Farm News

2008/2009 Education Series Report

2009-07-02T06:31:00.001-04:00

A few highlights:

Attendance: a total of 1,522 people attended a total of 19 programs. Attendance ranged from lows of 28 at Grief and Loss and Addiction, and 33 at A History of A.A. (it was snowing the evening of this presentation;) to a high of 146 (Intervention,) with Addiction 101 a close second at 134. Attendance averaged 80 per program. This compares with average attendances of 62 in 2007/2008, 47 in 2006/207, 41 in 2005/2006, 28 in 2004/2005, 31 in 2003/2004, and 13 in 2003.

- 80% returned evaluations (this is a lower rate of return than previous years; however the rate of return improved towards the end of the series when we initiated extra efforts to encourage people to return evaluations.)

- After the first program, 55% of the attendees Kept Coming Back, i.e. indicated they had attended previous programs.

Social demographics: 38% identified themselves as addicts/alcoholics/recovering people. 38% identified themselves as family members/friends. 25% identified themselves as professionals. 11% identified themselves as students. 4% identified themselves as interested community members or “other.” 6% identified themselves as Dawn Farm staff; 0% identified themselves as Dawn Farm board members. The proportions of addicts/alcoholics/recovering people and of professionals have trended up a little and family members/friends and of students have trended down a little overall over a few years. You had a significant increase in the number of Dawn Farm staff/interns that attended this year, even though the percentage is only up a little. (68 in 2008/2009; 37 in 2007/2008; 18 in 2006/2007; 22 in 2005/2006; 13 in 2004/2005; not measured prior to 2004/2005.)

Geographic demographics: The Education Series attracted people from 90 towns/cities/townships/ villages, 14 Michigan counties and 2 states besides Michigan. 65% were from Washtenaw County, 20% were from Wayne County, and 5% were from Livingston County; 30% were from counties contiguous to Washtenaw and 5% were from non-contiguous counties/other states.

The most common source of finding out about your DFES is from Dawn Farm staff (27%.) In general, word of mouth (from Dawn Farm staff, friends, family, other referrals) is by far the most common way for people to learn about the series. However, other sources (fliers, Internet, media) provide significant information dissemination as well.

Likert responses: Overall, 91.8% of the Likert question responses were positive (4 or 5,) 6.6% were neutral (3,) and 1.6% were negative (1 or 2.) The greatest satisfaction was indicated for the question, “I received valuable information” (94.7% positive, 4.7% neutral, 0.7% negative.) The least satisfaction was indicated for the question, “My reasons for coming were addressed” (88.9% positive, 7.5% neutral, 3.6% negative.) Likert data seems overall fairly consistent with previous years. To compare and track Likert responses, I added a new chart on page three of the Likert summary that summarizes the % of responses that were positive, neutral and negative each year.

Anecdotal responses: Audience members provided 29 pages of written feedback (not including the Likert or demographic responses) specifying how attendance at the programs changed their understanding, attitudes or intended future actions; what they found most helpful; their suggestions for changes or for future programs; and other comments.

Spring is here!!!

2009-04-07T10:30:00.001-04:00

Thanksgiving at Dawn Farm

2008-12-01T13:24:00.006-05:00

Dawn Farm had a great Thanksgiving holiday, and we hope that you did, too.

We started a new tradition this year - Huron Street hosted Detox for a Thanksgiving feast! The Huron Street house was filled with clients, staff, and alumni volunteers for a day of safe and sober celebration.

The Huron Street clients and the alumni who stopped by to help cook are working on hosting another holiday event for Detox! What a great example of the Circle of Hope!

Full Circle

2008-11-02T06:33:00.003-05:00

I want to share something with you that happened at the Farm on Friday. A group of young, recent alumni from the Farm decided to use the community barn for a Halloween dance for the recovering community. They wanted to have some fun with friends on Halloween, but more importantly they wanted to help the Farm and show the current farmers a fun, sober Halloween.

