Johnson Institute Announces Lifetime Achievement Award to John Curtiss, of The Retreat, for Advancing the Understanding of Addiction Recovery

Posted by admin on February 7, 2008 under MASH Members | Comments are off for this article

Sourced from JohnsonInstitute.org.

Ingrid Faust
2/7/2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – John Curtiss, President of the Community of Recovering People board of directors and The Retreat will be honored with the Johnson Institute’s annual “Advancing Help and Hope” for Lifetime Achievement award at the Founder’s Dinner on April 24, 2008 at the Golden Valley Country Club, in Golden Valley, Minnesota.

“John Curtiss’ practical and consistent endeavor to reduce barriers to recovery is legendary in Minnesota and across America. He is never lost in things as they might be, but ever leading to things as they can be,” Mike Sime, Chairman of the Johnson Institute board said. “Things are different for many because John came our way.”

Curtiss is one of the principle designers of The Retreat model. Prior to his employment with The Retreat, John was employed by the Hazelden Foundation for over 19 years. In his years at Hazelden, John served as Vice President of Hazelden’s National Continuum, Executive Director of Hazelden’s Outreach Services, Executive Director of Fellowship Club, Hazelden’s intermediate care facility in St. Paul, MN, Unit Supervisor of two of Hazelden’s primary treatment units and as a chemical dependency counselor. John has a Masters Degree in Health Care Administration from the College of Saint Mary’s, is a graduate of Hazelden’s Counselor Training Program, a licensed counselor in the State of Minnesota and a Nationally Certified Recovery Specialist.

Past recipients of the Advancing Help and Hope Lifetime Achievement Award include, George Bloom (2005), an instrumental figure in the success of the Johnson Institute; Representative Jim Ramstad (2006), for his giving unselfishly to the recovery community as an outspoken advocate on Capitol Hill for the millions of people in recovery from addiction illness; Victor Capoccia Ph.D. (2007), senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation where he led the Addiction Prevention and Treatment Team and also focused on developing skills and career paths for front line health and health care workers.

The Johnson Institute also proud to be giving the Fifth Annual “Irene and Wheelock Whitney Award” to Father Bill Wigmore. He is Chief Executive Officer of Austin Recovery, the largest chemical dependency treatment center in Central Texas.

“Bill Wigmore’s story and service of recovery illustrates the nexus of faith and science through the thousands of individuals and families he has touched in his journey,” said Sime. “The doorway of Austin Recovery is a practical application of the Biblical suggestion to ‘feed my sheep.’ His reach to the last, the lost, and the least is an example to all who believe service is the key to lasting recovery and peace.”

In his recovery from alcoholism, Father Wigmore found his true calling, helping others heal through the power of both faith and science. Bringing the skills and gifts of an Episcopal priest, counselor, caring administrator and fellow pilgrim he helps his flock experience healing and recovery, offering to the recovering community a weekly communion service, “The Fellowship of the Prodigal.”

The Johnson Institute’s Irene and Wheelock Whitney Award is given annually to an individual who has advanced the understanding of faith and science in addiction prevention and recovery. Through research, teaching, writing or service, the individual must demonstrate that both the power of spirituality and religion and the power of medicine are important to the prevention, intervention and treatment of alcohol and other drug addiction.

Past recipients of the Irene and Wheelock Whitney Award include Dr. James B. Nelson, a well-known and highly respected theologian, teacher and author of “Thirst: God and the Alcoholic Experience;” University of New Mexico professor and author Dr. William R. Miller for his groundbreaking work in addiction illness recovery through his many works linking spirituality and recovery; Dr. Robert Albers, a noted Lutheran pastor, author, and pastoral care theologian who has devoted his professional life to helping clergy understand the disease of addiction; and Rev. Dr. Kenneth Robinson for implemented major ministries of community education, alcohol and drug abuse prevention, emergency sustenance, family life enrichment, children services, academic skills enhancement, and economic development.

The award’s namesake, Wheelock Whitney, and his late wife Irene, were co-founders of the Johnson Institute. The Whitney’s have made significant and numerous contributions to the Twin Cities recovery community. They were instrumental in creating the St. Mary’s Alcoholism Treatment Unit. They created Family Care and Counseling at JI – insisting that the family is critical to a person’s recovery. Irene and Wheelock Whitney were also helpful in setting up the first adolescent treatment program, a halfway house for youth.

The Johnson Institute, throughout its 40-year history, has pioneered practices that enhance awareness, intervention, treatment and recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction. Founded by Vernon Johnson in 1965, the Johnson Institute today mobilizes and trains people in recovery for advocacy campaigns, conducts policy research and promotes congregational team ministries through its offices in Minneapolis; Austin,Texas; and Washington, D.C.

Tickets to the Founders Dinner are available by calling 612.331.5600. Tickets and table sponsors will also be available on our website soon. www.johnsoninstitute.org.