Partnership to support students with addiction
February 6, 2020
News release
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – In keeping with its commitment to foster a community of success and help students overcome challenges, Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC) has partnered with Face It TOGETHER (FIT), a leading provider of addiction peer services based in Denver. Any PPCC student impacted by addiction can receive free, confidential peer coaching.
“We are committed to doing the right thing for our students. When it comes to addiction, that means offering access to effective, caring support for the disease, which impacts people from every age and background,” said Lance Bolton, PPCC’s President. “By partnering with Face It TOGETHER, we can support our students as they navigate the challenges surrounding this chronic disease.”
FIT is a nonprofit organization that provides professional peer coaching to those impacted by addiction, including loved ones. FIT provides a flexible, personalized approach and continually tracks client outcomes. FIT’s professional coaches are trained to address all aspects of a client’s addiction, from criminal justice obstacles to family support.
“Our partnership with Pikes Peak Community College marks an exciting opportunity to increase connectivity to addiction management supports, strengthen the Pikes Peak community and ultimately get more people well,” said David Whitesock, FIT’s Chief Innovation Officer.
Starting this semester, a professional peer coach will be on the Centennial Campus each week to offer free support. Coaching will be available for any student impacted by addiction, including those who are the close loved one of someone suffering.
FIT coaches follow a science-based coaching curriculum covering wellness planning, chronic disease self-management, behavior change and more. The organization’s loved one coaching program rejects “tough love” in favor evidence-based approaches that are positive, support and practical.
“Once we have a cohort of students taking advantage of Face It TOGETHER coaching, we’ll track and compare their academic performance with a control group of a similar demographics,” Bolton said. “We’re going to look at attendance, grade averages and more to determine the program’s effectiveness among students.”
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About Pikes Peak Community College
Established in 1968 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, PPCC offers associate degrees, certifications in career and technical fields and two bachelor’s degrees. With three campuses, various off-campus locations, two military education centers and hundreds of online classes, PPCC provides access to a quality, affordable and flexible education to more than 20,000 students annually with both credit and non-credit classes. More info at ppcc.edu.
About Face It TOGETHER
Face It TOGETHER is a nonprofit organization that provides science-based, professional peer coaching for people living with addiction, including loved ones of those with the disease. Established in 2009, Face It TOGETHER is headquartered in Denver, with coaching centers in CO, SD, ND and MN, and members in 17 states. Learn more at wefaceittogether.org.