Earlier this month, the Queen’s University Office of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) announced that the fall 2015 Addictions Program Scientific Planning Committee donated $1,600 to the Kingston House of Recovery for Women and Children (KHRWC).

Kingston House – a newly established not-for-profit, community-driven organization – provides care and support for pregnant and parenting women affected by substance use. The organization will offer services designed to reduce the harms of substance use and increase a woman’s ability to provide a safe and healthy life for herself and her children.

“The board and members would like to thank the planning committee for the generous donation,” said Kendra Link, a board member at KHRWC. “The contribution is coming to us at a very formative and exciting time in KHRWC’s development. We are working hard to complete our first pilot project that will demonstrate the immediate need and impact of establishing a residential treatment center in the Kingston area.”

The donation is the latest in a number of outreach and community engagement projects to come out of the Queen’s CPD Office. In November 2015, the office delivered a successful educational program in addictions titled: Co-Conspirators in Addiction Treatment – Collaborations with Physicians, Health Care Professionals & the Community.

The full-day event, designed for health care professionals who work with addictions populations, was aimed at helping formulate improved treatment plans for patients with addictions and co-morbidities, as well as communicate more effectively with patients who have addictions. Denise Lea, an addictionologist from the Oasis Program at Sandy Hill Community Health Centre in Ottawa, delivered the keynote address. The event also featured a number of local speakers on subjects such as myths and stigma, opioid substitution therapy, post-traumatic stress disorder, pain and more.

“The event was tremendously received and well attended,” says Joy Beazley, Scientific Planning Committee Member for the Addictions Program. “We are delighted to use the profits raised from the high registration to support a cause that is relevant to the learning of the health care professionals who attended.”

The donation will help Kingston House continue towards their goal of providing care and support to pregnant and parenting women affected by substance use. Kingston House will offer a unique integrated service plan that is the first of its kind in Ontario to address the specific recovery needs of both women with substance use issues and their children. Those interested in learning more about the program, or to make a donation of their own, are encouraged to contact kingstonhouseofrecovery@gmail.com.

Visit the 2017 Queen’s CPD Addictions program website for more information.