A Tribute to Women's History

The National Women’s History Month’s theme for 2024 celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Diversity Equity, and Inclusion.”

As we enter the month of March, this may very well be one of ─ if not ─ the most significant month of them all. Women’s History highlights a special time to recognize those who have brought us all from non-existence to where we are today. Keep in mind: everyone who came to be did so through the body of a woman.

Diversity describes the degree to which institutions and organizations represent the compositional heterogeneity of individual characteristics within the workforce (Ferdman, 2013). Equity means that everyone has access to what is necessary to be successful. Inclusion exists when barriers are eliminated and when people are valued and appreciated as themselves, and then become willing and able to fully be involved in decision‐making (Jordan & Jegede, 2020). This creates a space of inclusiveness in which those seeking solutions, and providers from diverse backgrounds have an opportunity to equally collaborate and contribute toward improving outcomes for all people.

In 1908, amidst dreadfully cruel working conditions 15,000 women took to the streets in New York demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. The following year, National Women’s Day was announced to honor the strikers. In 1910 it went global, and the first International Women’s Day was held in 1911. For much of the 20th century, International Women’s Day was acknowledged and celebrated by people at the grassroots level, a rallying point for social justice. It was not until 1975 – International Women’s Year – that the United Nations adopted International Women’s Day on the 8 of March, and it is still celebrated.

According to Outpatient Admissions Coordinator, Kelli Phillips, “women's health is not always taken seriously in society, but here at Hope House your health is our priority”. Phillips further asserts, “at the Hope House Outpatient program, your opinions and thoughts are honored as well as respected”. It is an honor to be a microcosm which reflects Women’s History Month and the theme of DEI.

Our presence in the community is one that serves as a beacon of attraction for people from across a wide scope of demographics and the leadership team includes a diverse set of women who are at the visionary helm of forward thinking. In addition, the staff, which is comprised of mostly women from a diverse array of backgrounds, are fundamental in the treatment experience from screening to discharge, ensuring equity for all.

The Hope House Outpatient Department is where you will not only learn to apply the skills essential to recovery, but it provides concepts that help participants to begin the rediscovery of their identity as well as their purpose. While many have found dysfunctional decision-making a place to hide from the issues of life, the outpatient program offers keys to unlock the doors to freedom from the trauma of past choices with non-judgment and non-condemnation. It is a place that stands on the belief that past behaviors are errors in thinking that need to be corrected, as opposed to the stigmatic belief that judgement and punishment are warranted. Our interest is in who you are and not in the behavior of who you are not.

This continuum of care at Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Outpatient (OP) levels are equally vital in sustained recovery as our Outpatient Department holds critical components of the treatment transition to the community. Among the myriad of services offered by the Outpatient Department are relapse prevention, SMART Recovery®, 12 Step immersion, pre/post operative liver transplant support for alcohol use disorder (AUD), DWI/DUI classes and treatment for gambling disorder (GD). The services are available either in-person, hybrid or online, and our modalities include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), and motivational interviewing (MI).

For Hope House, this represents diverse, equitable and inclusive services for the community in need of the same. Jordan and Jegede (2020) cite the following:

         Diversity, equity, and inclusion can make a lasting impact in three areas. (a) DEI can improve the deliberate recruitment of providers and stakeholders from racial and ethnic underrepresented minorities (URM) backgrounds. (b) DEI can improve initiation and retention rates of people accessing addiction treatment from racial and ethnic URM populations. (c) DEI can lead to improved health outcomes with improved adherence to treatment recommendations, and in which patients report greater satisfaction with racial or ethnically matched providers. (p.413)

As we heartedly commemorate Women’s History Month, we want to take this opportunity to honor the diverse, brilliant women here at Hope House as well as across the nation. It is these magnificent women who sustain the balance of home, work, and within community organizations and institutes of change spanning every aspect of life.

We would like to leave you with a quote from American professor and writer, Brene Brown, followed by Outpatient Department Admission Coordinator Kelli Phillps reflection:

"Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it"--Brene Brown 

"When we are using drugs/alcohol, this is a common theme that we are running from our problems, although life can be difficult running from our problems can be challenging because in the end, they are there waiting for us. In the Hope House Outpatient Department, we help facilitate change by supporting our clients as they face the hard-hitting parts of their story and encourage them not to run from them”. 

For referrals or information about any of the Outpatient Department programs contact:

Kelli Phillps @ (410) 923-6700 X 139 or kphillips1@hopehousemd.org