EPISODE 3 – Allison Conley

BG: HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE PODCAST MY GUEST TODAY IS ALISON CONLEY SHE’S DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AT RECOVERY POINT OF WEST VIRGINIA AND VERY VERY EXCITED TO HAVE ALLISON ON THE CALL WITH US TODAY AND ACTUALLY ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM I’LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT FROM THERE ABOUT US SECTION OF THEIR WEBSITE IT SAYS RECOVERY POINT WEST VIRGINIA PROVIDES SEVERAL RECOVERY PROGRAMS AT NO COST TO INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER THE ORGANIZATION RELIES ON GRANTS AND DONATIONS AND FUNDRAISING TO OFFER UH PROGRAMS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN NEED AND THEIR GOAL IS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS FIND LASTING RECOVERY AND A NEW HEALTHY WAY OF LIFE AND ALISON WELCOME TO THE PODCAST

ALLISON: THANKS SO MUCH I’M EXCITED TO BE HERE I APPRECIATE THE INVITE

BG: ABSOLUTELY SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU FIRST AS WE GET STARTED UM INTRODUCE US TO ALLISON HOW YOU GOT TO RECOVERY POINT AND THEN WE’LL DIG DEEP INTO WHAT YOU GUYS DO AND UM HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN BE INVOLVED BOTH AS MAYBE A RECEIVER OF THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE BUT ALSO MAYBE A HANDHOLDER TO HELP YOU UM ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH

ALLISON: YEAH FOR SURE SO I ACTUALLY I’M A NATIVE OF HURRICANE WEST VIRGINIA BORN AND RAISED UM AND I ACTUALLY RESIDE THERE STILL TODAY WITH MY HUSBAND AND OUR DOG AND CAT PUMPKIN AND GINGER AND WE’RE GETTING READY TO WELCOME OUR FIRST LITTLE ONE A BABY BOY IN APRIL SO I’VE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE I ATTENDED MARSHALL UNIVERSITY WHERE I GOT MY BBA IN MARKETING I GRADUATED IN 2018 AND YOU KNOW JUST LIKE THE NORMAL COLLEGE STUDENT THAT’S GOING TO GRADUATE YOU JUST START PUTTING YOUR FEELERS OUT THERE FOR JOBS AND AND YOU KNOW I WAS ALWAYS ONE THAT WANTED TO HAVE ONE LINED UP AND HAVE THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY UM AND JOB YOU KNOW LINED UP READY FOR ME DIDN’T QUITE WORK OUT SO YOU KNOW I HAD TO HAVE A LITTLE PATIENCE AND UH AND BE A LITTLE BIT MORE TRUSTING UM IN THE PLAN AND STUMBLED MY WAY INTO RECOVERY POINT UM AND IT WAS THE BEST THING I’M GLAD I DIDN’T HAVE A JOB LINED UP BECAUSE IT WORKED OUT JUST PERFECTLY IN GOD’S TIMING SO ANYWAY I’M HERE AT RECOVERY POINT STARTED OUT AS THEIR COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR IT WAS A NEW ROLE UM TO TRY TO YOU KNOW REALLY LINK HANDS WITH UH GETTING MORE VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND JUST BETTER CONNECTING WITH THOSE IN OUR AREA AND AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF WORKING AT RECOVERY PLAN TRANSITIONED INTO THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT ROLE AND IT’S BEEN WONDERFUL I GET TO YOU KNOW COME TO WORK EVERY DAY KNOWING THAT I CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HONESTLY WHO COULDN’T WANT THAT LIKE IT HAS BEEN SUCH SUCH A BLESSING TO BE HERE

