2026-09-21 - Human Affairs Committee

00:102026. This is the human affairs

00:11committee. Um we will be meeting at 7

00:15p.m. in the aldermanic chamber. This has

00:17been duly noticed in two places

00:18including the city's website and

00:19according to the accord uh requirements

00:22of RSA 91 A2

00:25Roman numeral 2. Um let's start the

00:27meeting by making a roll call. Alderman

00:29at large Amber Morgan

00:31>> here.

00:32>> Alderman Tim Senna is here. Alderman

00:34James Raan

00:35>> here.

00:36>> Alderwoman at large Kelly, vice chair

00:39>> here.

00:39>> And Alderman Tom Lopez, chair.

00:41>> I'm here.

00:42>> You have five in attendance. Uh, also

00:44joining us this evening is Alderman

00:46Johnson.

00:47>> Okay. Um, do we have anybody who'd like

00:50to make public comment?

00:53>> You are also presenting, so you could

00:55just do

00:55>> I'm sorry.

00:56>> You are also presenting, so why don't

00:57you just come up? Yeah.

00:58>> Okay.

01:00>> The only item on our agenda is the

01:02discussion of revive. So Jess, welcome.

01:05Feel free to introduce yourself and your

01:07organization just so the record knows

01:08your name.

01:09>> Yes. Good evening everyone. My name is

01:11Jessica Carter and I'm the executive

01:13director of Revive Recovery Resource

01:15Center.

01:16>> You might want to sit and say it into

01:18the microphone

01:19>> because they won't be able to hear it.

01:21Yeah, they're very directional and you

01:22were standing.

01:23>> Yeah, if you angle it ahead of time to

01:24point at you, then you have to worry

01:25about the rest of the meeting.

01:26>> Yeah. Want me to go again?

01:28>> Yeah, go for it. But the guy would have

01:29yelled at us if it was wrong. [laughter]

01:31>> Okay.

01:32>> Hello. My name is Jessica Carter and I'm

01:34the executive director of Revive

01:36Recovery Resource Center.

01:38>> All right. And is this this is printed?

01:41We don't have the digital,

01:42>> I believe. So, yeah. No digital

01:44presentation.

01:45>> I can send it to you if you'd like.

01:46>> Oh, it's not necessary.

01:47>> Don't worry about it.

01:47>> Uh we will keep one of these for the

01:49record and we'll attach it to the

01:50meeting.

01:50>> Yeah.

01:50>> Yeah. The only reason I mean I have it

01:52on my phone. I just my computer isn't

01:54recognizing a jump drive this evening,

01:56so I couldn't bring one. I had one, but

01:57>> yeah, mine's a little picky like that,

01:59too.

02:00>> Well, I appreciate um your time this

02:02evening. Um tonight, I wanted to talk to

02:04you um about Revive and some of the

02:07programs we offer here in NSHA. Um

02:10catchy title to our uh slides here,

02:13recovery is a community issue and a

02:15community opportunity. Um, and I I think

02:18that's a great title because I think it

02:21um us being a part of the city uh can

02:25make help the city become a more

02:27recovery ready community, which is what

02:29we're hoping for. Um,

02:32so, uh, we're a nonprofit peer recovery

02:35resource center. Um, we started here in

02:37NSHA is our headquarters and that's

02:39where it all began in 2016. Uh, we've,

02:43um, grown a lot since then. um kind of

02:46started off slow but began u building

02:49relationships with the Hillsboro County

02:51South Adult Recovery Court Program. Um

02:55and then uh you know we built a

02:57relationship with Harbor Care which is

02:58where we get a good amount of our

02:59funding from. Uh, and we started the

03:02sauna program um, just a few months

03:04after I started at Revive. The syringe

03:06service alliance of the Nasha area is

03:08what I was just referring to as sauna.

03:11Um, which wasn't a program that we

03:14hosted financially originally. U, um,

03:17but after three years of operations,

03:20um, our fiscal sponsor, who was Harbor

03:22Care, uh, could no longer do that

03:24anymore. So, we didn't want to see the

03:27program just suddenly cease to exist and

03:29decided to keep it going. And we've

03:32really grown and expanded that program

03:35significantly and then one of the

03:37leading organizations in the state when

03:39it comes to harm reduction these days.

03:41But that's not all we do.

03:43>> Um, our mission is to open doors,

03:45hearts, and minds for the recoveries in

03:47our community by providing a wide range

03:49of services for their physical, mental,

03:51and spiritual well-being.

03:54Um I've mentioned a few of the things

03:58that kind of got us started here in

04:00NSHA. Uh recovery court. Um we started

04:03working really closely with the

04:04Hillsboro County House of Corrections in

04:0820 well 2019 is when it started. Then

04:11you know um COVID hit and we had kind of

04:14a pause in that but began again in 2022

04:18especially when the um corrections was

04:21under new leadership and we were

04:24welcomed and began um really offering a

04:27lot of services to individuals while

04:29incarcerated.