This is what the Farm is all about. People come to the Farm full of pain, fear and despair. We provide a safe place for them to heal and receive the hope, love and support of the recovering community. A short time later, they return as members of the recovering community to help current farmers. As skilled and experienced as our staff are, this cycle of hope, help, love and support is what makes the Farm special and keeps our alumni sober over the years.

Order your Thanksgiving turkey from Dawn Farm!

2008-10-24T12:42:00.002-04:00

Do you want a fresh, local, humanely raised turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner? We are now taking orders for holiday turkeys raised right here on the Farm.

Call Ashley at 734-485-8725 to order, and your turkey will be ready for pickup from the Farm on Monday, November 24. Turkeys are $36 each again this year. It's so easy!

Dawn Farm
6633 Stony Creek Road
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Thanks for your support!

Education Series Starts Tonight!

2008-10-21T14:58:00.002-04:00

The 2008-2009 season of the Dawn Farm Education Series starts TONIGHT, October 21, with Addiction 101 presented by Jim Balmer, President of Dawn Farm. The presentation runs from 7:30-9pm, but get there early for complimentary refreshments!

The Ed Series is presented on the last two (or three) Tuesdays of each month from now through June of 2009 in the Education Center Auditorium at St. Joe's Hospital in Ypsilanti.

Check the Ed Series page for more information! We hope to see you!

Delicious Honey

2008-09-24T12:47:00.002-04:00

Dancing Crane Honey Farm, a local honey farm in Ann Arbor, now has their 2008 honey harvest available for sale. Dancing Crane has graciously offered Dawn Farm the proceeds from this year's honey sales. Suggested cost is $7.50 per pound or $20 for three pounds of delicious, local honey.

For more information (or to place an order) please contact John or Joanne!

Dancing Crane Honey Farm
John Piette and Joanne Kimata
dancingcranehoney@gmail.com
phone 734/332-0737

Farm Fresh Chicken - AVAILABLE NOW!

2008-09-15T14:07:00.002-04:00

We have chicken available for sale! These birds were raised for 14 weeks right here on the Farm, and were processed and frozen on September 4. They average about 4 pounds each, and are $7 for each whole chicken.

Support Dawn Farm while eating locally raised chicken! You can stop by the Farm to pick one up, or call us for more information. While you're here, you can pick up a dozen fresh eggs, too!

6633 Stony Creek Road, Ypsilanti
734-485-8725

Hours old

2008-07-16T19:32:00.002-04:00

From Rick, our Farm Manager:

New arrivals and I mean new. Born last night 11 babies no pig watch, just nature.

enjoy the pics.

Dawn Farm at the Westside Farmers' Market

2008-07-14T10:12:00.004-04:00

Last week we were welcomed to the Westside Farmers' Market on Ann Arbor's west side to share information about Dawn Farm with interested shoppers and sellers. We had a great time, distributed lots of Farm information, and made new friends - including Pot & Box, who posted a great blog about the Market experience.

The Westside Farmers' Market invites different community organizations throughout the season, and is located in the parking lot of Zingerman's Roadhouse on Thursday afternoons from 3-7pm.

McKinley + Dawn Farm = safe, sober housing

2008-06-21T19:37:00.003-04:00

Last November we filled you in on an exciting partnership with McKinley. For more than 6 months we've been quietly housing 30 formerly homeless addicts and alcoholics with the help of our friends at McKinley. They're getting jobs, paying rent and doing community service.

This program has been so successful that we almost immediately started looking for opportunities to expand this partnership. This month we're starting our second community of recovery in McKinley's Park Place Apartments, bringing us up to 128 beds of transitional housing. We're starting small at Park Place and we plan to grow as more adjacent units become available. We'll keep you posted.

Barn Sale

2008-06-19T14:02:00.000-04:00

Join us for the DAWN FARM SUMMER BARN SALE this Saturday, June 21st, from 9am until 4pm. Visit our farm animals while you are here!

We have household items, furniture, knick-knacks, kitchen items, and MUCH, MUCH MORE! We also have FARM FRESH EGGS, while supplies last!

