Marlene Moranino
Senior Director of Clinical Programs

CHCACT is very excited to bring a unique opportunity to only CT health centers. Health centers invited to be the first and only organizations to screen a CT- produced documentary, made in partnership with the CT recovery community, that will give the viewers a window into the hardships and successes of a very often marginalized, misunderstood and stigmatized population. The movie, “Uprooting Addiction,” is not scheduled for release until September; however, Hope Payson and her team will be presenting this to our health center community at two different locations in May. This documentary film will focus on the correlation between childhood trauma and drug and alcohol addiction. This may start conversations and begin to answer the questions many communities are asking around the Opioid epidemic: Why do so many people lose their lives to addiction? What are some of the reasons a person becomes addicted? What can we do?

The film focuses on the heartfelt stories of people with histories of trauma and addiction, seen at different stages of recovery. Through interviews and supplementary footage, the film will include commentary by notable experts in the addiction field, as well as current news and media coverage. The film's goal is to create a visually engaging and emotionally accessible film that promotes lasting solutions to this rapidly growing epidemic.

For our health centers only, Hope Payson has prepared an introduction to trauma and its risk factors for addiction, a screening of this one-hour film, and a discussion following the film. Hope is a is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Alcohol and Drug Counselor who specializes in the treatment of addiction and trauma. We will also have Daryl McGraw as a guest speaker. Daryl is the CEO of Formerly Inc, Connecticut’s first criminal justice reentry reform consultant agency and is an Addictions Counselor, Recovery Support Specialist, and a Criminal Justice Professional.

This program provides 2.5 Continuing Education Credit Hours for Social Workers, Nurses, Mental Health Counselors, and Psychologists through Commonwealth Educational Seminars

The screenings are limited and will take place on two different days in two separate locations. Please register with the links below:

DATE: May 9, 2019

LOCATION: United Way of Greater New Haven, 370 James Street, New Haven (Register)

DATE: May 29, 2019

LOCATION: Marcia K. Petrillo Community Space, 912 Silas Deane Hwy, Wethersfield (Register)