Alumni Association Meetings at Fairbanks Alumni Events Alumni Stories Volunteering Volunteer Application Recovery Management

NEWS

The Facts about Heroin
In recent months, addiction experts and law enforcement officials have noticed a new trend in drug use among teenagers - Heroin. This dangerous opioid is highly addictive and continues to grow in popularity among adults and adolescents. Here are some of the facts: What is Heroin? Heroin is an addictive drug that is processed from morphine and usually appears as a white or brown powder or as a black, sticky substance. It is a depressant that inhibits the central nervous system.

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Fairbanks Offers Group and Individual Tobacco Cessation Programs
Modeled after the highly-recognized Mayo Clinic tobacco cessation program, the Indiana University Nicotine Dependence Program at Fairbanks was developed to assist people who want to stop smoking and maintain a tobacco-free lifestyle.

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>> RECOVERY CENTER

Our state of the art facility —
designed to be an ideal place for
getting help.

Alumni Spotlight: Mindy

“... at Hope Academy, they weren't just focused on my grades, they were focused on my sobriety too...”

Read Mindy’s Story »

Volunteering

Support Others in Recovery By Giving Back

Volunteers are a vital component to the work at Fairbanks. Our volunteers support the mission of Fairbanks and are dedicated to serving individuals and families who struggle with addiction. There are many different ways to get involved in our volunteer program. All volunteer positions require:

Willingness to share personal experience strength and hope as appropriate.
Ability to maintain appropriate therapeutic boundaries w/ patients, clients & residents of Fairbanks.
Actively participating in and working a 12-step program, if applicable
Understands and supports the mission of Fairbanks
Have 90 Days of sobriety
TB test
Limited criminal history search
Sex offender registration search

Volunteer Descriptions

Staff Assistant – (6 months sobriety, if applicable)

Supports Fairbanks personnel
Gym, Clerical, Grounds Upkeep, Housekeeping, Receptionist, etc.
Morning, Afternoon & Evening Shifts
Requires excellent Customer Service Skills & Professional Appearance
Willingness to take direction & follow directions

Coffee Shop – (3 months sobriety, if applicable)

Morning, Afternoon & Evening Shifts – Cashier
Ability to make change and balance a cash drawer
Requires excellent Customer Service Skills & Professional Appearance
Requires small amount of physical labor
Willingness to run a neat & clean shop

Access - (6 months sobriety)

Greets potential clients & families entering facility for assessment
Morning, Afternoon & Evening Shifts
Requires excellent Customer Service Skills & Professional Appearance
Requires an Alumni who has been through Fairbanks treatment programs and is actively participating in and working a 12-step program

Book Store/Gift Shop - (3 months sobriety, if applicable)

Morning, Afternoon & Evening Shifts - Cashier
Ability to make change and balance a cash drawer
Actively participating in and working a 12-step program(if applicable)
Requires excellent Customer Service Skills & Professional Appearance
Shares their experience, strength and hope through the treatment and recovery experience, as appropriate.

Peer Facilitator - (6 months sobriety)

6-7 pm Men & Women’s Groups
Saturday Morning Panel Discussions 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Actively participating in and working a 12-step program
Provides support to Fairbanks staff in providing current inpatients a role model for a successful recovery
Educates on the importance of the 12-step process including meeting attendance, types of meetings, how to read a meeting schedule, use of a sponsor, discussions of the steps and principles of 12-step recovery
Shares their experience, strength and hope through their treatment and recovery experience, as appropriate

Transportation - (6 months sobriety)

Provides current patients & residents transportation to twelve- step meetings and other community based appointments
Shares their experience, strength and hope provided through the treatment and recovery experience, as appropriate
Requires proof of automobile insurance & screening of driving record

To suggest interest in any of these positions, please complete the volunteer application.

In the event you have other talents you wish to explore as a way to volunteer, we would love to hear about them. Please email Kathleen at kgill@fairbankscd.org or Judi at jkramer@fairbankscd.org.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

“For me rock bottom isn’t a place, it’s a feeling,” added Frank.

Frank chose recovery on September 13, 1996 when he came to Fairbanks. Although he had attempted sobriety many other times, this time he wanted it for good.

“Fairbanks had my best interest,” said Frank. “Everyone at Fairbanks helped me get honest and cut through the denial to see who I really was.” According to Frank one of the ways he stays sober is through volunteering at Fairbanks with the adolescents. For him, it is how he gives back.

“Life today is 180 degrees different from what it was when I was using,” said Frank. “It’s not what I have, it’s how I feel.”
READ FRANK'S STORY>>

Cindy came to Fairbanks with the desire to put her drug-using lifestyle behind her.

Now, she is an active volunteer through Fairbanks’ alumni services.

She helps greet individuals and families as they take their first step in seeking treatment at Fairbanks. She helps ease their anxiety by sharing her story. Cindy describes her life as active and full of opportunities to succeed and assist others. She feels that her future, without drugs and alcohol, has a lot in store for her.

“During my use, I described myself as living on the dark side of the moon, but now I am on a brighter side. On this side I feel like I am supposed to help others who are struggling. So I keep reaching out to them, which also keeps me sober.”
READ CINDY'S STORY>>

David, a past patient and active volunteer at Fairbanks, was the recipient of the 2008 Volunteer of the Year award.

David works hard to assist other individuals and families, helping them understand that there is hope; and that the impact of recovery is real and powerful.

“I remember Dr. Tim Kelly told me to get in the backseat and let my recovery program drive me, and I’ve been doing that ever since,” said David. “Now, I’ve got my family back. I’ve found peace, I’m happy, healthy and I am complete. I have a sense of peace and serenity that I’ve never had in my entire life.”
READ DAVID'S STORY>>