Notice Board

The Southern Alberta Council for Public Affairs (SACPA) presents a session discussing the recovery coach program for opioid addiction.

The ARCHES Indigenous Recovery Coach Program: A Path for Recovery?

Date:                    Thursday, September 26, 2019
Time:                    Doors open 11:30 a.m., Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 p.m., Q&A 1 – 1:30 p.m.
Location:              Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr S Lethbridge
Cost:                    $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

The ARCHES Indigenous Recovery Coach Program is a recovery-oriented, community-based and culturally informed recovery coach program, supporting adults undergoing opioid agonist therapy (OAT), also known as medically assisted therapy (MAT), for opioid addiction in Lethbridge. The program is intended to combine one-on-one community-based transition/navigator services with peer support services and culturally-focused healing.

From a strength-based and person-centered approach, the Indigenous Recovery Coach focusses on working with participants to apply their newly acquired recovery skills in their living environment and help them resolve any issues or problems that can impact their recovery. Recovery coaches will also try to support participants to stay engaged throughout their continuum of recovery, using techniques such as motivational interviewing and behavioural intervention practices. An Indigenous Recovery Coach functions similar to any other recovery coach, however, they approach this process from an Indigenous cultural lens. The speakers will talk about the myriad of scenarios that are at play and their learnings from the first year of the program.

Speakers:              Joey Blood (Aakainiskimm) and Jerry Firth (Piitaana)

Joey Blood grew up on the Blood Reserve, and his Blackfoot name is Aakainiskimm, meaning Many Buffalo Stones. Joey was raised in the Blackfoot culture by his parents, who are elders for some of the Blackfoot sacred societies. Joey is also a member of one of the Blackfoot sacred societies. He attended school on the reserve, as well as the Lethbridge College and Red Crow College. Joey has been involved with numerus agencies, both on and off the reserve, with much of it being with youth and families. He is now an Indigenous Recovery Coach with the Indigenous Recovery Coach Program through ARCHES.

Jerry Firth’s Blackfoot name is Piitaana, meaning Eagle Man. Jerry is the program manager with the Indigenous Recovery Coach Program through ARCHES. Jerry is a registered social worker, with both his bachelor’s and master’s in social work. His areas of interest are in community development, social planning, reconciliation, human rights and equity, inclusion and diversity, and addictions and recovery. Jerry values the power of relationship with family, friends and community. He is active in many community groups, committees and initiatives, including Reconciliation Lethbridge, Lethbridge Diversity & Inclusion Alliance, the Rotary Club of Lethbridge Mosaic and the Lethbridge Uplands Neighbourhood Association.

Moderator:         Amanda Scout

For more information on the Southern Alberta Council for Public Affairs, visit the SACPA website.