The DuPage Community Foundation Grant Helps Serenity House Counseling Services, Inc. Participants with Housing, Counseling and Peer-to-Peer Prevention Program

For more than 25 years, Serenity House has expanded substance abuse services and capacity throughout DuPage County to meet the increasing demand for treatment. Serenity House serves hundreds of men and women each year in residential, outpatient and recovery home programs. The programs provide a holistic approach that focuses on integrating men and women back into their surroundings as self-sufficient, productive members of their communities while improving the quality of life for their families.

One of the programs of Serenity House is the Peer-to-Peer Prevention Partnership Program which began as a result of the 12-step recovery program.

"Part of this is personal for each young man and woman who participates," said Lisa Snipes, development director for Serenity House. "It's an honor for them and part of their recovery process to go into the schools and share their stories, many times with their peers."

The Peer-to-Peer Prevention Partnership Program is in its fourth year. The typical ages of participants speaking to the high school students in the peer-to-peer program is 19-24, which is close to the age of high school students.

"We've had speakers relate to the high school students by saying 'I was sitting where you are a year ago,'" Snipes said.

"Ten years ago, the typical age of people in the recovery program averaged at 30. Today, we're seeing a lot of younger people reaching out for help, especially in the last five years with the rising addiction to heroin. It's a drug like no other and addictive like none we've ever encountered."

One recent peer-to-peer program was held at Wheaton North High School. A panel of peer prevention speakers presented a program during the drug education unit of a health and physical education class. As an exercise to accompany the presentation, instructor Kevin Formanski asked his class to describe a feeling, fact and memory of the presentation. Here are a few of the students' responses:

Feeling-"I was shocked when I heard that a friend's mother supplied the addict with drugs."

Fact-"An addiction to drugs takes away your friends, family, possessions and hobbies."

Memory-"I've been shot before and I'd rather get shot again than go through withdrawal again," as told by "Mike," one of the presenters.

"With illegal drugs in DuPage County-especially heroin-the value of this program is huge," said Formanski. "For the students to sit and listen to people who have gone through using drugs and thinking that they wouldn't become addicted, the value is priceless."

Serenity House has been providing this program to Wheaton North High School for the past three years, said Formanski. "I applaud the work that Serenity House is doing. It really impacts the kids."

"There's so much hope. When a young person comes to you broken and defeated, lonely and scared, and they don't know where to turn and then one month later you see them and they realize that they saw a glimpse of what recovery can be, it makes what we do here all worth it," said Snipes. "Thanks to The DuPage Community Foundation, this opportunity has allowed Serenity House to have a profound impact on so many young lives."

For Donna Foyle, Serenity House recovery home program manager, the peer-to-peer program is personal. Foyle lost a son to heroin addiction three years ago and she said her family is committed to the program.

"These kids have been to hell and back," said Foyle. "If we can get across to just one kid, maybe it will help. I love hearing their stories. I watch their confidence grow and I learn something new every day."

"As a 10-year board member of Serenity House Foundation, Inc., there is complete satisfaction when I see Serenity House Counseling employees engaging clients that have been successful in not only recovery, but in regaining their own lives and becoming community members," said Alana McBride-Piech, vice-chairman of Serenity House Foundation, Inc. "To allow the vulnerability of exposing problems in a past life to improve the lives of others is a noble cause. I consistently witness life transformations from people going through our programs, and to know they are paying it forward not only makes me thankful, but proud to be a part of a continuing source for the betterment of our community."

The peer speakers are getting their lives back together and are committed to the program. In order to speak to the students at the schools, they must take time off from work, many using vacation days to do so. "We help them set goals and get back into the mainstream of life," said Foyle. "I love this."

About Serenity House Counseling Services, Inc.:

The Serenity House Counseling Services, Inc. is a not-for-profit, community-based, comprehensive treatment facility located in Addison offering services to adult men and women recovering from chemical dependence and substance abuse. The programs provide individuals with the necessary skills to rebuild families, strengthen relationships, and to become productive members of their communities. Serenity House responds to the needs of these individuals regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, HIV status or ability to pay.

For more information about Serenity House, visit www.serenityhouse.com.

About The DuPage Community Foundation:

The DuPage Community Foundation seeks to raise the quality of life throughout DuPage County by fostering philanthropy, connecting donors to area needs and building community partnerships. Based on the American virtues of volunteerism and philanthropy, the Foundation fosters a legacy of support for the people of DuPage County by making grants to not-for-profit organizations working in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment, health, and human services. Since its inception, the Foundation has built its endowment to more than $60 million and

awarded more than $20 million in grants to not-for-profit agencies serving the residents of

DuPage County and beyond.

Established in 1986, The DuPage Community Foundation is a publicly-supported 501(c)(3) organization to which contributions are tax deductible. It was created to benefit the people of DuPage County and receives contributions and bequests into a permanent endowment from

individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations wishing to make lasting contributions to the people of DuPage. The earnings on these funds are then used, in accordance with donor wishes, for the Foundation's grantmaking and community leadership activities.

For more information about the Foundation, or to arrange future media opportunities, please contact Joelyn Kott, marketing & communications officer, at (630) 665-5556, extension 19, or jkott@dcfdn.org.