04:31Um we did start an ACES mobile response

04:34team with Nasha PD and Greater Nashville

04:36Mental Health in 2019. Um it was a

04:39mostly educational in the beginning. Uh

04:41the police weren't utilizing us very

04:43much. Um and I mean there was lots of

04:46other things going on at the time too

04:48with the uh pandemic and such. Um and so

04:52we built a relationship with Camp

04:53Mariposa at that time. Um which is

04:56something I am going to get to here in a

04:58few minutes because it's one of our

04:59newer programs that we started offering

05:01this community. [clears throat]

05:03But we are great place for people to

05:04engage in community service and

05:06volunteerism. I want to say we have a

05:08volunteer force of about 50 people right

05:11now that regularly engage and help us in

05:13our events, day-to-day activities, um,

05:16fundraisers, etc. Um, we do a lot of

05:20overdose response and education. I'll

05:23get to some of our numbers later. Um,

05:25but we do it out in the community. We do

05:27it at our centers. We do it for

05:28employers. We do it for recovery

05:30friendly workplaces. Um, we give people

05:33as much Narcan as they need. We

05:36[clears throat] give them um test

05:37strips, CPR face shields, and education

05:41on how to use it and how to still ask

05:43for help um and different get and

05:46different resources that they can use

05:47while they're in that position.

05:50Um I'll mention we're going to we are

05:53starting a team alert here in NSHA,

05:56which is an overdose response team. I'll

05:58talk a little bit more about it, but it

06:00kind of goes with overdose response

06:01education. Uh we bring in providers who

06:04pro uh to our centers who provide

06:06medically assisted recovery. We don't do

06:08it ourselves, but we do have some great

06:10providers that come in to help people

06:12get set up with their uh needs.

06:16Um I mentioned our harm reduction

06:17program that we started in 2018. We do

06:20provide the supplies for people to use

06:22drugs safer. All the supplies, but

06:25that's not just it. We provide them with

06:28hygiene items. We provide them with

06:30clothing, with water, basic necessities

06:32just to treat another human like a human

06:34until they're ready to make a better

06:36decision for themselves.

06:39Um financial resources, we did get some

06:41funding from the city of Nashville this

06:43year to start a housing voucher program.

06:45So, we're really excited about that. Um

06:48but we do provide uh cell phones with

06:50minutes so people can stay engaged with

06:52their treatment providers, with us, with

06:54their support systems. Um, we uh also

06:58help people with identification like

07:00getting their IDs, birth certificates,

07:03whatever is needed to get work ready

07:05again. Um, we do community events. We

07:08hosted our first ever Gate City Rally

07:10for recovery this past Saturday at Gley

07:12Park and it was really great. Um, I've

07:15been to a lot of rallies across the

07:16state and of course I'm biased because

07:18it's my own organization, but it was

07:20it's one of it was one of the best. Um,

07:23we had a a wellness tent where people

07:25were constantly engaging in meditation

07:28and Reiki, getting massages, ear

07:31acupuncture, like those we had like 10

07:33providers there, and each and every one

07:36of them was busy the whole time. Um, we

07:39had like tie-dye t-shirts. Um, there was

07:42like a mini like haunted house thing set

07:44up, but it was a great turnout and

07:46something we're really proud of to that

07:47we've brought to this community. Um,

07:50we've always done something in recovery

07:51month. In years past, it had been

07:53cookouts, but this year it was we

07:55decided to go for the big rally.

07:57>> Um, other great events that we've

08:00participated in in the past, the longest

08:02day vigil, uh, with the help of Tom here

08:06and, um, Tree Street's block party in

08:08the past. Um, but we have been trying to

08:11kind of develop our own events and and

08:14activities to bring to the community

08:15over the last few years.

08:17Um, we also provide all of the CRSW

08:21trainings that are necessary for uh

08:23certified recovery support worker. Um,

08:26it's a certification from the board of

08:28licensing and we provide all of the

08:30educational requirements for someone to

08:32become one of those. Um, we are a

08:35recovery friendly workplace. Um, and as

08:37I mentioned briefly before, Camp

08:39Mariposa, um, we la we um, I want to say

08:43relaunched this year. was under a former

08:45nonprofit in the past. Uh but when we

08:47had heard that it had uh ceased to

08:50exist, we did not like that having you

08:52know had contact with a lot of those

08:55kids and their parents over the years in

08:57the past. Um so we had the opportunity

08:59this year to launch that.

09:00>> So a point of clarification that's for

09:02children whose parents struggle with

09:04substance use.

09:05>> Okay.

09:06>> Yes. Thank you.

