The Mental Health Association’s July picnic recovery luncheon had visitors from the Chautauqua County Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault. Pictured from left are Jacqueline Cook, YWCA Empower Her housing director, and Lauren Peters, supervised visitation and Safe Exchange program director; Emma Ward, Jamestown Police Department Project Crossroads domestic violence officer; and Allison Murphy, case manager/on-scene advocate; and Bronson Abbot, Jamestown Department of Development rehab and code enforcement officer/Housing Court representative. In front is Hope, JPD Project Crossroads domestic violence therapy dog.

The Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County (MHA) welcomed special guests to its July recovery luncheon.

MHA Executive Director Michael Nordin introduced some members of the Chautauqua County Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, who explained their responsibilities and the services they provide.

These visitors included YWCA staffers Jacqueline Cook, YWCA Empower Her housing director, and Lauren Peters, supervised visitation and Safe Exchange program director; Emma Ward, Jamestown Police Department Project Crossroads domestic violence officer; and Allison Murphy, case manager/on-scene advocate; and Bronson Abbot, Jamestown Department of Development rehab and code enforcement officer/Housing Court representative. Accompanying Ward was Hope, Project Crossroads therapy and education dog that serves to calm domestic violence situations.

JPD’s Project Crossroads offers presentations and in-service training. It facilitates the Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, bringing together service providers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, clergy, and businesses.Jamestown’s Department of Development responsibilities include administering housing code enforcement programs and connecting people with resources for safe housing.

The YWCA’s Empower Her Housing is a communal supportive housing program that provides a safe and stable environment for adult women and their children who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Its Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange program works collaboratively with local organizations and courts to encourage positive parent-child relationships as well as safe, happy visitations.

For more information about the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, find the coalition on Facebook at CHQUnity.

In addition to presenting a certificate for two years of sobriety, Nordin announced the beginning of three new groups. Participant volunteer Mike Cain is facilitating the Conscience Circle group on Thursdays at 11:15 a.m. Memory Matters, facilitated by Anne Holt, has fun with memory exercises when it gathers at 3:30 on Thursdays.

The Healing Vine is a Christ-centered recovery and support group that has been meeting in Ripley since January. It meets at the MHA on Wednesdays at 5:15 p.m. and welcomes anyone looking for a safe place to heal from habits, addictions, hurts, and struggles. Their families are welcome.

Becky Hemmis offered grace before the picnic meal that was prepared and served by herself and other members of the Blackwell Chapel AME Zion Church: Shawn Hastings, Burnetta Leeper, Karen Johnson Neal and Kaylee Stanton. Hot dogs were prepared by volunteer Jeff Marsh.

Everyone is welcome to the MHA recovery luncheons at 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month. Like all MHA services, the luncheons are free.

The MHA is a peer recovery center offering support groups and individual coaching for people looking to improve their lives, deepen wellness, thrive in recovery, or support those on a recovery path. Peers use their personal stories to help people find recovery in their own lives in their own way. All MHA services, including Narcan, xylazine wound care kits and fentanyl test kits, are free.

The Jamestown recovery center is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hours for the North County recovery center at Grace Lutheran Church, 601 Eagle St., Dunkirk, are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.