Transitions receives state grant

Transitions residents, volunteers and staff stop to chat with Access to Recovery II Grant Specialist Dedee Hayes around the table in the bright dining area of the Transitions facility. The program just received an ATR grant from the state that will help refund the expenses of services to its residents. From left, Charity Evans, Loraine Burns, Katie Hill, Development Director Debbie Urban, Hayes, Transitions President Paul Forster, Treatment Director Ella Bentley, Transitions board member and Vice-President of Operations and Administrations Rose Clardy. [Click to enlarge]

Local women who want to break free of that force and its overwhelming momentum are fortunate to have Transitions, a nine-month, faith-based recovery program to help overcome the battle of addiction and make the transition to a new life.

Through community sponsors and limited United Way funding, Transitions has helped women take control of their lives since April 2007. Now, with the help of an Access to Recovery Grant, state funding may allow more "consumers" to use vouchers for service.

Transitions, a faith-based recovery program in Dyersburg, was recently awarded an ATR grant to help fund its program. From left, Transitions President Paul Forster, Transitions board member and Vice-President of Operations and Administrations Rose Clardy, Ella Bentley, ATR II Grant Specialist Dedee Hayes and Development Director Debbie Urban. [Click to enlarge]

The vouchers will allow Transitions to be reimbursed for care provided to its clients, a blessing for administrators of the program, but not a cure-all for funding problems.

As a requirement of the grant, Transitions recently received a visit from DeDee Hayes, an Access to Recovery Specialist for the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, a division of the state's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services. Hayes toured the Transitions facility as a final step in the grant process and will be in contact with administrators to help if questions on the grant arise.

"We are really excited to be working with them," said Hayes.

According to the Access to Recovery II officials, nearly 77 recovery programs are located throughout the state. Approximately 50 percent of those are faith-based providers like Transitions. Facilities offer services based on the consumer's needs, including employment skills, spiritual support, recovery skills, relapse prevention and pastoral support.

This is Tennessee's second round of Access to Recovery grants from the Federal government. Through this second stage, the state will receive $14.5 million over a three-year period, with the grant ending on Sept. 30, 2010.

The Access to Recovery II grant will reimburse many of the services offered by Transitions and allow volunteers and staff to continue to provide support and teach life skills to women who are ready to take control of their lives.

"All we have had to do is put the need out to the community," said Transitions board member and Vice-President of Operations and Administrations Rose Clardy. "People are wonderful and this grant will help. But we still have overhead to keep up with. Keep the water running and the electricity on. There are three things we are always looking for: prayer, donations and monetary donations."

The Transitions facility has a 14-bed capacity. Residents work together to keep the household running as each consumer works through her own milestones toward success.

For two Transitions residents, the program has been a chance to begin again. An opportunity to gain control of that devastating force and rebuild a life on their own terms.

The first resident to offer her testimony recently was 19-year-old Michelle Basham, who began drinking alcohol when she was 14.

"When I was 15, I was snorting cocaine," said Basham. "I thought I was a big shot. At 16, I was smoking crack, stealing from my family. I played the system. But when I snuck out again, my grandmother called the police."

Basham said the judge confessed he would prefer to get her help instead of send her to jail. But convinced she could do it alone, she accepted a sentence of 11 months and 29 days.

"I told him I could do it on my own," said Basham. "(But then, I knew) I need it. I hoped and prayed that (Transitions) would take me. And I have been here for three and one-half months. It's changed my life."

Basham is currently the youngest resident at Transitions.

"I've found God," said Basham. "I've come a long way. It's an awesome place and I love it here."

For Lorraine Burns, the path to drug addiction began on a night out with her friends.

"It progressed into losing my children, losing my house, losing trust and respect. I went to jail for four and one-half months," said Burns. "I went back to jail in January of this year. It seemed so hard. I kept praying that I could do right and that maybe I could do better. I heard of Transitions. It was a good opportunity for me."

Burns now has a full-time job and spends weekends away from the Transitions facility. She is working her way through the program and rebuilding her life.

"When I came here, I was scared," said Burns. "I wanted to succeed. The people here are wonderful, they helped me change. I just feel better about myself. I've been clean for eight months. I see myself getting out of here and doing better. I go home on weekends and I am around people. If drugs get around me, I'll leave. My mom's proud of me. My son's proud of me. In here, I've got to know God. All I have to do is ask Him (and use) His strength to get through everything. He's given me a lot of strength."

The change in Burns has created a chain reaction in her family.

"I'm proud of my son," said Burns. "He's 17. Since I've changed, he's changed."

Those interested in donating time, materials or funds to Transitions may contact Debbie Urban at 285-1881. Space is available for those interested in applying for the program. For information on the program itself, call 287-0461.