Brianna Marie Hernandez recently joined MiraVista Behavioral Health Center’s outpatient Recovery Services as a bilingual Recovery Support Navigator.
She brings prior work experience in similar jobs to the position as well as a drive motivated by family experience. She said her father’s life-long recovery with substance use included, as is common, periods of relapse that may have contributed to his death at 63 in 2021.
“My dad was a very social, giving person who loved to cook for others, and losing him at 20 has driven me in my journey to help keep people here by using my education and work experience to connect them with the recovery support they need and want,” said Brianna who has been working toward a Certificate in Addiction Counseling at American International College.
Adding that it “takes a village” to help someone with addiction, Brianna said her position, funded by a State Opioid Response Grant is enabling her to utilize resources both within MiraVista and in the community to help individuals “thrive” in their recovery.
She called being bilingual “important” in this mission.
“When you find someone who speaks your native language, it is a lot easier to be open, and being bilingual allows me to reach more people,” Brianna said. “A large portion of the population in the Holyoke area are Hispanic and LatinX individuals. They might feel more comfortable, even if they know English, in speaking to someone who has the same native background.”
She noted that treatment for substance use depends on stages of recovery and on an individual’s progress. These services at MiraVista begin with a one-on-one assessment to help an individual determine what program best fits their recovery. Same-day admission is available for its Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) with no referral needed for individuals 18 years or older with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). OTP provides daily medication in combination with behavioral health therapy.
The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is for individuals who do not require medical detoxification for substance use but who want more therapeutic services than outpatient counseling. Its sessions follow a four-week curriculum.
Free transportation is offered for both OTP and IOP.
MiraVista has a program conducted over 16 weeks for referrals from Mass Courts as part of the Massachusetts Impaired Driver Program. Second and Multiple Offenders Aftercare Services for referrals from Mass Courts are also available.
To learn more about MiraVista’s substance use recovery treatment options, please visit miravistabhc.care