THE THE
W ELLN E SS N WELLNESS CONNECTION CONNECTION February 2023 August 2022 Issue Six Issue One
WOOD RIVER COMMUNITY YMCA
RAINBOW’S END
WOOD RIVER COMMUNITY YMCA CHRISTOPHER’S STORY THE CRISIS HOTLINE MEN’S SECOND CHANCE LIVING JENNA’S STORY
R E C OV E RY THERE IS HOPE
Supporting Health and Wellness
Welcome to the premier issue of Wellness Connection, a collaboration of Rainbow’s End Recovery Center and the Crisis Hotline. Our goal is to provide timely information on mental health issues, such as addiction, ne major focus of the YMCA in the Wood River To achieve its mission, the Y offers classes to promote health depression, grief, and trauma. We hope to shed light on and encourage Valley is the health and well-being of its community. and well-being beginning with classes for youth ages 11-15 to discussion of mental illness, addiction, and recovery. We will present stories of hope and orient them to proper use of the gym which allows them to Founded in 2007 by dedicated group of volunteers encouragement as well as essays on related topics. This is just a start. We welcome your whose goal was to provide programs and facilities workout unaccompanied. feedback andserve will as beaseeking submissions from our our readers: wellness23@gmail.com that would recreational center to inspire The Make-a-Splash program was designed to provide
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community, the Y had the support of the City of Ketchum swimming lessons and water safety instruction to second which provided theRecovery land. It continues recreation graders in the Wood ainbow’s End set out to promote staffed by good-hearted souls with littleRiver Valley. Statistics illustrate that if children are not taught to swim by age nine, there is little and community outreach and operates through the continuing to be different than the traditional or no experience so there were some support ofuse numerous volunteers, thatway. they will ever learn. substance disorderdonors, treatment facility and community bumps and crashes chance along the EachSince client2015, had aMake-a-Splash different story,has used a leaders. graduated 2,000 children who are now water safe and will be my friends and family had attended. A The clinical director and one full-time different drug, but in the end, each was The mission the Y is toand strengthen community by working to make water the sports part of their substance abuseof counselor an energy counselor bore the able burden of treating a person inhealthy need oflifestyle. unconditional love The Y pool also offers classes for adults in water aerobics, together with its neighbors to make sure everyone, regardless healer raved about the potential of the clients, but because we were new, there and care. Once they realized they were of age, income, or background, has the opportunity to learn, group exercises, and water therapy. Swimming is a one of theno property in Challis on the Salmon River as was only a handful at a time. accepted as a whole person and grow, and thrive. Continued: Next Page the perfect place for people to heal. So it longer identified by their drug use, they Going forward, we were able to recruit began. could begin to heal. They would open more and more qualified staff. We Caring for your body, mind and spirit is your greatest and grandest responsibility. up to each other, counselors, and group The easy part was converting the bed-andworked on honing the curriculum and members realizing It’srooms. aboutThe listening to thetoneeds of your and honoring them. they were not unique breakfast facility into client schedule accommodate thesoul needs or alone. hard part was the bureaucratic hoops. of the clients and the requirements of ~Anon The hardest part was finding employees. accrediting agencies. We saw more clients We provided community experiences, and were building a reputation for quality such as the Fourth of July celebrations, When we opened our doors, we were care.