09:07uh children aged nine through uh 17 who

09:11have uh lost a family member or uh been

09:14directly impacted by substance use. Um

09:17and they are the children of a lot of

09:19the people that we've worked with over

09:20the years. Uh which is why we have come

09:23to love it and care about it so deeply.

09:26Um so we've been a part of Nashville's

09:28recovery infrastructure for the last 10

09:30years now. Um, and uh, it's a place for

09:36one-on-one peer support, recovery

09:38navigation groups, telephone recovery

09:40support, community connection, and

09:42practical resources. Often serving as a

09:44bridge between uh, systems in

09:46healthcare. Um, we're serving the people

09:49that are too afraid to go into the

09:51emergency rooms at times or, you know,

09:54um, individuals that are getting exited

09:57from treatment centers and have nowhere

09:59else to go. These are the people that we

10:01show up for on the daily. We work in

10:04prevention, overdose, infection

10:06prevention, recovery support, youth

10:09workforce support, housing, and

10:11community education. Um, we did we're

10:14opening up housing. Uh, it's not in NSHA

10:16yet. We're hoping one day, too. Um, but

10:19we are opening a women's house in

10:21Manchester, an 18 bed uh facility for

10:24women. Um, welcoming you to our ribbon

10:27cutting October 16th. It's at 633 Second

10:30Street. Um, and then we're looking at

10:32maybe some men's housing in Derry, too.

10:34But once we find the right place in

10:35NSHA, we'll let you know. Um, we've had

10:39quite quite an impact on our communities

10:40that we serve. Over,200 unique people

10:44served in 2025.

10:46Now, that is um amongst all of our

10:49centers. So, we have one in Manchester,

10:51one in NSHA, one in Derry, and one in

10:53Milford. Now, um Milford is not included

10:56in those numbers because we just um

10:58started merging with them over the last

11:00month or so.

11:02Um

11:04we had over 45 people who we served

11:07through Camp Mariposa so far this year.

11:09Um we've hosted one, two, three, four,

11:11five camps and for the most part they're

11:14nearly full every time. Um,

11:18and then over 500 unique people were

11:20served from our harm reduction program

11:22here in NSHA last year as well. Um, so

11:25we're we're launching Project Alert uh

11:29as we speak. Just had kind of our

11:31beginning meetings setting it up

11:32[clears throat] over the last couple

11:34weeks and the idea is that we act before

11:36an overdose. It's a multi- agency

11:39pre-overdose early warning and rapid

11:41response collaborative that we are uh

11:44launching. We'll use early signs um such

11:47as local information to recognize

11:49changing risks and emerging patterns.

11:51[clears throat]

11:52Um h create a shared awareness by

11:55bringing partners together around a

11:57common picture of what's happening. So

11:59we've already been meeting with partners

12:01from the process recovery center, gate

12:04house treatment centers. Um Southern New

12:06Hampshire Medical Center is actually the

12:08team that coralled us all together to

12:10start this conversation a while ago. Um,

12:12uh, NSHA PD has been participating,

12:15Marramac PD, Londereerry PD, um, Greater

12:19Nasha Mental Health, Harbor Care. So,

12:22it's basically just going to be this

12:23huge collaborative uh, team of providers

12:26that will respond anytime there's an

12:28increase in overdoses in the area. If

12:31there's ever a risk for an overdose,

12:32such as someone leaving a treatment

12:34center and saying that they're going to

12:35go use in a hotel in our community, this

12:38team will respond to prevent that

12:40overdose from happening. Um, I did

12:42receive a call from one of the um,

12:46leaders of our Nasha PD a couple weeks

12:48ago and they described a situation where

12:50someone was consuming right in front of

12:52them and it could have been a good

12:55opportunity for us to maybe intervene

12:57and offer this person an alternative um,

13:01instead of, you know, other things that

13:03I don't know what happened, but um, we

13:05would like to try and prevent that type

13:07of thing from happening in the future.

13:12Um

13:17um we've had over uh 415 reported

13:21overdoses in 2026 and that's through the

13:24end of August so far.

13:25>> That's reversed.

13:27>> I'm sorry.

13:27>> Reported reversed overdoses.

13:29>> Yes.

13:29>> Okay.

13:30>> Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, I read that wrong.

13:33Reversed overdoses. Uh we've had a 90%

13:36or more return rate, meaning that we're

13:39taking 90% of the syringes that we give

13:41out off of the streets.

13:43Um we had about 2500 transactions from

13:47January through August and at the same

13:50time gave out about 2500 referrals to

13:53behavioral health or other resources.

13:56Go ahead.

13:57>> I'm supposed to wait for Tom to but he

13:59doesn't see me. That's okay. [laughter]

14:01>> Okay. Go ahead. Um, are those numbers

14:03across all the centers or just Nasha?

