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Community Invited to Family Day on September 14 & Recovery Walk on September 21

The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard, formerly North Philadelphia Health Systems – Girard Medical Center, invites community members to join its staff, participants, and their loved ones for a Family Day on Saturday, September 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Held on the 801 Girard Avenue campus, the event provides the Center the opportunity to share health education resources in a fun-filled environment as part of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s National Recovery Month.

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This September marks the 30th 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. More than 200 of The Behavioral Wellness Center’s staff and participants also plan to attend the Recovery Walk on Saturday, September 21, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing.

These events coincide with the unveiling of The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard’s new name and identity that reflects its vision to be the region’s premier provider of a continuum of behavioral health services. “When a person seeking support in transforming his or her life walks through our doors, we see the individual as just that, a person, on a journey, needing support,” shares CEO Gerri H. Walker. “Our seasoned, highly credentialed and experienced staff provides unconditional support through programs that speak to our participants regardless of where they are on their journey to recovery,” she adds.

The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard is a “community anchor with earnest desire to enhance the quality of people’s lives,” shares its Board Chairman and Pastor of the Vine Memorial Baptist Church, Rev. Ralph E. Blanks. “It focuses on wholistic quality services in behavioral medicine,” he adds. The Center invites its neighbors to take advantage of the free health information and screening services, vocational and job preparedness programs, family fun activities and refreshments at Saturday’s Family Day, as they learn more about its critical role in inspiring hope and transforming lives.

The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard began its life as the Philadelphia Children’s Homeopathic Hospital in 1896. Throughout its existence, it’s been renamed St. Luke’s and Children’s Medical Center, Giuffre, and Girard Medical Center. In 1990, the North Philadelphia Health System (NPHS) was formed to operate the merged Girard Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital. When NPHS sold St. Joseph’s Hospital in 2016, NPHS solely provided Behavioral Health services through the Girard Medical Center. Now known as The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard, the Center continues to be at the forefront of innovation in the provision of treatment services for individuals with substance use and mental health challenges, and a willing partner to the City of Philadelphia in serving City residents.

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 evidenced-based behavioral health services that inspire hope, encourage change and improve our community. It employs more than 480 seasoned, highly credentialed and experienced staff to oversee its varied programs that speak to its diverse participants, regardless of where they are on their journey to recovery. The Center offers its inpatient and outpatient substance use disorder services and inpatient psychiatric services in a respectful and caring manner that is culturally and spiritually sensitive, and responsive to community needs. Learn more about The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard by visiting www.bewellctr.org.

Meet Caleb Jackson, a Behavioral Specialist AT the Miracles in Progress Residential Program at The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard. Caleb has been involved with The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard for more than 10 years, and his story is quite a unique one. Caleb’s journey began at the center in 2008 as a person in recovery seeking long-term treatment for trauma, substance use and mental illness.

When Caleb initially arrived at the center on a Friday evening, he immediately faced the challenge of having to wait through the weekend for treatment, as the process for enrollment was not immediate. However, Caleb knew going home was not an option.

“If I have to return to my neighborhood now, you probably will not see me for a while,” he cautioned the staff. Recognizing the severity of his situation, the Clinical Supervisor contacted the local shelter where Jackson stayed until he was admitted the following Monday.

After a short stay in the BAC, Caleb was taken to 4 Tower, and greeted by the staff of the The John Street Blueprint Program, a program for chronically homeless men that was later renamed Miracles in Progress by the participants. “During my stay, the staff did not seem offended by my presentation. I was very angry, resistant, oppositional, and untrusting. I was always ready to challenge the staff. The staff continued to encourage me and showed me that they really cared and insisted that there was no need for me to be angry.”

Experiencing the staff’s compassion, patience and dedication is truly what helped Caleb turn his life around. “My treatment process included many ‘learning opportunities’ such as behavior contracts, teaming and safety plans. The staff assisted me in changing my perspective of myself and others, while helping me heal from my defeatist self- destructive behavior.”

Upon completing his treatment, Caleb was so inspired by what the Behavioral Wellness Center did for him that he decided to pay it forward and help others through the treatment process. “I wanted to join the winning team,” he expressed.

Initially hired as a Case Manager, Caleb later completed his Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and became a Behavioral Specialist; however, he’s not done yet. “My goal is to continue my education by obtaining the Doctoral Degree in Social Welfare, wherein I will advocate for and promote policies to enhance the treatment of our participants and assist with the development and implementation of therapeutic models and interventions.” We’re proud to have Caleb as one of our knowledgeable and caring team members.