t punish and denigrate people for not following their treatment plan. We bring them in and talk about what we can do.”

The formal program lasts for one year but offers recovery support activities afterward, Franklin said.

Comments from Examiner Readers

11:57 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Ministry stresses local entrepreneurship"

Examiner Reader said:
It seems as though the Examiner just lets Mr. Corrigan recycle the same story every week or so, and has let him do it for about the last 9 weeks. As much as I support recycling, I think it might be time for a new topic.

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4:59 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 6, 2007 re: "Washington-area nonprofits coordinate different crisis-management strategies"

Examiner Reader said:
It's only a matter of time. Plan thoroughly, consider all options, and where roadblocks are placed before you, find alternatives. Remember that during the Katrina evac, all the buses where in the up-scale part of town that the walkers from poor sections couldn't get to in time. Please be careful. People need you, but there are those who don't want you to succeed.

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8:32 AM MST on Thu., Nov. 22, 2007 re: "Study: Nonprofit employment growing faster than private sector"

Examiner Reader said:
With all the shady, non-taxed, I mean, so-called, non-profits in Maryland, working for a non-profit is working in the private sector.

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11:40 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 14, 2007 re: "Marian House helps at-risk women cultivate independence"

Huh? said:
"[T]his $1.6 million, 22-employee nonprofit has a track record to support its claim." Okay, fair enough. So, what's the track record? Also, if the org has helped about 1,000 women since 1994, that's fewer than 90 women per year and there are 22 employees! It had better be successful at that ratio. Another point: Not-for-profit is merely a tax status. It does not mean that administrators cannot earn a handsome salary. I am not suggesting that is the case here but there's a reason these places don't share that info without being asked.

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8:50 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 3, 2007 re: "Martha�s Place promotes hope for women overcoming addictions"

Examiner Reader said:
As a woman in recovery who needed balance in my life recovery houses such as M artha"s Place deserve to recieve all the available resources to help restore self-esteem, and save lives. How can we mimnimize lives by withholding funds. I am an alumni who's life has been restored because of Martha's Place! I thank God for Elder & Mrs.Harris for leaping out into an area many others have not and willnot accept the challenage to save lives!

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12:18 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 19, 2007 re: "Health Care for the Homeless to expand services"

Examiner Reader said:
Hi! Thank you so much for printing this article. It is a wonderful summary of what this incredible organization does. My husband works for Jeff Singer. Jeff is an incredibly humble, gracious and loving person. He truly cares about each person who comes through his Center. He deeply appreciates the job that everyone does on a daily basis. One can only truly appreciate the magnificent compassion and respect this organization offers to our homeless friends by visiting the center and helping face-to-face, hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart as this family reaches out to those in need. Thanks again for helping to make our neighbors aware of the needs of our brothers and sisters and the assistance provided by these loving angels of mercy!

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12:20 PM MST on Wed., May. 23, 2007 re: "D.C. charity helps kids pump clean water in Africa"

Matthew C. Andrea said:
Please post the contact information for PlayPumps International. This concept is brilliant, fun and uplifting. Definitely something that I would like to support.

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7:21 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007 re: "Advisory board trims list of nonprofit grant applications"

Examiner Reader said:
When is Montgomery County going to realize that Casa of MD is taking them/us to the cleaners?

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