Santa Monica invites members of the Omaha and Council Bluffs community to attend the third-annual Hands Across the Bridge for Recovery gathering across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, and is a sponsor of the event along with Heartland Family Service, LiveWise, Pottawattamie County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Network, and Trailblazers of the Heartland.   This event will be held Saturday, September 21, at 9:00 am, at the Council Bluffs entrance to the bridge. The event includes music, Joe on the Go coffee bar, a speaker and information about options for substance abuse and mental health issues. Sponsors are asking the public to join hands across the bridge to unite the Omaha and Council Bluffs metro area in a demonstration of support for the recovery process and to send the important message to our community that prevention works, treatment is effective and people do recover.

September is National Recovery Month, which promotes the benefits of treatment for substance use and mental health disorders, celebrates people in recovery, celebrates those in recovery, appreciates friends and family who support those in recovery, applauds the contributions of treatment providers, and promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible.  Santa Monica is a long term, residential halfway house for chemically dependent women.  For more information, please visit www.santamonicahouse.org.