Connection Points: A New Service in the Local Community

In addition to its existing programs for individuals just recently released or diverted from incarceration,
Gemeinschaft Home now provides a vital source of information and support to area citizens.
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To learn more, visit our website.

Harrisonburg, VA - Over the summer, Gemeinschaft Home launched its newest program, Connection Points, a service that is free and open to the public and offers a unique resource in the local community. The program provides a safe, educational, and supportive environment for individuals who know (care for) someone affected by addiction.

Such individuals are often discouraged from talking openly about their situation, and they battle stigma, judgement, and stereotypes as they attempt to discuss the addiction of a loved one or to just reach out for help.

Connection Points is Gemeinschaft Home’s response to those oppressive patterns, and a key feature of the program is its confidentiality policy, which asks participants to keep the names and dialogue exchanged in a session within the confines of each meeting. Creators of the program, Jumar Peterson and Brandi Smith, blend their own personal experience with evidence-based practice, to offer a curriculum that facilitates a greater understanding of addiction among the program’s attendees. While stressing the philosophy “addiction does not discriminate,” they encourage participants to take an active role in the group, which include sharing personal experiences or choosing to abstain from sharing while listening to others. There is also ample time in each session for attendees to ask questions and to respond to discussion on a range of relevant topics.

New members are welcome any time, and we strongly encourage everyone—not only those who are struggling with a loved one’s addition—to take advantage of this vital community resource. Connection Points is free and open to the public. Sessions are held every other Wednesday evening, from 5:00pm to 6:00pm, and meet in the Bender Building, located on Gemeinschaft Home property (behind the main house). Parking is available.

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