All proceeds benefit the Farm! Tell your friends and family!

The Green Farm Project

2008-06-10T14:31:00.002-04:00

You could make the case that Dawn Farm has been earth-friendly for all of our 35 years. We are a farm, after all. Recently, we've made a decision to become the greenest treatment center in the world. We're taking it one day at a time and one step at a time, doing what we can, when we can. It just seemed like the next right thing to do.

We've created a page on our website where you can learn a little more about some of the steps we're taking.

Dawn Farm on Michigan Innovators

2008-06-03T17:40:00.002-04:00

Dawn Farm has been twice blessed byt Google and EMU.

Google very generously has donated a Google AdWords account and a monthly allowance. The task of creating adds and optimizing them was daunting. Fortunately, we were asked to participate in a pilot program with Google and EMU in which we were linked with EMU students who took control of our AdWords account and got us up and running. They did a GREAT job, far exceeding my expectations.

One of our students (Marcell Morris) has an interview and a couple of blog posts on Michigan Innovators. Michigan Innovators challenges the notion that Michigan's economy is dead by telling Michigan's business innovation story through interviews with dozens of business owners.

If you're into that kind of thing, it's well worth your time. Check it out!

Youth Day of Caring

2008-05-18T12:08:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we had a group of teens working elbow to elbow with Dawn Farm residents and staff. They did a great job cleaning up our landscaping. They worked hard and we are grateful! Their efforts were part of the United Way Youth Day of Caring. THANK YOU!

Farm fresh pork, chicken, turkey & beef

2008-04-15T10:58:00.003-04:00

Pork is now available, whole, half and per pound. If you are interested in purchasing pork please contact Rick ASAP. We dropped three hogs off for processing today and there is still time to have it cut yourway. We do have one more hog ready to go now, after this one, there will not be another until October. We're taking non refundable deposits now for hogs ready in October $50 half.

If you are interested only in certain items e-mail Rick a list and he will quote you a per pound price.

We have frozen and available smoked bacon, sausage, loin roast, porkchops, pork steaks, smoked ham steaks, smoked picnic hams, smoked hams and smoked hocks. (Feet will be available in 2 weeks.)

We are also taking orders for fresh broiler hens, they are $6.00 each and will be ready July 1st, just in time for the 4th of July weekend.

A second batch of broilers will be available first week of September.

Be one of the first on the list for your fresh Thanksgiving day turkey, they'll be ready for pick up on Monday, November 24th. Call now 734 485-8725

Beef will be ready in the late fall. If you're interested please let Rick know, there will be limited availability. Reserve yours now, whole or half, no quarters.

As always fresh eggs are available 2.00 doz.

The Russians were here!

2008-04-08T08:48:00.002-04:00

A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of training a delegation of Russian social workers visiting Eastern Michigan University. It was a a wonderful opportunity to share our message that recovery is possible and that hope is an essential ingredient when helping addicts and alcoholics.

Google + EMU = Good news for Dawn Farm

2008-04-05T20:52:00.002-04:00

Dawn Farm has been lucky enough to receive some exciting help from Google and the EMU School of Business.

Google awarded Dawn Farm a Google Grant for Google AdWords and asked us if we'd be willing to participate in a pilot project with EMU's School of Business. A group of students have been learning about AdWords by managing our account. They've done a terrific job -- our web traffic is up by 60%!

You can read more about it here.

Scholarships help students overcoming drugs, addiction

2008-04-02T08:28:00.003-04:00

The Livonia Observer recently ran an article on a local family foundation that is offering academic scholarships to young recovering people with ties to Livonia and supporting the treatment of a young indigent client at Dawn Farm.

