Access to safe, stable, nurturing, equitable environments is a critical building block to foster HOPE- Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences for all children.
Carmen Pacheco-Jones, Executive Director of the Health and Justice Recovery Alliance (HJRA) is being honored as a Community HOPE Champion for her tireless efforts to create supportive living spaces for mothers exiting the criminal justice system, in recovery from substance use disorder and/or mental health challenges. I interviewed her in a transitional housing program, where parents can reconnect with their children and receive support to create the future they want for themselves and their families.
Upon walking through the door at one of HJRA’s transitional living facilities, I was struck by how home-y it felt. Every aspect of the design was selected to let the residents know that they are safe, valued as an individual, and part of a system of support. All programming at the transitional housing sites is based on forming trusting relationships prior to beginning the work of healing. It made me think of the saying “we are harmed in relationships and can only heal in relationships”.
Carmen’s staff have a keen understanding of what many of the residents are struggling with as she only hires people with the lived experience of being marginalized in society.
Health and Justice Recovery Alliance stands on the foundation of guiding and supporting lived experts to catalyze reform within multiple systems. In addition to transitional housing, the Health and Recovery Justice Alliance is the organizational lead for Department of Child and Family Service’s Local Strengthening Families Initiative.
Carmen and her dedicated staff also coordinate a Youth Advisory Council, Peer and Family Navigators, and offer support for pregnant and parenting moms/families through Thriving Families: Parent and Me bi-monthly convenings, crisis support and advocacy, trauma mastery, substance use disorder and behavioral health support.
For more information on Health and Recovery Justice Alliance, go to the HJRA website, or check out the HJRA Facebook Page.
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