neighborhood of West Market Street. Father Morgan brought the
plight and health needs of his homeless shelter clients to his physician, Dr. Will Ward,
Jr. (Fig. 1). Dr. Ward embraced their
cause and enlisted Dr. Harold Blevins
to found a free clinic in 1980 for treating acute intoxication, withdrawal,
and neglected medical conditions.
They then enlisted support of their Jefferson County Medical Society (JCMS)
colleagues, who contributed volunteer
services, a medication room of donated
supplies, and a van for bringing in clients
from the street. To honor Dr. Ward’s initial
inspiration and ongoing service, this clinic
was dedicated as “The Will Ward Clinic” in
October 2003. At that time, JCMS honored
clinic volunteers with special recognitions to
Dr. Ward, Dr. Mary (Kitty) Henry, the clinic
medical director, and Dr. Ken Peters, then
THP Board Chairman.
Medical Society Adoption Launches and
Sustains THP
As JCMS physicians gave increasing
contributions of volunteer medical
services, funding, and broad support,
JCMS President Ken Peters (Fig. 2)
initiated a focused effort for formal
adoption of the program by JCMS,
which led to official incorporation
as The JCMS Outreach Program, Inc. in
August 1989. Today’s celebration marks the 25th anniversary
of that critical milestone. Dr. L.G. Owen
spearheaded a strong and successful
fundraising among JCMS physicians to
support that seminal launch. Dr. Ward,
Dr. Peters and Dr. John Hubbard have
all served as Board Chairs for THP, and
GLMS Executives Director, Lelan Woodmansee, CAE, has been an enduring link
to THP. (Fig. 3)
Creation of the Recovery
Program
It became clear that the underlying cause of
homelessness for the shelter’s clients and plight
of the clinics patients was addiction, particularly alcoholism. Therefore, a recovery program was designed in
January 1993 along visionary lines that progressively led to today’s
outstanding success rate and national recognition. Jay Davidson,
who had joined the staff in 1991, led an inspired program design team that included
Burns Brady, M.D. and Chris Fajardo. A
small staff of four, and ten initial male
clients, launched the initial program.
This has evolved to today’s expanding
alumni population of over 4000 men
and women, with a circle of reunited
families numbering many more.
Compassion Extended to Women and
Families
From initial focus on addicted men,
program leaders extended the
outreach to addicted women and
the tragic effects on their families in 1995. The program was
replicated for women in a home
for 25 women on East Oak Street. It
was later moved to a larger shelter renovated for 130
clients. (Fig. 4) The need for a greater capacity
became apparent, and was achieved by
constructing an elegant new women’s
shelter that was dedicated in 2010, which
more than doubled capacity (Fig. 5).
In addition to serving the recovery
needs of addicted women, the program
endeavors to address the generational
propagation of addiction tragedies. Addiction-caused behavior produces devastation of self-respect, which is passed from
generation to generation by emotional
abandonment and/or abuse. Children
are often unable to escape the behavior
patterns and habits that devastate the
lives of their parents. The THP Family
Program addresses these tragic phenomena. Before reunification is attempted, the mother’s rehabilitation
must progress sufficiently and new
parenting skills must be learned.
If possible, a carefully timed and
supervised reunification process
may be initiated within THP
residency and continued into
(continued on page 17)
(top) Fig. 2 The dedication of Dr. Ken Peters brought formal JCMS support
to THP; (middle) Fig. 3 GLMS Executive Director, Lelan Woodmansee,
CAE, has been an enduring link to THP; Fig. 4 The shelter for women and
children at capacity in 1999.
July 2014
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