On Monday, September 10, 2012, the public is invited to attend a celebration of recovery at the Hooper 40th Anniversary from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Left Bank Annex, 101 N. Weidler Street. All are welcome.  I will represent the City of Portland at the event; Lt. Robert King from the Portland Police Bureau, will also join the program. Free parking at the Garden Garage at the Rose Garden; public transportation is encouraged.

Alumni, staff, neighbors, and friends are welcome at the free celebration. Commemorative coins will be given to the first 400 people, attendees will be encouraged to document their clean date and guests will have the opportunity to share their Hooper story on video. In addition, Central City Concern will showcase 40 years of Hooper Center memorabilia and will honor Hooper Heroes, staff who have worked 20+ years in the program. In the photo below, a Central City Concern staffer assembles memorabilia and signage in preparation for the Hooper 40th Anniversary Celebration.

"Hooper" – known throughout the city as an entry point for drug and alcohol recovery – opened initially in October 1971 with support from a National Inebriate Grant.  Two program areas make up "Hooper" – Sobering Station/CHIERS located in NE Portland and Hooper Detoxification Stabilization Center in North Portland near the Rose Quarter. CHIERS staff are medically-trained and authorized to transport intoxicated people to the 24-hour Sobering Station for a few hours as a safe place to sober up. The Sobering Station serves approximately 6,000 people yearly.

Hooper Detoxification Stabilization Center provides residential, medical detoxification and stabilization for individuals over a 4-10 day stay. More than 2,000 people (many of whom are homeless and without insurance) start their drug/alcohol recovery process at Hooper Detox every year. Once individuals exit Hooper Detox, staff work to connect them with ongoing recovery support and housing if needed.

The event, sponsored by the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, coincides with National Recovery Month promoted by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); this year's theme for recovery month is "It's Worth It." 

The event flyer is available here. Please direct additional questions to 503-294-1681 or news@ccconcern.org.