Second Wind Foundation

Their mission:

To advance recovery from substance use disorder and addictive behavior. They offer recovery support services, education, and advocacy for social, cultural, and health care parity with other illnesses. Their focus is on peer support with volunteers and staff in recovery, because of its effectiveness, affordability, and sustainability.

About their programs:

The Upper Valley Turning Point

is a community center for people in recovery from substance use disorders and addictive behavior. They are located off Route 5 at the Wilder/Norwich border and are available 7 days a week at zero cost to visitors. The staffed drop-in center offers a substance free recreation facility including meeting rooms, a lounge area, library, public access computers, wi-fi, television, a pool table, and a full kitchen. Their weekday staff provides navigation for treatment services, Narcan, and collaborates with medication-assisted recovery and drug court programs. They are open on the weekends for scheduled twelve step meetings.

Inhouse recovery meetings include Alcoholics Anonymous, Al Anon Family Groups, Narcotics Anonymous, Smoking Cessation and special interest groups to enhance recovery. UV Turning point specific groups are:

• Wit’s End is a support group for caregivers of children of any age who are having problems related to substance use.
• All Recovery is all inclusive. People with any substance use disorder or behavioral addiction are welcome. This is an alternative to the more traditional peer recovery groups.
• All Recovery Reimagined for Teens was created as a partnership with Hartford Community Coalition.

Living in supportive housing aims at strengthening recovery towards independent productive lives. Second Wind Foundation runs 2 transitional housing programs.

Willow Grove is a supportive transitional residence for women in recovery. There is a minimum of 30 days of sobriety for admission and the length of stay is 6 to 12 months. This housing allows for a space so the women in recovery can have their children living with them.

Jack’s House, which opened in 2021, is a supportive transitional residence for men who are in the early stages of recovery from substance use disorder. Jack’s House offers family-style, substance-free housing for residents who work or volunteer and pay a modest fee for the opportunity to share living quarters with others on the same recovery path. The average length of stay is 6-12 months while the resident is actively engaged in all his recovery plan goals.

About the HOPE Foundation involvement:

The HOPE Foundation has funded the Second Wind Foundation in support of their Willow Grove transitional housing for women in early recovery. We also provided general operating expense funds to support The Turning Point Center how they see fit.

For more information visit their website or call (802)295-5206.

The community center is open to anyone. We have had many Hypertherm Associates seek resources from Second Wind Foundation programs.

Volunteer opportunities: 

Hypertherm Associates in recovery can volunteer at the center. There are also opportunities for other Associates who may want to lead meditation, yoga, mindfulness, or some other activity to support visitors to the center who are in recovery. If you are interested in volunteering or finding out more information, contact syoung@secondwindfound.org.