14:05>> That's ju those numbers are just from

14:07SA, our syringe service alliance of the

14:09NSHA area. Just NSHA.

14:11>> Thank you.

14:12>> Mhm.

14:14[clears throat and cough]

14:15>> Um,

14:17so harm reduction is not giving up on

14:19recovery. It's keeping people alive,

14:21reducing infectious diseases and commu

14:24and community risks. It's building trust

14:26and creating repeated opportunities for

14:28connection to care.

14:30Um and a little bit more about camp

14:33Mariposa. Um it's at [clears throat] no

14:36cost uh for youth and teens. So we have

14:39one camp a week, one camp weekend per

14:42month and rotate whether that is our

14:44teen camp or our youth camp each month.

14:47December will be a combined camp and

14:49Christmas celebration. Uh we host it at

14:51the Barbara C. Harris Conference Center

14:53out in Greenfield, which I don't know if

14:55you've ever been out to Otter Lake at

14:56all, but it's beautiful out there and

14:58the kids absolutely love it.

15:01Um, it gives kids a safe place to be

15:04understood, build resilience, and

15:06connect with peers and caring adults,

15:08uh, who share context.

15:11I can tell you, we just hired an

15:12individual that came through this

15:14program. Um, he's, you know, younger.

15:16Um, but it's truly amazing to see what

15:19he brings to the table as a young person

15:20in our community who identifies as being

15:22in recovery. Um, and I just can't wait

15:25to see the the next generations of all

15:28the kids that come out and become the

15:29future leaders of our community because

15:31of this camp. Um,

15:41um, so I did a slide about how we talk

15:44about substance use and why it matters.

15:46Um, you know, I think I I read a lot of

15:49things on Facebook lately and I can I

15:52can imagine you guys have seen it too.

15:53And I think a lot of times, you know,

15:55um, our harm reduction program becomes

15:57to blame for it. Um, because when we see

16:01words like addict or junkie, if we use

16:04it would be it's a lot more uh, causes a

16:06lot more pain in people than hearing

16:09something like person with substance use

16:11disorder. Um, you know, words like clean

16:13or dirty have negative connotations. Um,

16:17because if you're not clean, you're

16:18dirty. But if we use words like

16:20abstinent or a actively using, um,

16:24sounds much more it's more scientific

16:26and calls it like it is. Um, instead of

16:29a a moral judgment, having curiosity

16:32about what support is needed.

16:35Compassion does not need does not mean

16:37ignoring community concerns. It means

16:39responding to those concerns in ways

16:41that preserve dignity and make solutions

16:43more reachable.

16:45So, um, some community concerns that

16:49deserve a response. When Nashville has

16:51concerns related to substance use,

16:53public spaces, discarded supplies,

16:55overdose risk, or someone who appears to

16:57need help, Revive wants to be a part of

17:00that solution. Um so we try to listen um

17:04share what residents, businesses, city

17:06staff and partners are seeing concerns

17:09that may might be useful. We're trying

17:12uh in terms we want to problem solve by

17:15using our outreach, our peer engagement,

17:18our harm reduction programming,

17:19referrals, education and partner

17:21coordination to address the underlying

17:23issues and staying connected by keeping

17:26communication open so solutions can be

17:28adjusted in conditions as conditions

17:31change.

17:34So we can be a resource before a concern

17:36becomes a crisis.

17:43So what we hope you guys remember from

17:45this today, people are more than a

17:47diagnosis or a difficult moment. Dignity

17:50and accountability can coexist. Recovery

17:53is happening every day in this

17:54community. Connection creates

17:56opportunities for change. Revive is here

17:59for the whole community. Call us with a

18:01concern, a question, a referral, or an

18:03idea.

18:06Um, and if please don't hesitate to

18:09reach out. If you're looking for support

18:10for families, we can be that resource

18:13for you. For city partners, we can be

18:15that resource for you. Um, or even for

18:18community members with any questions or

18:20concerns.

18:24>> Do you guys have any questions of me?

18:26>> All right. Questions from the committee?

18:27Anybody comments?

18:28>> Alderman Johnson. Thank you.

18:31>> Um, Alderman Johnson, just so for the

18:32record, you're a a blur when you do

18:34that, so you should take your hand away

18:36from your face or Yeah. [laughter]

18:37>> That's great. Now it's like highlighted.

18:40>> Um, does anybody from the committee have

18:42a question before? I

18:43>> not yet.

18:44>> Okay. Thank you. Um, I just wanted to go

18:47back where you were saying that um, you

18:50give help with IDs. What else was that?

18:53>> Um, IDs. We do cell phones and minutes.

