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Bruce Cook is an Adult Substance Abuse Outreach Specialist. Through his work, Cook actively encourages, educates and engages prospective clients who show a potential need for substance use services. His outreach efforts include advocating on behalf of clients with legal professionals and the court system, promoting our services to doctors, businesses and other referral sources and establishing working relationships with partner organizations such as St. Mathew’s House and Naples Community Hospital. He also screens adult clients to insure ease of access into the appropriate substance use programs and runs an After Group where he helps individuals who have recently completed treatment adjust to returning into the community and staying substance free. Since being promoted to this position over a year ago, the Center has seen a significant increase in substance use services making recovery possible for more people than ever before.

Bruce, a Certified Addiction Specialist, has been an employee with the David Lawrence Centers for over five years. In 2007, he was named Employee of the Year for his dedication to clients and the mission of the organization. Prior to serving as an Outreach Specialist, Bruce was a Behavioral Health Technician at Crossroads, the Center’s adult residential substance use treatment program, and he previously worked on the Crisis Stabilization Unit.

Bruce enjoys his job because he is able to get people help for their addictions so they can begin a life of recovery and become productive members of the community. He offers, “Each day brings different challenges, but in the end it’s all about people helping people. When I am able to see dignity and self respect return to a person in need of help and hope – it’s all worth it.”

Bruce’s supervisor Regina Gower adds, “Bruce’s personal and professional dedication to help others in need of mental health and substance use services is an inspiration to all who work with him. In everything he does he demonstrates his deep belief that people can and should be helped regardless of where they come from, the extent of their problems and their ability to pay for their treatment. Our mission is clearly his own mission and philosophy.”