BG: THAT’S FANTASTIC AND OBVIOUSLY THE WHOLE REASON TO HAVE YOU ON HERE IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IMPACT AND WHAT IT’S REALLY REALLY TRULY DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY UH YOU’RE ON THE FRONT LINES OBVIOUSLY YOU’RE OUT THERE BATTLING THE BATTLE THAT YOU KNOW UH IT SEEMS TO BE TOUCHING EVERY FAMILY AT SOME LEVEL UH THESE DAYS AND SO UM HATS OFF TO YOU GUYS AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO AS AN ORGANIZATION UM SO LOOKING AT YOUR HISTORY UH YOU STARTED BACK IN 2011 AND IT WAS A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION AT THAT TIME BUT MAN IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE GROWN EXPANDED YOU’VE GOT A LOT MORE GOING ON CAN YOU TELL DEFINITELY THE JOURNEY THAT HAPPENED RECOVERY FOR FROM FROM FROM THAT POINT FROM 2011 TO TO THE PRESENT DAY

ALLISON: YEP ABSOLUTELY SO THE ORGANIZATION IT DID START IN 2011. SO WE’VE BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW UM AND REALLY THE ORGANIZATION PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW HOW DID IT START HOW DID SOMEONE JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN SAY LET’S START THIS RECOVERY PROGRAM INTO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS TODAY AND SO THERE’S A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS HERE IN THE HUNTINGTON COMMUNITY UM THAT WERE JUST YOU KNOW A FEW OF THEM HAD SONS OR DAUGHTERS THAT WERE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE UM A COUPLE OF THEM HAD JUST YOU KNOW CONTINUED TO HEAR THESE STORIES IN THE MEDIA AND THEN THERE WAS ACTUALLY A SHOOTING ON PROM NIGHT SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN HUNTINGTON UM THAT THAT WAS FATAL AND THEY SAID IT WAS THERE WAS DRUGS RELATED THAT’S WHY UM SOMEONE PASSED AWAY FROM IT AND THEY SAID WE’RE DONE WE’RE DONE SEEING ALL THIS STUFF IN THE MEDIA WITHOUT US HAVING ANY SORT OF SOLUTION SO NO MATTER WHAT NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT IT IS WE’RE GONNA DO THIS TOGETHER SO THEY ALL THEY ALL SORT OF UH TOOK A FIELD TRIP ACTUALLY TOGETHER FOUND UM A VERY WELL ESTABLISHED HONORABLE RECOVERY PROGRAM IN LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY THAT’S NAMED THE HEALING PLACE OF LOUISVILLE SO WHAT THAT RECOVERY PROGRAM IS IS IT’S A PEER-DRIVEN MODEL JUST LIKE OURS SO YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE PROGRAM WITH THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND TEACHING ARE ALSO IN RECOVERY THE PROGRAM IS FREE AND IT’S LONG TERM IT WAS 9 TO 12 MONTHS SO THEY TOURED THIS PROGRAM AND REALLY TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO BRING THIS TO HUNTINGTON WEST VIRGINIA AND WITH YOU KNOW THE HELP AND THE COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE FROM THOSE IN LOUISVILLE THEY BROUGHT THAT PROGRAM HERE AND SO IN 2011 IS WHEN IT OPENED AND THE NAME WAS THE HEALING PLACE OF HUNTINGTON SO KIND OF BASICALLY MIRRORING THAT PROGRAM UM WE OPENED A 10 BED FACILITY FOR MEN IN HUNTINGTON SO JUST 10 BEDS AND THEN SLOWLY OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR THEY WERE ABLE TO GROW TO 20 BEDS SO YOU KNOW WE WERE LIKE OH OKAY THIS IS AWESOME YOU KNOW 10 BEDS 20 BEDS AND THEN WE STARTED REALIZING WOW THIS WE’RE GLAD WE’RE MAKING AN IMPACT BUT THIS IS A REAL REAL NEED ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO UM SO IN FAST FORWARD TO 2015 OUR NAME WE DID CHANGE OUR NAME TO UM RECOVERY POINT WEST VIRGINIA SO WE KIND OF BRANCHED OFF A LITTLE BIT FROM THAT HEALING PLACE UM STILL THE SAME MODEL BUT WE WE’VE WHERE WE’VE NOW GONE FROM 10 BEDS IN HUNTINGTON WEST VIRGINIA TO OPENING A FACILITY IN PARKER’S OR I’LL GO IN THE ORDER THAT WE STARTED SO IT WAS HUNTINGTON WE’VE GROWN FROM 10 BEDS IN HUNTINGTON TO NOW 100 BEDS IN HUNTINGTON WOW THAT YEAH SO IT’S JUST LIKE IT’S AMAZING BECAUSE YOU KNOW I WASN’T HERE WHEN THAT GROWTH TOOK PLACE UM SO FOR ME I KIND OF WAS ABLE TO WALK IN THE DOOR OF RECOVERY POINT JUST SEEING YOU KNOW YEAH WE’VE GOT ALL THESE BEDS IT’S AWESOME THAT WE’RE HELPING PEOPLE BUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE YOU KNOW SOME OF MY CO-WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING IT’S HAD TO JUST BE LIKE MIND-BOGGLING TO WATCH THE GROWTH AND REALLY HOW FAST SO 10 BEDS TO 100 BEDS IN HUNTINGTON AND THEN IN BLUE FIELD WE HAVE A 62 BED MEN’S FACILITY AND THEN WE HAVE RECOVERY POINT CHARLESTON WHICH IS A HUNDRED BED WOMEN’S FACILITY AND THEN WE HAVE RECOVERY POINT PARKERSBURG WHICH IS FOR MEN WHICH IS AN 80 BED FACILITY AND THEN WE DO HAVE A SMALL SIX BED WOMEN’S TRANSITIONAL HOME IN HUNTINGTON CALLED HER PLACE IT’S JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE WOMEN AT HER PLACE THEY COME INTO THE PROGRAM UM AND THEY THEY GET A JOB WHILE THEY’RE ACTUALLY IN OUR PROGRAM SO IT’S THAT MORE TRANSITIONAL PHASE WHERE OUR OTHER PROGRAMS ARE 9-12 MONTHS AND THEY LIVE WITH US THEY DON’T HAVE A JOB WHILE THEY’RE THERE UM BUT YEAH IT’S SOMETIMES CRAZY I’M LIKE SPITTING OUT THESE NUMBERS AND THINKING WOW WE REALLY ARE STATEWIDE AND YET WE STILL NEED MORE VOTES