18:56We help with uh, anything someone needs

18:59to get to go back to work. So, if it's

19:00clothing, if it's work boots, if it's a

19:03new drill because they're starting on a

19:04job and their job, their employer

19:06doesn't provide it, like anything like

19:08that, we can provide. Um, including um

19:11IDs, um, uh, birth certificates. We help

19:15people track down where that came from

19:17and get a hold of them and, uh, afford

19:20to pay for it. Um, shoes, clothing, um,

19:24just whether and that's even if it's not

19:27just for going back to work. That's we

19:29have a donation closet. We have plenty

19:31of uh things that people bring in that

19:33we're able to kind of re get out to the

19:35community.

19:37Um if they need help getting connected

19:40with like a therapist, that's something

19:42we also help with. If they need help

19:44getting their insurance turned on, we

19:46help with that. Any of those things.

19:49>> May I continue?

19:50>> Yep.

19:51>> Please. Um,

19:53so is this more like a resource center

19:56that you're

19:57>> Yes.

19:58>> idea?

19:59>> Okay. Because I know we're looking, the

20:01city's looking into a resource center

20:03and I don't want to duplicate efforts

20:05and services because it doesn't make

20:08sense to duplicate and I happen to be a

20:10drug court.

20:11>> Um, I didn't get to stay the whole time,

20:13but I got to see I think one or two

20:15people graduate.

20:17>> And I remember when Judge Coburn first

20:19started it.

20:20>> Yeah. And I sat in drug court after I

20:23left left the board in 2005.

20:26And I and listening to some of the

20:28stories that people it might not be one

20:30time, but it might take them two or

20:31three times to get through the program,

20:33>> but you have to um give them credit that

20:37they've done it, that they've focused

20:39enough. You know, it's not easy.

20:41>> Um and also you talked about acupuncture

20:44because I've read that acupuncture is

20:46very good for addiction. They're finding

20:48>> Yes. Yeah. There's five points in the

20:50ear that can be very helpful for

20:51detoxification from substances and we

20:54have staff that are trained in

20:55administering it.

20:56>> I might continue with one more.

20:58>> Yep.

20:58>> Okay. I was wondering a constituent of

21:01mine sent me an article about HHS awards

21:0542.3 million dollars um to push

21:09treatment first model for homelessness

21:11and addiction. Have you do you know

21:12anything about this?

21:13>> Um is that HHS out of the federal

21:16government or

21:17>> Yes. Um parent of HUD.

21:20>> What is it?

21:20>> The parent of HUD.

21:21>> Oh, yes.

21:22>> So, you might see it coming through the

21:23continuing cares realignment of funds.

21:25>> Okay. Um I mean, so I do know that we

21:28were awarded some funds recently from

21:30SAMA um which could be part of that. I'm

21:34not 100% sure

21:36>> um for that we got the building

21:37communities of recovery grant um to

21:40expand peer recovery support services.

21:43So hopefully that is ours is included in

21:46that. Yeah, because it it talks about

21:48treatment first means building a system

21:50that does not leave people cycling

21:53between homelessness, emergency rooms,

21:55and criminal justice systems. Mhm.

21:57>> And I and um if this helps, then I think

22:02the money is worthwhile if we can get

22:04people out of the situation that they're

22:07in and try and I was reading I think it

22:09starts with uh more temporary housing

22:12versus long-term housing to get them to

22:15be able to earn, [clears throat]

22:16you know, to get back into the system

22:18and get out of the drug use. So, I hope

22:21that you've got some of this um to help

22:24with um the many people in our

22:26community.

22:27>> We did.

22:28>> Okay, good. Thank you.

22:30>> Yeah, we're really excited about that.

22:33>> Uh Alderman Mclly,

22:35>> uh thank you. Um the previous speaker

22:38reminded me of my question. Um do you

22:40have data around um you the population

22:43that you serve and um whether or not

22:46they're housed or unhoused? a majority.

22:48I h I don't have an exact number, but I

22:52would be willing to bet that at least

22:5375% of people that are we work with when

22:57we first start working with them are

22:59unhoused. Um, and it usually gets much

23:01less, you know, there's a lot less

23:03experiencing homelessness by the time

23:05we've progressed with working with them.

23:07Um, if you want, I can send you an exact

23:10number when I can get into my

23:12>> tomorrow. I'd also I'm a little bit of a

23:15data geek. I'd love to know like Nasha

23:18specifically and against your other um

23:20agencies like what do you all kind of

23:22work in the same populations? Does Nasha

23:24have a different population than say

23:26Milford that you tend to serve? So I'd

23:28love to know some of that.

23:30>> Okay.

23:30>> Um

23:30>> I'm happy to share that.

23:32>> Yeah, that'd be great.

23:33>> I might have more. I just I was

23:35percolating a lot.

23:36>> You can go to someone else if there's

23:38someone else.

