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Spring Confab | The Importance of Self-Care with Clarita Singletary

Hi NJPN Community!

 

This past March, NJPN’s Confab celebrated the topic of "Integrating Self-Care & Basic Meditation into Your Work Week" featuring the fabulous Carlita Singletary. Carlita is a woman who has been in long-term recovery for over 31 years whose personal journey, education, and life experiences have inspired her to help and support countless people on their own individual paths to recovery. 


March's Confab Highlights

Together with Clarita, we had the opportunity to dive deep into conversations surrounding our own self-care strategies and their importance, while exploring new meditation techniques that can be easily integrated into our existing wellness practices.


Clarita then led a discussion on more broadly enhancing self-care practices for everyone, especially those we support in our work. Her approach is both inclusive and engaging, with a sharp focus on deepening our understanding of key concepts intended to reduce compassion fatigue, prevent burnout, and lower stress levels in the workplace.


Carlita models self-care for well-being and shared with us a valuable tool, the self-care assessment (seen below), as an exercise in self-reflection and is helpful in identifying areas where you can expand on your self-care practices. I found this tool especially valuable as I continue to add these practices into my daily routine!


Self-Care Worksheet


Use the Self-Care Assessment Worksheet above to improve your self-care practice. See an example chart from the worksheet below!


Neglecting self-care can have negative effects on the body, mind, and spirit, leaving us depleted and out of balance. For this reason, it is important to have self-care strategies that address each of these parts of ourselves. Organizations can also support self-care for staff and volunteers. On the chart below, list as many self-care strategies as you can. (An example is given in each area to get you started). After you have listed strategies, place a checkmark next to any that you do regularly and put a star next to any you might like to consider working into your everyday life.

Physical

Mental (includes emotional)

Spiritual

Organizational

Aerobic exercise

Sharing feelings with a friend

Meditation

Regularly scheduled

peer supervision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




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About Carlita Singletary  

Carlita has been the recipient of several awards in Passaic, Essex and Mercer Counties. Each county, although distinct in its awards, has acknowledged her for her outstanding service to the recovery community and others at large. Her most recent acknowledgement in Passaic County came in January 2024 and was awarded by St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson for the MLK's Community Innovation of Excellence.


As the founder of the Keep Walking Community Foundation (KWCF), Carlita’s leadership abilities have demonstrated integrity, compassion, and care. Since the birth of KWCF in 2016, she has helped countless others seeking recovery along the way. As the CEO she continues to spearhead community efforts and work with those who connect with her organization.


Carlita also has a strong background in social service and has been employed with Passaic County Board of Social Services for over 23 years. And currently serves as NAADAC’s NJ State Affiliate - New Jersey Addiction Professional Association (NJAPA) Peer Liaison. Also, Carlita works as the Peer Recovery Lead at the Cope Center, a Division of Oaks Integrated Care in Montclair, overseeing the Peer Recovery department.


Join Us for the Next Confab 

We invite you to mark your calendars for the last Tuesday of every month and join us virtually on Zoom for an enriching experience. Our Confabs provide a supportive space for individuals to explore holistic pathways to recovery, and we're excited to continue this journey with you.

 

Save the date for the upcoming Confab, where we'll delve into another compelling topic with our next guest speaker. It's an opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences, and discover new avenues for personal growth.




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Jenna Reidy is a person in sustained recovery from a substance use disorder since 2008 and is a Peer Recovery Workforce Development Trainer at NJPN. She is a nationally certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) and has earned the National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional designation (NDCCDP). Jenna believes in being of service and values her multiple volunteer roles within her local community. She enjoys going on outdoor adventures with her dog, supporting the peer workforce through her role at NJPN, and prioritizes self-care through work life balance including taking breaks to recharge by spending time with her family and friends.



 
 
 

13 Comments


simsim
simsim
16 hours ago

j

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Jon Jones
Jon Jones
19 hours ago

Really enjoyed this conversation with Clarita Singletary—such an important reminder about the power of self-care. Taking time to nurture our physical and mental well-being makes a huge difference. Nutrition plays a big role in that too! If you're looking for quality ingredients to support a healthier lifestyle, there's an excellent food ingredients supplier in Sharjah worth checking out. Thanks for the inspiring session!

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Umar Garments
Umar Garments
19 hours ago

.

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johnny jam
johnny jam
19 hours ago

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jack kommy
jack kommy
19 hours ago

Spring is the perfect time to refresh and prioritize self-care, just like Clarita Singletary emphasizes in her talks. Taking time for yourself boosts mental clarity and overall wellness. When life gets busy, having reliable support in other areas, like property matters, makes all the difference. That’s why I recommend Property Lawyers in Merrylands—they handle the legal side with expertise and care, so you can focus on your well-being. For stress-free property solutions, trust Property Lawyers in Merrylands to have your back this season and beyond.

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