Today we’d like to introduce you to Safaa Elmessiri. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Safaa Elmessiri is a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach and Owner of Core Coaching and Consulting LLC in Troy Michigan. In 2016, Safaa worked with a non-profit organization, Access, in Dearborn, MI as a Case Worker and Peer Recovery Coach. She worked closely with the Medical Team, Psychiatrist, and Therapists to ensure a complete circle of care for the dual-diagnosis patients of the SMI and SUD population. Safaa has a wealth of experience and passion for helping others who are willing to make the necessary changes in getting sober and becoming the best version of themselves. Safaa started an all-women’s Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting which was held at ACCESS, as the first Arab-speaking meeting to be offered in Michigan, with Arabic literature available. Shortly after the meeting was in action, she hosted AA meetings for the women who were incarcerated at the Wayne County Jail.
In 2020, Safaa started her own company, in Oakland County, with a great passion to help individuals get back on track and providing them with resources and education on Substance Use Disorder and Addiction.
In 2021, she contracted with a non-profit organization, Families Against Narcotics as a PRC. Safaa was promoted to become the Oakland County Program Coordinator.
As the Oakland County Program Coordinator, Safaa has created the Oakland County Chapter for Families Against Narcotics, which entailed creating an Executive Board, Board of Directors, and an Advisory Board, hosting numerous Stakeholders meetings to ensure every detail of the Chapter was aligned. Safaa also works in close collaboration with law enforcement agencies across Oakland County to train police officers and community volunteers, expand and implement specific programs, and collaborate with treatment facilities, probation departments, non-profit organizations, hospitals, and other community organizations. Safaa is furthering her education to earn a Major in Social Work and a Minor in Criminal Justice.
Safaa has recently been appointed Vice President of the Troy Community Coalition and Executive Board Member for the Tri-Community Coalition in Oakland County. Safaa also serves a role as Guest Lecturer at Lawrence Tech University, educating Medical and Nursing students about Substance Use Disorder, Treatment, and many other topics. Safaa also works with the Comeback Quick Response Team with FAN and Oak Park Police Department.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the biggest challenges that I faced when I was a Recovery Coach was trying to assist individuals who were trying to get sober but were unable to because they could not find the strength to go through the whole process. A part of that challenge also is not having enough recovery homes in Oakland County as it is one of my goals to be able to collaborate with developers to have more recovery homes available. We also lack treatment centers in Wayne County, as when the Access center completes the intake process, tell the individuals that there may be a week’s wait or more for a bed to open. That is a problem because there is a small window when a person has the willingness to get sober. That week they have to wait usually is the time they go back out and relapse. That is very frustrating to me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently the Oakland County Program Coordinator with Families Against Narcotics. My role is to expand all of our programs in Oakland County. I’m most proud of the Oakland County FAN Chapter that was created. It’s been a huge success in that it has been able to educate and assist the community with many recovery resources. Also, hosting Angel Trainings to train potential Angel volunteers at our participating police departments has been quite successful.
I believe that our programs are unique and put all of our programs together, they are a wraparound service to assist our participants become the best version of themselves.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
Some fond memories I have about my childhood growing up have been moving to Egypt for a few years, learning my culture and how to read, write and speak the Arabic language, spending time with all of my extended family members and just living life!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.familiesagainstnarcotics.org
- Facebook: Safaa Elmessiri