23:40>> Oh. Um thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I

23:42had a I had a question um for um but

23:45before that, thank you for this

23:47presentation tonight. I had the

23:49opportunity to become acclimated with uh

23:51Revive very early on in my first term um

23:54due to constituent concerns about um

23:56material cleanups um needle recovery

23:58that you do and

24:00>> and I I was always very impressed by

24:02that by the time I was able to get on

24:04the phone and contact somebody, you guys

24:06knew about it before I did. So that's um

24:09that's a a really impressive turnaround.

24:11Um I had a question just really

24:14specifically because it's a phrase I've

24:15seen around before and I'm just

24:17admittedly not familiar with it, but on

24:18your um your third slide you have a tile

24:21that says um recovery friendly workplace

24:24>> and and I've seen different like

24:26drive-throughs throughout the city

24:27labeled as a recovery friendly

24:29workplace. What is a recovery friendly

24:31workplace? Is that really just a sort of

24:34overall blanket statement of you know we

24:36are supportive and willing to hire

24:38people who are in active recovery or is

24:40that go a step further like certain

24:42parameters in the workplace?

24:44>> So the stickers that you're likely

24:46seeing all over like drive-thru is

24:48probably the uh it's like green with

24:50like purple writing and like a little

24:51arrow. So that's actually um the uh

24:54governor's recovery friendly workplace

24:56initiative. So, it's a statewide

24:58initiative to get employers more

25:00recovery ready. So, they go through

25:02different they're offered trainings. Um,

25:04they go like even the city of NSHA is a

25:06recovery friendly workplace now, which

25:08is awesome. Um, and so that means

25:10leadership in the city of NSHA has

25:12engaged with the recovery friendly

25:14advisor. They've gone through trainings.

25:17They've implemented new policies that

25:19are more appropriate and supportive for

25:22people in recovery. um they get bene

25:25there's other benefits that get worked

25:26into that program as well, but each year

25:29you get designated and go through a

25:31renewal process and they make you like

25:33set goals for the like business or

25:36employer um with in order to um reint

25:41like integrate recovery into the

25:43workplace.

25:44>> That's awesome. So they also offer um if

25:46if it uh an business is a recovery

25:49friendly workplace, they'll have access

25:51to peers from the RCOS such as us. So

25:54like the city of Nashville was offered,

25:57do you want Revive to come in and run

25:59groups for any of your employees? I

26:00think they had a a different internal

26:03working that they did at the time. Um

26:05but we've done that for like Dunkin

26:06Donuts in the area. We've gone out and

26:09done Narcan trainings for the recovery

26:11friendly workplaces. they maybe they

26:13have their leadership um go through the

26:15Narcan training so they know how to

26:17respond or maybe their entire employees

26:20maybe all of them go through it um we'll

26:22make sure that they have Narcan if they

26:25want it um at one point um some of the

26:28employers were asking for those no locks

26:30boxes so we were able to kind of

26:32coordinate with the city see where we

26:34could get them and help them get out to

26:36um partners

26:37>> so it is a more ingrained knowledge

26:39that's good to know thank you

26:43Um, do they still do the tax credits for

26:45employers that are recovery friendly?

26:47>> Used to be like a incentivization

26:49program in place.

26:50>> I have to admit as a nonprofit that's

26:52never been really much of a concern of

26:54mine. Um, [laughter and gasps]

26:56>> well, I would just say for any

26:58businesses that are watching, they

26:59should look into that if they're

27:00interested in doing it because there can

27:01be incentives similar to the federal

27:03bonding program, which itself isn't a a

27:06tax incentive, but basically the the

27:09state will guarantee the service of

27:10somebody who has completed the program

27:13and has a felony on record that an

27:15employer hires. And if the employer

27:17hires them and then they commit an

27:19offense that is in line with their their

27:23conviction, then they'll get insurance

27:25for that person having to discharge them

27:27and any damage that they do. So, you

27:29know, you're an employer, you you just

27:31hire people, you do your best to vet

27:33them, you try to identify risks and

27:34everything. You would think that a pe a

27:36group of people that are identifying

27:37themselves openly as having risk might

27:39be a bigger challenge. But like the

27:42recovery friendly workplace, you're

27:43talking about people who understand

27:45their vulnerabilities and are actively

27:47working to overcome them and are part of

27:49a supportive group that will help you as

27:51an employer navigate that with your

27:53employee versus somebody who's not part

27:56of the recovery friendly workplace and

27:58maybe you just find out later that

27:59they're struggling with something and

28:01all of you have to figure it out from

28:02scratch.

28:04>> Um so I think that's a great program to

28:06highlight. Um I was hoping you would

28:07talk a little bit about uh peer support.

28:10Um, we kind of touched on the re

28:11resource center part. Um, but while the

28:14supplies and resources are helpful, the

28:16peer and learned knowledge is extremely

28:19invaluable from what I've seen.

