We’re proud to recognize The Jude House as the Community Partner of the Month. Read on to learn more about The Jude House, and their experience as an MVLS Community Partner.

How long have you been in existence, and what is your organization’s mission?  
The Jude House was founded in 1972, and we have grown more in the last few years than ever before. As a long-term residential treatment program, the Jude House provides comprehensive care and support, serving up to 50 residents at any given time. Central to its mission is the integration of vocational education, designed to equip residents with the skills and certifications needed to build a new life. The Jude House is a long-term substance use treatment program serving patients with a six to nine-month program, which is a 3.5 level of care. This level of care involves 35 hours of required programming for substance use treatment, supplemented by various additional initiatives, including reentry support, family integration, wellness, spirituality, and a post-care alumni program.

What/who/how do you serve your community?
The Jude House is a multi-faceted Recovery Community Organization that provides long term recovery support. The services offered include residential and outpatient treatment, sober living, and community education and training. Staffed with credentialed and skilled clinicians, we adopt an integrated approach to cater to diverse and underinsured populations. Our gender-specific initiatives afford a specialized focus on trauma and grief within a secure setting.  As a nonprofit organization that has been in service for over 50 years, we continue to strive to make a difference in the lives of our patients and the recovery community as a whole.

Why do you think it’s important to work with a legal services program, like MVLS? 
The Jude House primarily serves individuals coming directly from incarceration, with 90% of their residents having been incarcerated for five years or more. This unique demographic underscores the importance of comprehensive reentry support. With a majority of our patients involved in the justice system, it is vital for them to have resources such as expungement, child support advocates and defense support.

Is there anything upcoming you would like to highlight or promote? 
We are excited to announce that Recovery Comedian Mark Lundholm will be performing live from 7-9 pm. Mark Lundholm has performed in all 50 states and 10 foreign countries. From world-renowned musicians, heads of state, fortune 500 companies to rehabilitation centers and convicted felons, Mark has truly entertained on the world’s stage. He’s appeared on Comedy Central, Showtime, A&E, CBS, and NBC. Mark wrote and performed his own one-man show off-Broadway in New York City reaching critical acclaim, and in his spare time created the now staple DVD series ‘Humor in Treatment’ and the Recovery Board Game. From humble beginnings on the streets of Oakland, California, as a homeless criminal, mental patient, to a world-renowned entertainer, Mark Lundholm’s humor is a wild ride of challenges, changes and 2nd chances. Over 27 years ago when he was just out of rehab, while performing a 20 Minute comedy routine at San Quentin State Prison, Mark discovered his childhood survival skill of making people laugh was his ticket out. Armed with plenty of material poking fun at the insanity his life had become, Lundholm has worked his way up – literally from the gutter. We are thrilled that he has chosen us as a stop on his tour.

All proceeds from the fundraiser are dedicated to building a new residential building that will allow us to keep providing a multitude of services for our patients and the community. This envisioned campus aims to guide our patients on their journey to recovery, fostering family reunification and reducing the likelihood of relapse. It is essential to support individuals striving to reintegrate as productive community members by providing structure and addressing their therapeutic needs. Given the pervasive nature of these challenges, a mere thirty days of treatment is insufficient. Post-physical recovery, addressing the mental health aspects becomes paramount, essentially necessitating the adoption of a new lifestyle. Witnessing this transformative process is both inspiring and remarkable. The forthcoming facility will feature dedicated spaces for individual and family therapy, state-of-the-art equipment, and a rejuvenating environment conducive to healing. Recognizing the intrinsic link between emotional well-being and recovery, the new setting is poised to enhance the overall healing experience for our patients. Many individuals within our program have transitioned from correctional facilities and are now presented with an opportunity to heal, rediscover their purpose, and benefit from diverse Reentry initiatives such as mentorship, vocational training, and educational programs.