Recent Educational Events

July 9-16, 2011.  Summer Institute on Addiction. This intensive 8-day training program hosted again at the Lodge at Simpsonwood was the Southeastern Institute’s second annual event of this nature.  During numerous presentations by more than 20 professionals from a variety of recovery centers in metro Atlanta, participants learned about the many facets of addiction disease, including the disease model, addiction’s impact on the family, the 12-step recovery process and its spiritual roots, professional intervention, recovery resources, guidelines for recovery ministry, and much more.  Participants came from a variety of backgrounds, i.e., clergy, counselors, ministry volunteers, a prison chaplain, and others.  Everyone enjoyed learning from experienced professionals and from each other – as well as a week of good fellowship in the serenity of Simpsonwood.

April 20, 2011. Enabling, Rescuing, and Controlling: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes. This informative Lunch & Learn hosted at MARR, Inc. with speaker Bill Anderson, LCSW, offered an excellent opportunity to learn how the family is affected by the addicted/alcoholic member, and how attempts to “help” the addicted loved one can actually make it possible for the destructive behaviors to continue.  Also included were ways to identify new, healthier, more effective responses and to deal with this devastating family illness.

January 28, 2011.  Spiritual Caregiving to Help Addicted Persons and Families. This one-day seminar with guest speaker Christopher C. Bowers, MDiv, CSAC, ASE of Virginia was hosted at The Lodge at Simpsonwood and  sponsored by the Institute in partnership with the United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence.  Rev. Bowers discussed chemical abuse, addiction, and related issues, and also guided participants in considering the most effective pastoral care and spiritual support they might offer to families and individuals struggling with this life-disruptive problem.

October 28-29, 2010. Confident Kids Support Group Facilitator Training, This two-day training was led by Linda and David Sibley from Santa Maria, CA, hosted at Simpsonwood, and sponsored in partnership with the United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence. The focus was on understanding the difficulties of children in homes with active substance abuse and on innovative ways to help, such as support groups.

September 23, 2010.  Lunch & Learn:  Pathways to Successful Recovery. This educational program was hosted at First Baptist Atlanta with guest speaker Beth Fisher, president of Georgia Association of Recovery Residences and director of Hope Homes, Inc.   Guests learned about the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s four levels of care, how they differ, and why each is important to a successful treatment and recovery process.

PO Box 269, Snellville, GA 30078   ~   www.theSICD.org ~   678-525-2692