28:20>> Yes. And so, uh, when I think what Tom

28:23is referring to here is basically

28:25everyone that works at Revive is someone

28:27who is in recovery and they're just

28:29trying to get in help other people get

28:31into and maintain whatever recovery

28:33looks like for them. So, a lot of us

28:35have been there and done that and can

28:38are therefore more relatable to most

28:40folks. Um, you know, a lot of us have

28:43been through incarceration.

28:45Um, I've found that a lot of great

28:48employees come out of the National

28:49Recovery Court program. Um, they're

28:52incredible employees uh that are very

28:54dedicated and um give it their all. Um,

28:58and so uh that's kind of what our our

29:02niche is. um just kind of having been

29:05there, done that. We have um you know

29:08youth peers now. So um those are

29:11individuals who are younger in age that

29:14uh engage at with our um the young adult

29:17court. It's out of the uh Hills North

29:19courthouse. Um however believe it might

29:22serve this area as well. Um

29:26and so that's basically all you know

29:29just people helping people, people being

29:31people. um not clinical. Um we do, you

29:35know, hire uh an emulator to supervise

29:37us um and run supervision for us on a

29:40regular basis. Um but we don't have

29:43day-to-day clinicians hanging around,

29:45even though I know I've heard staff say

29:47we wish they wish they did some days. Um

29:50and it has really been impactful in our

29:53community. Um I know that there's

29:56individuals that, you know, I've worked

29:57at Revive eight of those 10 years of

30:00existence. Uh, and I've seen people in

30:03and out of all of our different programs

30:05over the years. Um, and sometimes it's

30:08good to run into them later and

30:10sometimes it's not, but they know my

30:12face and they know our staff's face and

30:14they know that where they can come when

30:16they need help.

30:18So with the with the peer report uh peer

30:22recovery support model. Um I guess maybe

30:25the forerunner of it would be the AA

30:28program where you have a lot of people

30:29with learn life experience gathering

30:31collaboratively to support themselves.

30:33But there is that clinical component and

30:35the the step-by-step data driven uh

30:38element in the peer recovery. But there

30:41are different strategies for finding

30:43recovery. I know I think people think

30:46primarily the temperance model. Um does

30:48revive still function with other models

30:51and can you kind of talk about that a

30:52little bit?

30:53>> Yes. Um so we honor all pathways of

30:56recovery. Um so Tom has talked about

31:00like 12step AA we have meetings that

31:03happen at our center. We have staff that

31:05run those programs. Um but there's smart

31:08recovery, there's uh recovery dharma. Um

31:13there's uh celebrate recovery. Um

31:17there's different pathways of recovery.

31:19And so basically what Revive stands for

31:21is all of them. Um it doesn't matter how

31:24someone decides to get into recovery,

31:26we'll support them. And a lot of times

31:28that they're still in active use. Um and

31:31we'll still engage them. We'll talk to

31:33them about using SAFER. We'll offer

31:36resources when they want it. Um, but we

31:38do recognize um, harm reduction as a

31:41recovery pathway and we honor that in

31:44um, the people we serve.

31:46>> I just wanted to comment that because I

31:47really appreciated your um, slide on

31:49using language like uh, abstinent or in

31:52recovery versus clean or dirty. Um, I

31:56think it's important not to stigmatize

31:57and I I don't want to get lost in the

32:00the conversation that part of the reason

32:03why you're engaging people as people is

32:05so that they will choose to engage in

32:06return. If you start to stigmatize

32:08people or you start to label them, we

32:10all know how frustrating is when we get

32:11labeled politically, right? Like you're

32:13a blah blah blah or you're a blah blah

32:14blah, the conversation breaks down. And

32:17when it comes to something like

32:18addiction where you're you're talking

32:19about a person who is very much driven

32:22by substances in their system and a

32:25lifestyle which has kind of configured

32:27itself around protecting that addiction

32:29versus maintaining relationships that

32:31might pull them out of it. You have to

32:32be able to engage the person where they

32:35are open to engagement and then pull

32:37them forward. So it may seem like why

32:39are you giving all these resources and

32:40supplies to people? Why would the police

32:42even contact revive with someone using

32:45in front of them? Because even the

32:47police understand they can't solve all

32:50strategies just using one tool. And

32:53police are human too. They see people

32:54struggling with addiction over and over

32:56again. And sometimes they understand the

32:58difference between a lapse and a

32:59relapse. And they know that a different

33:01tool might be needed. So my purpose in

33:04inviting you to the human affairs

33:05committee was partly because as alderman

33:07we are running into this all over the

33:09place. So, it helps us engage our

33:11constituents and point them in the right

33:12direction when we know who the partners

33:14are. Um, but the other the other reason

33:17is because it helps us direct policy in

33:20an informed manner rather than just an

33:22assumptive

33:24manner.

