Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
ROAD TO RECOVERY
NHS Fresh Start worker honored for work on drug abuse, addiction
CALN » Now that Jodi Savits has overcome her battle with drugs and addiction, she’s using her experiences to help others. And the love is coming back – she was recently recognized nationally for her resilience and commitment to others.
Savits works at NHS Fresh Start, which has a program at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which provides 40-bed transitional housing and support services for veterans dealing with substance abuse, mental health and homelessness. Savits, who works as the program director, was recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
During a ceremony held in Los Angeles, she received a 2017 Voices Award for her leadership in behavioral and addiction health.
“It was amazing. I still can’t believe that I was chosen,” Savits said. “I do it because I like to help people.”
The recognition comes full circle for Savits, who is in
long-term recovery. For 23 years, Savits suffered from an addiction to alcohol, cocaine, prescription medications and marijuana. Her recovery actually started at a Fresh Start recovery site in Philadelphia, where she spent six months as a resident in 2000. She has been sober ever since and she began a part-time position at the facility in 2003.
She continued to improve her life, enrolling in college, earning a degree in social work, and gaining a promotion at work, where she helped create standards for Fresh Start Recovery Houses similar to the one she lived in during her recovery.
“Everyone’s addiction wasn’t the same and not everyone’s recovery will be the same,” Savits said. “Everybody’s strengths are different and they have different resources to bring to the table.”
She previously worked as director of the women’s program for 10 years and now, in her fourth year, she is running the program out of the Coatesville VA in Caln Township. She worked on a committee to create standards that helped improve the program with her knowledge of being a resident there. She explained that the facility formerly used a “tough love” approach, but “you have to be more flexible than that” because “what works for one person might not work for another.”
“That’s why it’s so hard for people to be successful,”
Savits said.
She helped create standards to treat people with dignity and to give them rights. She said by doing so, people have input in how they are treated with their recovery.
“It’s rewarding helping people. Every day is different and it can be challenging, but I love it,” Savits said. “If I can make a difference in one person’s life, then I’m doing my job.”
She explained that her job can be challenging if a person thinks they know the answers. Unfortunately, for some those their decisions may lead them to relapse. She helps them to re-evaluate their decisions so they “don’t end up there again.” She added that it’s “not about telling people that, it’s about teaching them that so they can grow.”
“You have to let people make their own mistakes and learn from it, but a lot of people don’t know how to do that,” Savits said.
She noted that relapsing is common and because she shares a similar experience with her past drug addiction, she also understands the warning signs, which she points out to those individuals who exhibit any warning signs. She said if someone does relapse and they return for help, they discuss it and she informs them of the warning signs to help prevent them from relapsing.