NET has a strong peer-oriented culture in which we recognize, celebrate and thus further strengthen the resilience of people who seek our services. In addition to assuring that persons served have an active voice in their service planning, we are deeply committed to assuring that client voices also drive program and policy development. We believe this is key to successful program engagement and retention.
Patient Advocacy Committee at NET Steps
The Patient Advocacy Committee (PAC) at NET Stepsis composed of a small group of individuals who are on Medication-Assisted Treatment and serve as peer advocates for the entire census of patients at NET Steps. Services include: creating and delivering presentations on recovery and other relevant topics to the community and patients, issuing a monthly newsletter about recovery topics entitled “The NET-WORK”, assistance with budgeting, developing resumes and finding employment, teaching interview skills, helping clients pursue schooling, applying for other grants and loans, setting up payment plans for student loans in default, helping with GED testing, tutoring for school (GED and college), financial and credit counseling, finding housing, clothing and food, assistance starting their own business, meeting and greeting new clients, conducting family group weekly, helping with obtaining driver’s licenses, photo identification and social security cards and more.
NETWorks Recovery Support Centers
NET developed the ROSC (Recovery Oriented System of Care) Model, the first non-funded recovery center run by people in recovery for people in recovery). The program is internationally-recognized for its involvement in the transformation and integration of peer services. (Read more here.) – link to William White article)
NETWorks Recovery Support Centers use a community-based continuum of services to support Persons in Recovery (PIR) as they are transitioning out of NET treatment programs. Each drug-free location has a Consumer Council that is made up of representatives from each clinical group to address issues or concerns of the recovery community as well as plan positive sober activities and community service events.
NETWorks offers:
- Community Integration and Support
- Emergency Housing Assistance and Vouchers
- Vocational and Career Training
- AA and NA Meetings
- Life Skills Education
- Social and Recreational Opportunities
- Financial Literacy
- Parenting Workshops
Our Spring Garden and Frankford Avenue locations house larger recovery support centers, while the North and West Counseling Centers house smaller recovery lounges. These are designated areas for Persons in Recovery (PIRs) to spend time engaging in positive sober activities.
In addition, each month our PIRs are recognized for the positive gains they are making in their recovery. Consumer Council members have organized this event filled with guest speakers, awards, food, fun and fellowship. Annually, all sites come together for the Annual Recovery Recognition Banquet. Community partners, PIRs, and staff attend this event and are recognized for their exceptional service to one another and the community at large. NET also participates in the annual PRO-ACT Recovery Walk, one of the largest walks in Philadelphia that celebrates recovery and works to end the stigma surrounding drug and alcohol addiction.
Parent-to Parent Support
Parent-to-Parent support is a service NET created because often it helps to talk to someone who has had the same experiences. Parent Support Specialists have children who at some point received therapeutic services. They are available to provide support both face-to-face and over the phone and often focus on psychoeducation and advocacy. The Parent Support Specialist also provide face-to-face support at meetings with professionals such as Community Behavior Health (CBH), Department of Human Services (DHS), at your child’s school or at NET offices. They listen to and support parents as their children enter into treatment or throughout treatment as questions and issues arise.
Youth Leadership Council
NET’s Youth Leadership Council (YLC) is a self-funded, voluntary-enrollment program open to youth across all of NET’s programs who have either self-identified as leaders, or have been identified by NET staff as possessing strong leadership characteristics. Youth work together to identify various issues that they would like to address in their communities, then organize community-service projects to helptackle those issues. In the past, these projects have consisted of the creation and staffing of a large-scale public art installation.