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The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard will host their annual fundraising event, titled Resilience, Rebirth, Rise! on June 13th 2025 at The Hilton Hotel on City Avenue in Philadelphia.

Attendees will enjoy dinner, dancing, and activities, and rejoice in The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard mission to transform lives by offering access to much needed services in the surrounding communities.

Sponsorships & Tickets

Watch The 2023 Gala Video

The Pennsylvania Impact Awards recognizes 75 Pennsylvanians who demonstrate commitment to their community through acts of social responsibility. Those honored have demonstrated their dedication to making a positive impact in their city and state. The Behavioral Wellness Center’s President & CEO Gerri H. Walker made the 2023 list for her leadership role at the organization, which offers a multitude of services such as inpatient and outpatient psychiatric and substance abuse counseling, and treatments for approximately 1,000 clients a day. Congratulations to our leader, Mrs. Walker!

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The Philadelphia Tribune presented its list of Philadelphia’s 100 Most Influential African-American Leaders for 2023, and the list included The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard’s CEO Gerri H. Walker. This year’s honorees were recognized at a Reception and Awards program, held on at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This award recognizes professionals making a difference in their respective roles as elected officials, entrepreneurs, organization and business leaders, and/or activists for social change. Congratulations to Mrs. Walker on this well-deserved honor.

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I grew up in the depths of North Philadelphia, and the heart of West Philadelphia. Raised by both my father and mother, learning from the beginning to have unconditional love, compassion and empathy for everyone. I knew to pray and who God was at an early age, and yet life seemed to come at me quickly. I moved on my own at age 19, by the age of 22, I was married with three sons.
In 1987 I experienced the loss of my 9 year old middle son, it was the most devastating experience of my life. It was during this dark and painful time of my life I found myself living in an underworld, succumbed by the addiction of drugs and alcohol for 10 years.

But, God’s Grace and Mercies!! In 1997, I came to (Girard/NPHS) Behavioral Wellness Center as a patient. I was encourage, and inspired, and from that point on I persevered, being resilient and blessed with employment, a new home, united with family, and continued my education, Achieving an Associates, Bachelors, and Master’s degree, all through life’s trials and tribulations, maintaining sobriety.. In 2013, God opened the doors at the Behavior Wellness Center at Girard as an employee. Giving back to the clients that was given to me. From ARA (Addictions Recovery Assistant), to a Counselor, a Clinical Supervisor, and now the Lead Utilization Reviewer. I am also an Adjunct Professor at Alvernia University, and Pastoral Counselor at my Church. To top it all off, with God and the supports of The Be Well Center, I achieved my Doctoral Degree, a PhD in Human Services 2020. I am Dr. Renee C Harvin.

The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard was recently featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer for our hard work in fighting against the drug crisis currently happening. You can read an excerpt from the article and find a link to the full article below: Every weekday, a massive RV rolls down Kensington’s narrow streets, delivering addiction care and medical supplies to triage the latest danger in Philadelphia’s drug crisis. When it parks on Kensington Avenue, the team inside from Girard Behavioral Wellness Center, one of the city’s oldest addiction treatment organizations, steps out to try to encourage people with addiction into treatment.

Nowadays, the first question nurse Elaina Rodriguez asks of patients who approach her is whether or not they have any wounds. It’s a sign of the spread of the animal tranquilizer xylazine through Philadelphia’s drug supply — and it’s made the Girard team’s already difficult job that much harder.

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The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard was recently featured in Philadelphia Magazine. You can read an excerpt of the story below and read the full article online. Four years ago, The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard (formerly North Philadelphia Health System) found itself coming out of a two-year bankruptcy period. This process was led by the newly appointed CEO Gerri H. Walker and the then board chair, Dominic Sabatini. With feelings of relief and excitement, coupled with renewed energy, a new CEO, and a clear vision, the Center’s leadership was ready to step into the future.

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Recognition Comes at the Start of National Recovery Month

The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard made Newsweek’s “America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers 2020” list, a designation that recognizes the nation’s top facilities based on their quality of service, reputation and accreditation. The survey included treatment centers in 20 states with the highest number of addiction treatment centers, with this distinction awarded to only 200 centers nationwide. The Behavior Wellness Center at Girard is listed among the top 10 centers in Pennsylvania.

Administered by Statista and based on data provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Best” facilities were scored on recommendations by medical experts and through an online peer survey. Participants were asked to name up to five of the best addiction treatment centers in their state and to rank the quality of care, service, and follow-up care given by the rehabilitation facilities. Statista also calculated accreditation data provided by SAMHSA for each facility to obtain its overall ranking by state.

“We’re thrilled to share this great news with our employees, participants and community members, especially at the start of National Recovery Month,” shares Gerri Walker, CEO of The Behavioral Wellness Center. “It’s a testament to our seasoned, highly credentialed and experienced staff, and our effective programs that speak to our participants regardless of where they are on their journey to recovery.”

This September marks the 31st year that SAMHSA has sponsored the National Recovery Month to raise awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders, and celebrate those who recover. The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard’s staff and participants usually participate in the annual Recovery Walk, but COVID-19 has limited events this year to virtual activities.

Themed “Join the Voices for Recovery – Celebrating Connections,” SAHMSA plans webinars throughout the month that can be accessed at its website https://www.recoverymonth.gov/.

About The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard

The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard, formerly North Philadelphia Health Systems – Girard Medical Center, provides its participants with evidence-based behavioral health services that inspire hope, encourage change and improve our community. It employs approximately 480 seasoned, highly credentialed and experienced staff to oversee its varied programs. The Center offers its inpatient and outpatient substance use disorder services and inpatient psychiatric services, including 24 hour induction, in a respectful and caring manner that is culturally and spiritually sensitive, and responsive to community needs.

About Newsweek’s “America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers 2020” List

More than 20 million Americans struggle with alcohol or drug abuse, and finding truly helpful treatment can be an enormous challenge. As part of Newsweek’s commitment to reporting on all aspects of health care—most crucially, covering what new developments could mean for our readers—we partnered with global market research firm Statista Inc. to rank the best U.S. treatment facilities that focus on addiction. America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers 2020 highlights the nation’s top facilities based on quality of service, reputation and accreditation relative to in state competition. Facilities in the 20 states with the highest number of addiction treatment centers, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), were included in the survey. Learn more by visiting https://www.newsweek.com/americas-best-addicition-treatment-centers-2020/.

WHO: The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard (formerly North Philadelphia Health System – Girard Medical Center)
WHAT: Family Day Celebration & New Name Reveal
WHEN: Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: 801 W. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19122
WHY: To celebrate recovery during National Recovery Month and to share the Center’s revitalization story and transformation from the NPHS-GMC to The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard. The Participants’ Panel features three past participants who will share their journey to wellness with current participants, family members and friends in attendance.

Event Schedule:

9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast
9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. CEO Welcome and Participants’ Panel
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Family Day Festivities
12 noon Lunch served

Confirmed Guests & Vendors: