Rage is Thankful!
November is officially called “Thankful for Recovery” month. This is where we celebrate and are grateful for those we know on the recovery journey.
Rage prides itself on our three recovery houses in the Harford County, Maryland area. We are very thankful for the women who have come through our houses; we know recovery is not easy; it’s constant work, but we also have hope that recovery is possible.
Wendy Beck, Founder and Executive Director of Rage Against Addiction, shares with us some little-known details about our recovery program and our three successful sober living houses.
-What was the official date of the opening of each of the 3 recovery houses?
Daughter’s House opened in November 2018, Sister House opened in May 2020, and The Cottage just opened in August 2022. As you can see, we’ve been very busy, but in a good way!
-How many residents can each house hold?
Daughter’s House can accommodate up to seven women (six residents and one House Manager); Sister House can accommodate eight women (seven residents and one House Manager), and The Cottage can accommodate five women (four residents and one House Manager).
-Describe your thought process when thinking about opening the first house…
After watching my daughter struggle with addiction, I saw firsthand that resources and the quality of resources weren’t easily accessible; there weren’t many in the area, so I wanted to be a part of helping raise the standards and quality of recovery houses available.
-What does recovery mean to you?
Before becoming involved with our recovery houses, my knowledge of what recovery really “is” was limited. What I know today has evolved and if I didn’t see the work that goes into it every day, I could not have imagined its transformative power. The principles of recovery become a lifestyle of accountability. We should all work this hard on ourselves! It is all about digging deep, healing, and growth. It isn’t easy but it is possible!
Describe the goals you hope the women can achieve at the houses.
We aim for the women to reach, maintain, and enhance their recovery journey by assisting them with finding employment, networking to find likeminded individuals, finding a sponsor, and re-learning life skills like balancing finances, doing chores, and making their own appointments. We hope that they will return to living a better life.
-What are some challenges about recovery?
Stigma about addiction and even recovery has a way of sticking and making it more difficult for individuals to find and get help, and that can be hard to shake, but we are working on erasing the stigma and also providing that needed help.
-How does someone become a House Manager?
Ideally, House Managers are promoted from within the house. We hope for a natural progression from resident to senior resident to House Manager. It requires trust and accountability.
-What are the differences between the three houses?
All three houses are aligned under our Daughter’s House program. Rules and expectations are all the same. The only difference is that The Cottage residents are enrolled in a maintenance (MAT) program.
-What are some preconceived ideas about recovery that others, who may not be familiar with it, may have?
Many people assume that recovery houses are bad for the community. That is probably one of the top five issues recovery houses have to contend with. My biggest soap box speech is “let them recover” and in order for them to be able to do that, we need to rethink what it takes for them to succeed. Safety, structure, and oversight are what I would start the conversation with. Our Daughter’s House program has housed over one hundred women in the past four years. We have strong alumni and a dedicated Program Director that brings her sustainable recovery to the next level. We are so grateful for her!
Upcoming Events
Have you ordered your copy yet? This is a unique and touching holiday gift for those who are grieving a loved one. This time of year is not always merry and bright for many people, and for those of us who have lost someone to substance abuse, we must remember to look for the signs that our loved one is never far away.
Getting yours is easy: with a $75 donation, you can order through Paypal or through regular mail. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 1 – Forest Hill, MD 21050. Please don’t forget to use codeword HALOBOOK2022 when ordering. We are taking orders now through December 1st.
Our Rage Club families are invited to our Holiday Party at Buontempo Brothers in Bel Air, Maryland on Saturday, December 3, 2022 for an afternoon of crafts, lunch, and good times. The holidays are a difficult time of year for many families struggling with addiction and we know that it can be a comfort to feel connected to others going through the same thing. Please check out more details here.
Rage Club is designed by Rage Against Addiction for children affected by addiction to help them and their families learn healthy ways to express their feelings through activities such as art and equine therapy, nature walks, and much more. We encourage open and honest conversations about addiction within the family; understanding this disease is the first phase of the healing process.
The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) at Ashley Treatment Center in Aberdeen, Maryland is offering a 12-week program that will be take place every Tuesday from 5:30pm to 8:00pm in the fall and spring. Our spring sessions will begin on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Those who would like to participate do not need to be Clubhouse members; the only requirements is that they live in Maryland and the adolescents are between ages 12-17 (18 if still in high school). Please register here: SFP Program at Ashley.
Our annual Memory Walk / Recovery Run is set to take place at Cedar Lane Regional Park in Bel Air, Maryland on Saturday, April 1, 2023. We will have a virtual route again for those who are not local to the area but still would like to participate. We are excited to partner with Charm City Run for the third year in a row. Please mark your calendars for a morning of great exercise, community involvement, and healing. Stay tuned for registration details!
Community Resources
Addiction Connections Resource: A non-profit organization that assists with providing resources and support for addiction treatment and that educates the community about substance abuse disorder. Located in Fallston, MD. Please visit here or call 443-417-7810 for more information.
Ashley Addiction Treatment: An inpatient treatment center that personalizes clinical programs based on individual need. Located in Havre De Grace, MD. Please visit here or call 800-799-4673 for information about online and in-person meeting services.
Celebrate Recovery: A local support group for those with addictive behaviors. Located in Bel Air, MD and Joppa, MD.
-Mt. Zion Church (1643 Churchville Road, Bel Air, MD 21015): every Thursday at 5:45pm. Please visit here for more information about meetings.
-Mountain Christian Church (New Life Center 1802 Mountain Road, Joppa, MD 21085): every Friday at 6:00pm. Please visit here for more details.
GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing): A local support group for those who have lost someone to addiction.
-7:00pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
-Located in the Education Building at Mt. Zion Church: 1643 Churchville Road, Bel Air, MD 21015
-Contact lisa.craig4@verizon.net for more information. The private national Facebook group is available. Please visit here to ask to join.
The Klein Family Harford Crisis Center: A clinic that provides immediate care for mental health and addiction. Located in Bel Air, MD. Please visit here or call 410-874-0711 for information about services.
Loving An Addict: A local support group for family and friends of those in active addiction.
-7:00 pm every Saturday.
-Located in the Education Building at Mt. Zion Church: 1643 Churchville Road, Bel Air, MD 21015
-Contact lisa.craig4@verizon.net for more information.
We serve locally but think globally. For counseling, or for addiction, substance abuse disorder, or mental illness treatment, please contact your area’s health department, county government, hospital, or law enforcement agency.
Rage Against Addiction Programs
Daughter’s House: Designed to assist women who are transitioning from substance abuse treatment to recovery; includes three sober living houses (Daughter’s House, Sister House, and The Cottage) located in the suburbs of Harford County, MD. Click here to visit the Facebook page.
Rage Club: Designed specifically for children affected by addiction to help them process their feelings and learn about the disease by offering counselor-led activities, such as equine and art therapy, nature walks, and more. The group meets several times a year. Click here for more information
HALO (How to Live Without Our Addicted Loved One): An online grief support group specifically for those that lost loved ones to substance abuse. Click here to ask to join the private Facebook page. *Please read and answer the membership questions prior to joining.*
RAA ABC (After Baby Care): Provides post-partum care packages to new mothers in early recovery.
Rage Against Addiction Team Members
Wendy Beck: Founder and Executive Director
Rachel Bongiorno: Recovery Coach and Daughter’s House Program Director
Mia Ellis: Newsletter Writer and Administrator
Amanda Buddenbohn: Board of Directors
Tara Kuzma: Chairman of the Board of Directors
Sarah Hoover and Michael Nesline: Rage Club was inspired by their need to heal from their own personal loss