The Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy has partnered with FACE-IT (Faith Activated Community Empowering Intervention Training) to bring a unique and effective approach to alcohol and other drug problems to the faith-based community in Harford County.

The Rush Center provides the tools, training, materials, and assistance to equip congregations with an effective, comprehensive and sustainable lay ministry, the Faith Partners Team Ministry. Participating congregations will be connected to local, state and/or national networks for help and on-going support, according to Joseph V. Ryan, manager of the county’s Office of Drug Control Policy.

“Through the Drug Free Communities Support Grant, we now have at least a dozen congregation teams trained in our county. It is the intention of the Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy and FACE-IT to train 15 additional teams each year for the next four years,” said Ryan. “This will give us at least 70 congregational teams with healing ministries to engage the hurting, point to direct help, nurture personal growth and celebrate recovery.”

Trish Merrill, a founder of Faith Partners, and director of the Rush Center of the Johnson Institute pledged that clergy and people of faith will be mobilized to develop caring communities which understand, honor and support addition recovery.

“Together, we will promote prevention and early intervention of alcohol and other drug problems,” Merrill said. “And together, we will strive to make a real difference in people’s lives, working for the benefit of generations to come.”

One of these teams, The Recovery Connection from Bel Air United Methodist Church, has already begun a six-part educational series on topics related to addiction and recovery. The sessions are held on the last Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the church’s Youth Center located on the second floor of the church, off South Main St.

The next session “What Are the Early Signs & Symptoms of Alcoholism & Drug Dependency?” will be held October 30. David Matukaitis, C.A.C., from Father Martin’s Ashley in Havre de Grace, will be the guest speaker.

For further questions or to register for these workshops, contact the church at 410-838-5181.

For more information about Faith Partners Team Ministry training which will be offered in the spring of 2007, contact Robin Rossbach, C.P.P. at 410-638-3333 or by e-mail rarossbach@harfordcountymd.gov .