33:25>> So, I really appreciate you coming in.

33:27Are there further questions? I see all

33:28the Kelly.

33:29>> Yeah. Um, I have a lot of questions

33:32around Project Alert because I think

33:34that's great, but I don't know if you'll

33:36be able to answer them all. Um,

33:39one of the things I wanted I don't know

33:40how deeply you are into, you know, ready

33:43to launch this, but one of the things

33:45that we we hear a lot is that cross

33:47agency data sharing is really hard.

33:50>> Um, so do you have an idea of how you're

33:52going to handle that or have you guys

33:54already kind of figured that out?

33:55>> Yeah, we're going to do a QSOA um

33:58between all the agents uh

34:01some legal doc qualified service

34:03organization agreement maybe.

34:05>> You got it. Yep. Um, oh okay. Um and so

34:07it's just like an agreement between all

34:09the agencies that are a part of this

34:11team that we can communicate and there

34:13will be um so anytime someone there's

34:16going to be um a we'll be working on a

34:18legal clause to add to the intakes of

34:20all those partners that are at the table

34:22so that when they you know do an

34:24admission they're going to be consenting

34:27to participate in alert and that way

34:29they're um that that treatment center or

34:32whoever could reach out to us after if

34:34they need if they need

34:35>> I see. I see.

34:38>> Um,

34:40I'll hold my questions. We'll have a

34:42we'll have coffee. I have I have a lot.

34:44>> Okay. Well, and if you'd like, I can

34:46invite you to the planning all the

34:47planning meetings for this team.

34:50>> Love to hear it. Okay.

34:52>> Just out of curiosity, is Chris Stwis

34:54involved?

34:54>> Yes.

34:55>> Because I know he was the driving factor

34:56behind Safe Station. He's a very

34:58passionate person. We're lucky to have

34:59him in the city.

35:00>> Yes, we are. He's been involved every

35:02step of the way and has been giving us

35:04all the data we need to see where we can

35:06fit in and be needed.

35:10>> Okay.

35:11>> Any other questions on the committee?

35:14All right. Seeing none, I really

35:15appreciate your time. Um, and I'm glad

35:17we had this opportunity to talk about

35:18this in this forum because people do

35:20watch our committees. Um, and if there's

35:22anything you ever want to present,

35:23please feel free to reach out. Let me

35:25know. If you're doing new programs, new

35:26projects, new initiatives, or if you see

35:29us doing something and you feel like we

35:30could use a little more input, don't be

35:32shy. You can just reach out to us all.

35:34>> Awesome. Thank you so much for the

35:35opportunity. It's been great to present

35:37before you. And uh like I said, don't be

35:39a stranger. Call us if you need support.

35:41>> Okay.

35:41>> Thank you.

35:41>> Thank you.

35:42>> Awesome.

35:43>> All right. Well, moving along. That was

35:45our only agenda item, but we're going to

35:47run through the gamut here. Yes.

35:48>> Communications,

35:49>> there are none.

35:50>> Unfinished business?

35:50>> None.

35:51>> New business resolutions,

35:52>> none.

35:52>> New business ordinances,

35:53>> none. table in the committee.

35:54>> None. General discussion.

35:59>> Okay. Um public comment.

36:01>> No.

36:02>> There's nobody here. Remarks by

36:03alderman. Um if everybody will take a

36:05look at the public calendar, the uh

36:07resource center is plugging along. Um

36:10there is a meeting tomorrow at 5 for end

36:12users, which means the population that

36:14will be served. Um so good to recognize

36:17that. Be aware of that all going on. Uh,

36:20Alderman Kelly,

36:21>> is that for the pilot harbor care

36:24resource center or the

36:27>> I believe it's for the resource or the

36:28Yeah, the resource center.

36:31>> There's pilot that's happening and then

36:33there's the one that we're talking about

36:35building.

36:36>> Okay. Yeah, it would be for the pilot

36:38one, not

36:38>> Thank you.

36:38>> not the theoretical one,

36:40>> but accurate information take a look at

36:43the website because they are confusing

36:44and I am notorious for getting them back

36:46and forth.

36:46>> Well, someone asked me and I didn't know

36:47the answer. So,

36:48>> yep. Um, and thanks for asking the

36:50question. Um, so check the city's uh

36:53site up. Our health department is

36:54working hard. They're doing stuff, so we

36:56should keep an eye on it and not expect

36:58them to just, you know, golden parachute

37:00all our information. As long as we're

37:01watching it happen, we can be part of

37:03that conversation and pass it on. Um,

37:05that's my comment.

37:08Anyone got a motion for me?

37:11Let me

37:12>> Right. That's my job. Move to adjurnn.

37:15>> All right. All those in favor say I. I.

37:17Opposed. Thank you for coming everybody.

37:20We are adjourned at 7:37. Yep.

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