In 2023, Rogers Behavioral Health held its first Strength Over Addiction Recovery (SOAR) workshop in Sheboygan, teaching children 6 through 15 about substance use, stigma, and resiliency.
 
Rogers held the workshop to reduce stigma while also offering support to children who have been impacted by substance use. By providing children with skills that support resilience and the use of healthy ways of coping, the goal was to help break the cycle of addiction.
 
Team members provided a safe space for fun activities, teaching skills including mindfulness and meditation.
 
Jaimie Simon, clinical operations supervisor in Sheboygan, created the children’s program alongside the Rogers’ Mental Health and Addiction Recovery (MHAR) team.
 
“It’s been an honor to develop a substance use disorder prevention program that is realizing the vision of a generous community partner and to have a fun day with some awesome children,” Simon said.
 
Funding from a generous donor and support from the Rogers Foundation made the SOAR workshop possible.
 
The day also included “Gilly Learns He is Not Alone,” a story and activity book created by Page Feller, MHAR clinical operations supervisor and Dr. Michelle Maloney, System executive director of MHAR, with help from Dr. Jim Hishmeh, Oconomowoc director of Addiction Services.
 
While children took part in activities, Feller also facilitated an educational program specifically designed for caregivers.
 
“It was incredible to see this project come to life,” Feller said. “The whole team put in a lot of time, energy, and passion behind the scenes for the outcome we envisioned.”