New Life Addictions Counseling and Mental Health Services
We are an AACPS: Community Partnership | 2019 Business Partner of the Year
Recognized for their support of AACPS by Northeast High School
Ms. Jennifer Wheeler and New Life Addictions Counseling and Mental Health Services has been an active member on Northeast High School’s Human Performance Signature Programs Integrated Community Stakeholder Team for the past 2 years. This year, however, Ms. Wheeler expanded her support by leading an entire subcommittee on the fight against the opioid crisis in Pasadena. As she shared, “New Life is proud to have a collaborative partnership with our schools, which is key in educating the students to choose not to use, with confidence.”
Ms. Wheeler began the year working with Signature Program Facilitator Brandi Dorsey on how to implement community awareness ideas within the Signature Explorations classroom. Ms. Dorsey and Ms. Wheeler determined that the best way to teach the Signature students about this crisis was through key business partners who had direct experiences in the field. Ms. Wheeler helped organize and lead multiple volunteers and business partners in the Signature classroom for three weeks. She scheduled the partners and “coached” the partners on what to say and how to interact with high school students.
After our Signature students had real knowledge of the opioid crisis, they worked together to create the Haunted House of Addictions. In the House of Addictions, there were several roles where students had to portray a person affected by the opioid crisis. Due to the sensitive nature of those roles, Ms. Wheeler dedicated her afternoons to helping all the students learn those roles appropriately. Ms. Wheeler also took an active role in the House of Addictions and portrayed a mom who was hosting a party.
After the house of addictions ended, Ms. Wheeler has continuously worked with the Signature Program on multiple health and wellness goals and activities for the remainder of the school year. Students created an awareness campaign that reached people not only in Pasadena but in the greater Maryland community as well. They were even featured on the channel 11 news!
Ms. Wheeler’s partnership has had a lasting and empowering impact on students. One Signature student said, “I feel like I am making a difference in my generation today. Ms. Wheeler helped me to understand what someone’s life looks like being addicted to drugs.” Ms. Wheeler truly cares about the students at Northeast and has dedicated her time to creating a positive change in our school and in the Pasadena community.
About New Life Addictions Counseling & Mental Health Services
Providing substance abuse education in the local community is at the heart of the mission of New Life Addiction Counseling Services. As a locally owned treatment provider in Pasadena for 35 years New Life has seen the wave of addictions and substances sweep through our neighborhoods. New Life Addiction Counseling & Mental Health Services of Pasadena, MD provides outpatient treatment and addiction treatment services for those struggling with substance abuse and drug and alcohol addiction, as well as for those with mental health issues. With an emphasis on total abstinence from alcohol and drugs, our treatment services are designed to motivate clients to develop strategies through education, self-awareness, therapy and counseling, and participation in specialized groups –strengthening life skills so they can successfully manage life’s struggles moving forward. Learn more.
