IMPACT LIFE — EST. 2020
Community based programs
PEER SUPPORT SERVICES
SERVICE WORK
Impact Life offers opportunities for leadership and workforce development through service work all over the country. In addition, both programs work with local employers to collaborate and develop employee support with training programs that strengthens and increases opportunities for those in recovery and those re-entering society.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Preparing for the workforce, job-seeker workshops, work readiness program, job placement services. The workforce development program operates in phases. The goal of the program is to assist participants in building employment skills, setting goals, defining educational and vocational objectives, building life skills, and embracing this new concept of recovery. We also aim to assist those with a criminal background to re-enter the workforce.
RECOVERY RESIDENCES
Impact Life offers sober recovery residences in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties which include programming for men and women seeking trade skills and entrepreneurial opportunities. The recovery residences are a peer-led and operated long-term program that offers field experience and skills training in multiple areas.
Harm Reduction Program
Harm reduction is grounded in justice and human rights. It focuses on positive change and on working with people without judgement, coercion, discrimination, or requiring that they stop using drugs as a precondition of support. It encompasses a range of health and social services and practices that apply to illicit and licit drugs.
Our Harm Reduction Programs offer Outreach, Education and Narcan Training and Peer Support Services.
Wound Care
A Crucial Component of Our Harm Reduction and Street Outreach Programs. At Impact Life, we are committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to individuals in need through our Harm Reduction and street outreach initiatives. A critical aspect of our programs is wound care, and here’s why it matters:
WHAT IS WOUND CARE?
Wound care involves the assessment, treatment, and prevention of injuries to the skin and underlying tissues. It includes cleaning, disinfecting, dressing wounds, and offering education on proper wound management.
WHY IS WOUND CARE IMPORTANT IN HARM REDUCTION?
Preventing Infections: For individuals facing homelessness and substance use challenges, open wounds are not uncommon. Neglecting wound care can lead to infections, some of which can become life-threatening. By addressing wounds promptly, we reduce the risk of these complications.
Reducing Harm: Harm Reduction is at the core of our mission. By providing wound care services, we minimize the harm associated with drug use and risky behaviors. Treating wounds ensures that individuals receive care in a non-judgmental and supportive environment.
Building Trust: Our street outreach teams prioritize building trust and rapport with those we serve. Wound care is an opportunity to connect with individuals, offering not only physical relief but also emotional support. This trust is essential in guiding them toward other necessary services, including addiction treatment.
Enhancing Quality of Life: Wounds can be painful and debilitating. By addressing them, we improve the quality of life for our clients. This, in turn, opens doors for engagement in broader health and social services.
At Impact Life, we understand that wound care is not just about treating physical injuries; it’s about showing care, respect, and empathy to every individual we encounter. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive care that goes beyond immediate wound treatment, helping individuals on their journey toward stability, recovery, and a healthier future.
By including wound care as a fundamental component of our Harm Reduction and street outreach programs, we aim to make a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. Together, we can reduce harm, promote health, and empower individuals to take steps toward a brighter future.
B.C.O.R. Program
(Building Communities of Recovery)
Our BCOR services include:
- Outreach and Overdose Prevention Education
- Risk Management Screenings
- Narcan Training
- Mobile Wound Care Services
- Referrals to Housing and Healthcare
- Mindfulness Sessions and Activities
- Peer Support Services
- Recovery Planning
- Safe Disposal and Drug Takeback Events
Led by a diverse team with lived experience, BCOR aims to enhance recovery support services and improve long-term recovery outcomes for the communities we serve.
Fun Fact:
Impact Life is the first program in the State of Delaware to be awarded a BCOR grant.
SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES
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I wanted to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude for collaborating with us at Appo HS. My students have enjoyed the presentations and have learned a lot from each speaker. I am reaching out to see if John Edwards could attend more sessions with the students. John’s willingness to share his experiences and knowledge has left a lasting impression with my students. John can talk about the criminal justice system and explain it better than any textbook. My students requested John to return and speak to them in the future. Once again, thank you for your time and commitment to making a positive impact on young minds.
— Tom Purse
Appoquinimink High School
Therapeutic Culinary Arts
“Therapeutic techniques which use culinary arts, cooking, gastronomy, and an individual’s personal, cultural, and familial relationship with food to address the emotional and psychological problems faced by individuals, families, and groups.”
Research shows, and we believe, that cooking and baking can provide lessons and life skills as a foundation for wellness. Culinary Arts involve problem-solving, time management, communication, teamwork, and mindfulness. All of these things can help a person become more grounded, happier, less anxious, and more grounded. When practiced frequently culinary therapy can also offer individuals a sense of accomplishment and improved self-esteem. In addition, nutrition is a part of a whole person wellness approach. We believe teaching individuals how to cook, using healthy foods, will enhance their wellness across the lifespan.
ADVENTURE RECOVERY
Adventure Recovery leads individuals through the external and internal wilderness. The purpose is to get individuals outdoors, in nature, and teach them new ways to get outside of their comfort zones, build self-reliance, and uplift mindsets and mood. Ultimately, through this action, individuals learn to support one another, challenge themselves, and experience a deeper connection with themselves and others. This program will expose clients to wilderness therapy by combining nature and physical activity, two long-proven components that can facilitate healing, to provide recovering substance users with a highly engaging form of psychotherapy. It’s an approach to substance abuse that’s literally off the beaten path.
Adventure recovery combines multiple psychological and physical activities to promote physical and mental well-being. Clients will face challenges that require real-time problem-solving and decision-making skills and promote a goal-orientated mindset. These activities will be conducted in a group setting, many of which require teamwork to accomplish successfully. This encourages individuals to bond with their peers and re-learn valuable social skills for when they re-enter society. The hands-on nature of these challenges encourages mindfulness, patience, self-confidence, and a host of other positive qualities long after the adventure is over. Clients learn to trust themselves and regain a sense of control, independence, and accomplishment.
Participating in these activities, in groups, with others promotes connection, compassion, and kinship which are pillars of Impact Life.
