In July, our Crossroads Executive Leadership Team visited Philadelphia, and in September, they visited Pittsburgh. These visits were unified missions of fostering community care and connection in response to the growing substance use epidemic. These visits had two key purposes: collaborating with our community partners in the area and working alongside our teammates in the centers. These interactions at our centers allowed our leadership team to witness the quality of care firsthand and see current upgrades and potential facility improvements to better serve our communities.
In Philadelphia, we partnered with Savage Sisters to help support individuals affected by substance use. Savage Sisters is a nonprofit organization that provides resources for those living with or affected by substance use disorder. They offer trauma-informed care to individuals affected by addiction and provide sober housing opportunities to people in recovery. The organization operates recovery houses across South Philadelphia and Delaware County and conducts weekly street-based outreach in Kensington. Homelessness and substance use disorder have ravaged Kensington, and our team wanted to see first-hand how to help. During this visit, we distributed Narcan, an essential tool in harm reduction, along with hygiene bags. Collaborating with local organizations like Savage Sisters is one way we strive to stand alongside communities, ensuring that resources reach those who need them most.
In Pittsburgh, our team took the opportunity to give back to a local shelter providing aid to residents displaced by the Second Avenue Commons fire. Our visit wasn’t just symbolic; it was hands-on. We helped distribute lunch, harm reduction bags, hygiene supplies, and blankets to the unhoused community. It was a wonderful reminder of the power of kindness and how small acts can significantly impact lives touched by adversity.
From Philadelphia and beyond to our nine-state footprint, our executive team’s approach is simple: blend in, roll up their sleeves and actively listen. Whether participating in patient visits, shadowing our dedicated teammates, or reviewing our clinical care model, the executive team’s goal is to fully immerse themselves in the local environment.
Ultimately, these visits reflect Crossroads’ commitment to compassionate care, community presence and a relentless drive to better understand and meet the needs of those we serve. Through these efforts, we aim to deepen our connections with our patients and teammates, ensuring that every action, conversation, and service moves us closer to a world where substance use disorder is met with empathy, understanding and effective, measurement-based care.
Our next stop is in Kentucky (Louisville and Independence) in October 2024. Thank you to all who have supported these efforts and made our visits impactful. Together, we are making a difference—one city, one community, one person at a time.
