Alfred Bergman and SLS Health Volunteer Services for Putnam County Treatment Court Team

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Alfred Bergman and SLS Health Volunteer Services
for Putnam County Treatment Court Team
(1888PressRelease) SLS RES is a nationally
recognized, private, CARF Accredited program
located in Brewster, New York. The residential
and clinic facilities at SLS Health, now SLS RES
offer transitional living programs that are
comfortable, warm and welcoming. Brewster, NY -
Alfred Bergman, co-founder and director for SLS
Health, is proud to be a part of the Putnam
County Treatment Court Team. Recently, the work
of these outstanding volunteers including SLS
Health was addressed in a letter from a member of
the Treatment Court Team in light of one
particular success story. The letter from Robert
DeLetis, a Treatment Court Team member,
highlighting a success story of a 35 year old
woman who was remanded to the Putnam County
Correctional Facility, is below. After being
allowed the opportunity to attend SLS Health,
co-founded by Alfred Bergman to receive
treatment, she was able to become sober and has
remained that way for over 9 months. Drug
treatment courts are specialized community courts
designed to help stop people in the community
from continuing to abuse drugs, alcohol, and
continue with self-destructive behaviors or
related criminal activity. Non-violent offenders
who have been charged with simple possession of
drugs are given the option to receive treatment
instead of a jail sentence. Along with the judge,
who oversees each case, the Putnam County
Treatment Team consists of volunteers from all
areas agencies.
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These include treatment facilities (SLS Health,
Putnam Family, Search for Change and Arms Acres)
along with assigned people from the DA's office,
Legal Aid, Probation Department as well as
representatives from Putnam County Correctional
Facility. From the onset the judge and team
traces progressions and lapses through random
drug testing, probation visits, weekly monitoring
attendance to treatment sessions and
self-report. An import aspect of the court is
accountability. The rules are clearly defined and
each participant chooses his or her own path to
recovery. If a participant fails to meet the
minimum requirements set forth by the court,
immediate and graduated sanctions are imposed.
The judge reviews with the team, all of the
participants situations and rules accordingly.
For example, a participant who fails a drug test
might be assigned an essay complete community
services or even spend time in the correctional
facility. For determined individuals, complement
of the program might bring about dismissal of
charges, a reduced sentence, a lessor penalty, or
a combination of these. I bring this to your
attention because for the past five years, I have
had the honor of serving on Putnam County
Treatment Court Team, headed by Judge James
Reitz. Over this time I have had the privilege of
seeing this court in action as well as
representing SLS Health. This team is amazing in
all that they do, knowledge they possess, and
compassion that they have to better people's
lives. We all volunteer our time, energy, and
ideas to help better the participants in this
area to get sober, remain sober and live healthy
and productive lives. Being part of this court
has truly changed the way that I see my life,
opened my eyes to other ways to work with people,
see how people truly changed their lives after
dealing with addiction, legal issues and
emotional issues. Treatment Court alone is not
the answer. However, this court gives the
participant the needed motivation to succeed in
life. IN addition to this court, there are many
other important factors that lead to success.
These include treatment, family, probation,
community support groups, friends and healthy
supports as well as a positive desire to change
their behaviors.
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An example of success that I witnessed was from a
35 year old woman who I met in the Putnam County
Correctional Facility, where she notes, was her
lowest point. She was just discharged from a
treatment facility, headed back to court to face
the music. Knowing what was in store for her
(incarceration in jail or even possible prison
time) when she arrived at the court she got
scared and started running away. Not thinking she
would ever get caught. However, she was and like
she anticipated, she was remanded to jail.
During this time of reflection she was given
the opportunity to attend SLS Health to receive
treatment. WHAT A MIRACLE!!!! During her stay,
there were ups and downs old behaviors came back
but one day she just got HONEST. She told the
court something that she had done they were
amazed at her insight, honesty and took a chance
again. This pivotal moment was where this woman
took charge of her own life, matured and took
accountability for her actions and more
importantly, her life. This began her miraculous
recovery. Her attitude grew leaps and bounds,
herself destructive behaviors began to decrease,
her ability to relate to herself and her peers
flourished and she graduated the Putnam County
Treatment Court, had her charges vacated and
still remains clean and sober to this writing
after graduating about 9 months ago. Just the
fact that I was part of this, witnessed this
amazing transformation and still keep in contact
with this person truly is a testament to how good
life really is!!! About SLS RES, Formerly SLS
Health SLS Health was founded in 1986 by Alfred
Bergman and Dr. Joseph Santoro in order to bring
innovative and effective care and treatment to
adults experiencing persistent psychiatric,
psychological and dual diagnosis problems. SLS
Health, now SLS RES offers over 22 years of
experience improving the lives of persons with
co-occurring psychiatric and alcohol and
substance abuse disorders. SLS RES employs a
multi-disciplinary approach involving every
aspect of a person's life. SLS RES cares for each
person as an individual in a safe, supportive and
therapeutic environment.
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For additional information, contact Alfred
Bergman SLS RES 2505 Carmel Ave, Suite
210 Brewster, NY 10509 1-888-822-7348 abergman (
_at_ ) slshealth dot com http//slsres.com Source h
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