Students on the road to recovery can get help paying for college through Brian's Foundation.
Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to applicants from a Livonia school who have completed at least one year of continuous recovery from alcohol or substance abuse or addictions.
The foundation is named for Brian Montes, who died of an accidental heroin/fentanyl overdose in June 2006 at the age of 22. He was a Livonia Public Schools graduate and student at Michigan State University studying to be an English teacher.
His family started the foundation to educate and raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse.
"We wanted to help someone who was struggling with the same things that Bri went through," said Scott Montes, Brian's older brother and a student at Wayne State University.
The foundation also gave a treatment scholarship to Dawn Farms, a substance abuse treatment facility in Ann Arbor.
Brian Montes was a poet and musician. He would have been a great English teacher, his brother said. The foundation's goal is to help someone turn his or her life around.
Brian's mother, Diane Montes, who founded the Livonia Save Our Youth Task Force in the months after his death, suggested the scholarships help someone struggling with substance abuse, Scott Montes said. "It seems like it was the right thing to do."
Funding came from a golf outing the family held last August.
Application packets are due June 15. In addition to completing one year of recovery, an applicant must:
Attend or have attended a Livonia high school or be a current resident of Livonia.
Submit a one- to three-page essay describing his/her recovery journey and academic goals and have it signed by a treatment professional.
Get a letter of recommendation from a professional who can attest to successful participation.
Supply proof of acceptance to a two- or four-year college or trade school in Michigan.
To request an application packet by e-mail, contact brisfoundation@yahoo.com.
rrjones@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2054

Another new arrival!

2008-03-28T15:46:00.003-04:00

It's been a busy couple of weeks on the Farm. Chicks and ducklings a couple of weeks ago and a new calf this morning. We're expecting a couple more calves in the coming weeks. We'll keep you posted.

Do the Shuffle!

2008-03-18T12:48:00.002-04:00

We have decided to cancel the 2008 Stony Creek Shuffle. Look for it in 2009. Sorry for any inconvenience.

One more

2008-03-11T20:24:00.001-04:00

One more picture of our new farmers. I couldn't resist.

New Gift Shop Item!

2008-03-11T13:34:00.002-04:00

We now have laundry bags in the gift shop. Get yours today!

Special Delivery!

2008-03-11T10:34:00.001-04:00

We just received 300 chicks and 16 ducklings. Come on out to visit them!

Ed Series Update

2008-02-27T14:12:00.001-05:00

We are sorry that we had to postpone the Intervention workshop by Jeff and Debra Jay that was scheduled for February 19, 2008. We will let everyone know when this program is rescheduled.

Dawn Farm will present the following free Education Series programs in March 2008:

"Addiction and Spirituality" will be presented on March 18, 2008; 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, by Ed Conlin, BSEd, CAC-2; addiction counselor, Jefferson House (and former Team Leader at Detox.) This presentation will explore the core of our spiritual needs, address our own life choices, examine the spirituality of the 12 Steps, and discuss how the 12 Steps can help anyone, whether recovering from chemical dependency or not chemically dependent.

"Grief and Loss in Addiction" will be presented on March 25, 2008; 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, by Janice Firn, LMSW; Clinical Social Worker, University of Michigan Hospital; and Veronica Smith, LMSW; Therapist, Dawn Farm Daybreak Program. This presentation will provide a basic study of how addiction produces grief and loss for the individual and the family, and on recovery from grief and loss.

All Education Series programs are presented in the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center auditorium, 5305 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti. All programs are free and open to all; presentations are intended to have broad appeal and are geared toward a diverse audience. No registration is required. Each workshop is approved by the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP) to provide 1.5 free CE hours. All staff are invited to attend, and we will be grateful for your help in informing clients, families and others!!

The full Education Series schedule along with details, directions and a flier can be accessed from http://www.dawnfarm.org/edseries.html. You can also contact me by e-mail or by phone at Detox with questions.

The "Teens Using Drugs: What To Know and What To Do" ongoing two-part workshop series will be presented by our friend Ron Harrison on March 4 (part 1, "What To Know") and March 11 (part two, "What To Do.") For information about this series, please see http://www.teensusingdrugs.org. (Please note that MCBAP CE is not provided for this program.)

Thank you,

Matt Statman

Team Leader, Dawn Farm Detox; and Education Series Coordinator

734/669-8265 (at Detox)

mstatman@dawnfarm.org