Outreach to an at-risk population.
In 1993, faculty, students, and alumni of Tai Sophia Institute developed the Community Health Initiative (CHI) to demonstrate the possibilities of a community-based program committed to redefining health and wellness. In the CHI program, practitioners bring a wealth of knowledge concerning health and well-being through complementary medicine to clients who are, primarily, individuals living with drug addictions and HIV/AIDS. CHI is committed to redefining health through services that incorporate the values of on-demand access, community/friendship as healing, acupuncture, movement, and nutrition as effective tools and substitutes for substance abuse.
In 1995, Tai Sophia established its own inner-city clinic in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of Baltimore - the Penn North Neighborhood Center. This center has been operated by Tai Sophia Institute, and funded by individual charitable contributions and by support from foundations such as the Krieger Fund, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Abell Foundation, Open Society Institute, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Baltimore Community Foundation, and Associated Black Charities.
In 2003, the Institute formed a not-for-profit corporation, Maryland Community Health Initiatives, Inc. (Maryland CHI), to oversee and manage the patient care component of the CHI programs. The Baltimore Substance Abuse System approved 60 formal outpatient treatment "slots" for Penn North; thus the Center now includes both the Community Wellness Program and the government-funded outpatient treatment program, which collaborates with the wellness program.
Services at the CHI sites include auricular and full-body acupuncture treatment, massage, tai chi, qi gong, 12-step meetings, support groups for men and women, coaching/teaching about nutrition and life skills, parenting classes, mentoring, and a wellness referral network.Tai Sophia students receive enhanced clinical training through the CHI sites; graduates of Tai Sophia, as licensed acupuncturists, are provided the possibility of employment at these sites; and many alumni provide ongoing acupuncture treatment on a voluntary basis. Our graduates also offer similar services at many other sites throughout Maryland and across the country.
Maryland Community Health Initiatives
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The FIX
written, directed and edited by Chris Rebbert.
10.1.08 - courtesy of Urbanite of Baltimore (read the companion article) and YouTube.com |
Penn North Neighborhood Center
(Phone: 410-728-2080)
2410 Pennsylvania Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217
Vernard Nelson, Team Leader
Rhonda Armero, L.Ac., Senior Acupuncturist
Founded by Tai Sophia Institute, Maryland CHI is committed to redefining health through services that incorporate the values of on-demand access, community/friendship as healing, acupuncture, movement, and nutrition as effective tools and substitutes for substance abuse. Practitioners bring a wealth of knowledge concerning health and well-being through complementary medicine to clients who are, primarily, individuals living with drug addictions and HIV/AIDS.
Wellness Program
The Penn North Center provides ongoing continuous access to our wellness program for individuals challenged by their relationships with addictive substances.
The program includes:
- Six-month traditional outpatient substance abuse treatment program
- NA/AA and similar 12-step group meetings
- Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
- Botanical healing modalities
- Massage, Zero Balancing and other forms of bodywork
- Tai chi and other Eastern movement classes
- Case management and follow-up services.
- Referrals to Western and Eastern therapies
Outpatient Treatment Program
This Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program is certified by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and offers a full continuum of outpatient services including:
- Group, individual, and family counseling
- Individualized treatment plans
- Relapse prevention education
- Mental health assessment and counseling
- Anger management classes
- Aftercare planning and support
- Domestic violence treatment for families
Recovery in Community
(Phone: 410-362-1400)
31 North Fulton Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21223
Lena Franklin, Executive Director
Arthur Lazarowitz, L.Ac., Acupuncture Supervisor
Recovery in Community (RIC) is a community-based program with the goal of reducing substance abuse and related criminal activity in three communities of Southwest Baltimore (Boyd Booth, Fayette Street Outreach, and Franklin Square). This area was the setting for the book and TV miniseries, "The Corner." RIC clients live in group houses and attend the program five days a week. Maryland CHI provides the acupuncture aspect of the program, which also includes anger management, HIV education, and substance abuse education. RIC has joined with Maryland CHI and another agency as the Threshold to Recovery Program to provide 24/7 access to recovery support services and jointly pursue funding opportunities.