Recovery doesn't happen in isolation. It happens in communities that show up, speak up, and refuse to look away. This is the story of how Valley Spring became Bergen County's most active partner in the fight against addiction.
Begin the JourneyWhen Valley Spring Recovery Center opened its doors at 830 Broadway in Norwood, the leadership team made a decision that would define everything that followed: treatment doesn't end at the front door. Real recovery requires a community that understands addiction, reduces stigma, and creates pathways back to belonging for people who've lost their way.
That belief became the foundation of our community outreach program. Under the direction of Michael O'Sullivan, Brian Cellary, and James Sands, Valley Spring has built one of the most active outreach programs in Bergen County — not because it was required, but because it was the right thing to do.
Our outreach work spans education, prevention, professional partnerships, and direct community engagement. From speaking at local schools about the realities of substance use to partnering with law enforcement on diversion programs, Valley Spring has become the treatment center that Bergen County turns to when they need expertise, empathy, and action.
This isn't a marketing initiative. It's a mission. Every event we host, every partnership we build, and every family we educate makes the path to recovery shorter and less frightening for someone who hasn't found us yet.
Every outreach initiative at Valley Spring follows a deliberate path — from awareness through action. These are the stepping stones that connect our clinical expertise to the people and organizations that need it most.
Free workshops and seminars for Bergen County families, educators, and community leaders. Topics include recognizing warning signs of addiction, understanding treatment options, navigating insurance for behavioral health, and supporting a loved one in recovery. We bring the expertise to where communities gather — schools, churches, community centers, and civic organizations.
Prevention & AwarenessBuilding and maintaining trusted relationships with therapists, physicians, hospitals, EAPs, and social workers across the Tri-State area. We provide referring professionals with streamlined admissions coordination, transparent clinical updates, and a dedicated liaison so their clients receive seamless transitions into treatment. Our for-referring-professionals program ensures no one falls through the cracks between referral and enrollment.
Clinical PartnershipsAge-appropriate substance use prevention programming for middle and high school students in Bergen County. Our clinical team delivers evidence-based presentations on the neuroscience of addiction, the realities of fentanyl and vaping, and the connection between mental health and substance use — giving young people the tools to make informed decisions before crisis ever occurs.
Youth & EducationHosting and sponsoring recovery events that celebrate sobriety and build lasting community bonds. From recovery walks and alumni gatherings to National Recovery Month programming and sober social events, we create spaces where people in recovery can connect, celebrate milestones, and give back to the community that supported their journey.
Recovery SupportPartnering with local police departments, EMTs, and first responders to provide training on crisis intervention, overdose response, and connecting individuals to treatment in the critical moments after an emergency. Our goal is to shorten the distance between crisis and care — turning every first responder interaction into a potential pathway to recovery.
Crisis ResponseOur community outreach program isn't run by a marketing department. It's led by people who understand addiction, recovery, and community building from the inside out — leaders who show up because they believe that treatment extends far beyond the walls of any facility.
Michael's vision for Valley Spring has always extended beyond clinical treatment. He recognized early that Bergen County needed a treatment center willing to go into the community — not just wait for the community to come to them. His leadership drives every partnership, every event, and every initiative that carries the Valley Spring name into the neighborhoods we serve.
Leads strategic partnerships with healthcare systems, municipal leaders, and community organizations across Bergen County and the Tri-State area.
Named NCADD Businessman of the Year for his leadership in community outreach, Brian embodies the principle that business success and community service aren't separate pursuits — they're the same work. His recognition by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence reflects years of hands-on engagement with families, organizations, and community leaders.
Spearheads community engagement events, business partnerships, and the NCADD relationship that bridges the gap between corporate Bergen County and recovery services.
As Director of Community Outreach, James is the day-to-day face of Valley Spring in Bergen County. He coordinates educational programming, manages the professional referral network, represents Valley Spring at community events, and builds the relationships that turn one-time interactions into lasting partnerships. His work ensures that our outreach isn't occasional — it's consistent, reliable, and impactful.
Manages all community programming, referral partnerships, event coordination, and serves as Valley Spring's primary liaison to schools, first responders, and civic organizations.
Numbers don't tell the whole story of community outreach — but they tell an important part of it. These are the milestones that mark our journey from a new treatment center to Bergen County's most trusted partner in addiction recovery.
Behind every number is a family that found help sooner, a student who understood the risks before experimenting, a first responder who knew exactly where to send someone in crisis, and a community that chose to confront addiction instead of ignore it. That's the impact we measure — not in impressions or clicks, but in lives redirected toward recovery.
Every meaningful partnership represents a milestone — a commitment by another organization to stand alongside Valley Spring in the fight against addiction. These are the partnerships that define our community presence and expand our reach across Bergen County and beyond.
As an active member of the Bergen County Chamber of Commerce, Valley Spring bridges the gap between the business community and behavioral health. Our membership ensures that addiction treatment has a voice in the economic conversations that shape Bergen County — and that local businesses have a trusted partner when employees or their families need help.
Business CommunityValley Spring is a proud participant in Bergen Resource Net — Bergen County's coordinated network of social services, mental health providers, and addiction treatment resources. This partnership ensures that individuals seeking help through the county's resource system are connected directly to our clinical team, with warm handoffs and rapid enrollment for those who need immediate care.
Resource NetworkOur relationship with NCADD — underscored by Brian Cellary's recognition as Businessman of the Year — positions Valley Spring as a leader in the national conversation about addiction treatment and community engagement. Through NCADD, we access best practices in public education, advocacy, and stigma reduction that inform every aspect of our outreach programming.
National AdvocacyA growing network of therapists, physicians, hospital discharge planners, EAPs, and social workers across the Tri-State area trust Valley Spring as their go-to referral partner for outpatient addiction and mental health treatment. We provide seamless admissions, transparent clinical communication, and outcomes tracking — because the professionals who refer to us deserve the same standard of care we deliver to their clients.
Clinical PartnershipsOur CARF accreditation, #1 Best of NJ ranking, and A+ Better Business Bureau rating aren't just credentials — they're community promises. These recognitions assure every family, every referral partner, and every organization we work with that Valley Spring meets the highest standards of clinical quality, ethical business practices, and patient outcomes in the industry.
Quality AssuranceWhether you're a healthcare professional looking to establish a referral relationship, a community organization interested in hosting an educational event, or a family that wants to connect someone you love with treatment — this is where the next chapter begins. Fill out the form below, and a member of our outreach team will respond within one business day.
Every call, every referral, every conversation brings someone one step closer to recovery. If you or someone you love needs help, this is the moment to reach out.
(201) 781-8812 Available 24/7 — Confidential & Free