Dear Faith Leader,

With many activities being cancelled this year, one might rightly ask, “Why should I celebrate the Days of Hope in 2020?” Fortunately, there are many reasons for us to celebrate prevention and recovery this year, and many ways to do so, while still following CDC guidelines. People are still finding their way to recovery and finding ways to maintain that recovery; treatment and recovery centers continue to offer help; and our congregations and communities remain committed to sharing hope and support. In these times, for the people and families who have been affected by substance use disorder, the faith community has an especially important role to play in celebrating these victories.

The theme of the 2020 Days of Hope: A Celebration of Prevention and Recovery is “You Can Touch a Life.” Children in our state have been particularly affected by the opioid crisis with the numbers of children in foster and kinship care rising exponentially over the past several years. These children have often experienced profound trauma and need our support. This support cannot wait until the coronavirus pandemic abates, but is an ongoing endeavor.

In 2020, you can touch the life of a foster, adoptive, or kinship child by supporting the families who care for them, aiding prevention efforts, celebrating those who are in recovery, and caring for those who are still on the journey.

To learn more, please review the attached brochure. There is also a bulletin insert for your local church to use on September 20, 2020 and a special prayer litany to use during your worship service.

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