“JK” struggled with addiction and found help — and hope — thanks to the Straight & Narrow (S&N) substance abuse program.
“Just for today, I am proud to be sober and proud of the person I am becoming. My recovery is important to me. There is hope,” JK said.
As part of Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese, S&N assists people with addiction and mental health challenges. Its residential programs help men and women daily by providing counseling and rehabilitation services and reintegrating them into society.
“Straight & Narrow’s holistic treatment approach includes spirituality, which plays a significant role in addiction recovery by providing clients with a sense of purpose, meaning, and connection to something larger than themselves,” said Angela Nikolovski, S&N’s executive director.
The annual Diocesan Min-istries Appeal (DMA) allows the faithful to support the diocese’s good works, including S&N.
The DMA invites parishioners to contribute to ministries that serve the poor, sick, and needy through diocesan Catholic Chari-ties agencies. They also include support for inner-city area school students, educational needs for diocesan seminarians, priests’ healthcare, and Nazareth Village, a home for retired diocesan priests in Chester.
JK is part of S&N’s Mommy and Me Program, which helps keep families together and teaches parents how to care for their child’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.
She was among the mothers and children who celebrated fall by taking a trip to a local farm, where they enjoyed picking pumpkins. For some, this was their first time on a farm and engaging in sober, fun fall activities with their children and peers.
“Straight & Narrow aims to provide a well-rounded experience for clients and continues to integrate activities and events in clients’ treatment plans,” said Nikoloviski, who commented on the clients’ pumpkin picking trip. “Being out and engaging in nature can help you feel calmer, joyful, and creative. It can also help reduce feelings of stress, anger, anxiety, and depression. Straight and Narrow strives to give the best quality care to clients, children, and families.”
S&N is building a new and improved $30 million, 50,000-square-foot Residential and Outpatient Treatment Program building. The facility is rising from the site of its former building at 410 Straight Street in Paterson, which was destroyed by a massive six-alarm fire on Aug. 24, 2019. The appeal had previously allocated more than $319,000 for Straight and Narrow’s rebuilding efforts.
Since its inception in 1954, S&N has helped save — and rebuild and strengthen — the lives of well over 60,000 people addicted to drugs or alcohol — and their families. It’s the largest and oldest rehabilitation facility of its kind in New Jersey.
“We take pride in the quality of care to serve our families and clients. Any individual who walks through our doors is treated with dignity and respect and is serviced to the best of our ability,” said Nikolovski.
The Diocesan Ministries Appeal supports Straight & Narrow. Please consider participating in the DMA. To donate or pledge online, scan the QR code or visit dopappeal.org. For more information, call 973-777-8818, ext. 215.
