The Essex Health and Wellness Recovery Center 

The Essex Health and Wellness Recovery Center is a NJ registered Non For Profit, located in Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey with various extension centers throughout Essex County.  

The Recovery Center developed from the Opioid Task Force, a community organization, that began with an Opioid Awareness Meeting on June 5th 2018 at The Restoration Center in Newark. 

Robin Lavorato was concerned about the high rate of opioid use and opioid overdose in Essex County, where she resides.  She invited everyone she could contact to attend this Awareness Meeting, to her surprise, over 80 people attended.  The meeting was attended by those struggling with Substance Use Disorder, family members of a loved one who lost their life to this disease, those in recovery, law enforcement, health professionals, politicians and more.  

Lavorato was a Student Assistance Counselor for 10 years in a Morris County High School and was active in the Morris County's Sheriff's Office and Health Department's opioid awareness, prevention and intervention initiatives.  She gives recognition and has appreciation for Sheriff James Gannon, Barbara Kaufmann and Alton Robinson from Morris County for role modeling and supporting her mission to bring awareness and recovery support to Essex County. 

From June 5th 2018 through 2019 the Opioid Task Force held monthly meetings in different towns throughout Essex County spreading awareness, offering assistance in helping those struggling with Substance Use Disorder find the appropriate treatment and recovery supports.  

Saint Michael's Medical Center's generosity led to the opening and Ribbon Cutting of the Essex Health and Wellness Recovery Center on February 7th 2020.

The Recovery Center is fully supported on donations and fundraising.  To donate - Paypal.me/essexrecovery 

​