Mercer Council News

Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to come together to thank, help, give, show kindness, and share what they have with those in need. Make a contribution today so together we can make a healthy, safe, and responsible community become a reality! Donate Mercer Council is a private, non-profit agency dedicated to th...

We want to thank Brian Bittings, OORP Patient Navigator, for the 4 years he has spent leading our OORP team.  Brian decided to move on from the Mercer Council mid-October. We wish him all the best in the next chapter of his journey. We want to congratulate David DeCamp, who has fully transitioned from the role of Assistant Patient Navigator/Re...

From L to R: Stacey Ross and Jocelyn Cooper at a Recovery Focused Event, Summer 2020

So many faces and voices of recovery have paved the way for countless others to reach their goals with the hope and healing that is generated through connections, support and a shared peer recovery experience.  One of the faces and voices making a huge impact in the recovery community is Mercer Council's own, Stacey Ross, a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist with our Opioid Overdose Reco...

From L to R: Recovery Specialists Marc North and Stacey Ross at their visit to RWJ to celebrate the return of face to face recovery support services, after a period of providing tele-services, in response to the pandemic.

Recovery Specialists Stacey Ross and Marc North joined me to visit Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, one of Mercer Council OORP's key partners, to regroup after a period of Tele-Recovery Support services.  The team pivoted to Tele-Recovery Support because of a pandemic that completely consumed our hospital partners, our community and the world.  In order to do our part to...

STRONGER TOGETHER 2020!

Mercer Council has been privileged to service the DMHAS-funded Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP) contract in Mercer County since 2017.  Through year end 2020, our team of Certified Peer Recovery Specialists and Patient Navigators have serviced nearly 1000 total clients struggling with Opioid-related challenges, providing referrals and linkages to all levels of Substance Use Disorder Car...

Hello everyone! On January 28th, I did another Let’s Have A Conversation, I talked about helping children with the Anger and Coping Skills through some Life Skills Training and added research to help. While it introduced new concepts, the practical advice could be very useful for those looking at doable practices. Here is the link to the January 28th meeting: We are featuring two of Mercer Council...

Client Care Package Delivery for AFAR

With colder weather arriving, COVID cases rising, and economic hardships abounding, Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction has been searching for creative ways to support other organizations involved in the fight against Substance Use Disorder.  Mercer Council has serviced the Mercer County location for the statewide DMHAS-funded Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP), which provide...

Jocelyn joins a recovery discussion with Stacey Ross and Marc North of Recovery Advocates on The Fix!

This past week, I was honored to be invited to share space with Stacey Ross and Marc North of Recovery Advocates of America on their show, 'The Fix'.  In addition to their roles at Recovery Advocates, Stacey and Marc are also Recovery Specialists on Mercer Council's OORP Team.  Through both of their roles, they are well versed in all things recovery and we are lucky to have their voices....

The Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP) team has been hard at work during the pandemic, ensuring that the invaluable Recovery Support services typically provided, continue to be available, accessible and effective no matter what challenges and barriers are going on in the world right now. The Mercer OORP team has worked with 921 individuals to ...

During August, and especially on International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31st), we remember and honor the lives of those who lost their battle with Substance Use Disorder.  During September, which has been designated by SAMHSA as National Recovery Month, we realign our perspectives to honoring and supporting those who have embraced recovery over active addiction.  September has beco...

The Perfect Storm When opioid addiction and COVID-19 diverge or meet head-on this has created the perfect storm. Both catastrophic events have caused unprecedented challenges to the healthcare system impacting the care that is vital to our patient/client population. COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives from uncertainty of our health as well as our families, unemployment, financial conce...

Mercer County OORP Virtual Team Meeting

The current COVID-19 pandemic situation has resulted in unprecedented challenges for the entire Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Prevention, Treatment, and Services industry.  Social distancing restrictions, along with treatment center policy and medical screening enhancements, have posed additional unique restrictions on access to and delivery of SUD services. The ongoing opioid addiction crisis...

From left to right: Jon, James, Stacey, David, Marc & Mike

Mercer Council Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP) team members met this afternoon for their November staff meeting.   OORP’s trained and uniquely qualified Recovery Specialists (Peers) are individuals with lived experience who are in recovery from substance related challenges. Peers are dispatched to Mercer County hospitals/emergency departments to meet bedside with i...