BG: YEAH IT’S UM IT’S REALLY UM YOU’VE HIT THE NEED OBVIOUSLY THE NEED IS GREAT UM AND WHAT YOU’RE UH WHAT YOU’RE PROVIDING WHAT YOU’RE ACCOMPLISHING BY THE SHEER GROWTH OF WHAT YOU’VE SEEN HAPPEN IN THE LAST NINE YEARS OR SO IS EVIDENT THAT THERE’S JUST NOT ENOUGH HELP FOR THIS WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM WE HAVE TO ADDRESS WE’VE GOT A SITUATION CIRCUMSTANCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO RALLY TOGETHER TO TO BE ABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR TO HELP HEAL AND TURN PEOPLE’S LIVES AROUND AND YEAH UM SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR FOR WHAT YOU’RE DOING YEAH AS AS AS PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO THE PODCAST TODAY MAYBE THEY’VE GOT SOME FAMILY MEMBER ON THEIR MIND OR A FRIEND OR A LOVED ONE OF SOME SORT WHO WHO’S A GOOD CANDIDATE WHO’S A GOOD UM FIT FOR THE PROGRAM WHAT UM WHAT ARE YOU WHO ARE YOU LOOKING TO SERVE AND TO HELP PRIMARILY

ALLISON: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE OUR PROGRAM ISN’T FOR EVERYONE YOU KNOW WE LIKE TO THINK THAT AS LONG AS YOU’RE WILLING AND ABLE TO COMMIT THE LENGTH OF STAY YOU KNOW OUR PROGRAM COULD BE YOU KNOW FOR MOST BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS TO RECOVERY UM SO FOR SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE THE IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR US IS SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO COMMIT NINE TO 12 MONTHS OF THEIR LIFE WHETHER THAT MEANS YOU KNOW WE HAVE ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS COME FROM JAIL AND THEN 40 PERCENT COME YOU KNOW VOLUNTARILY ON THEIR OWN SO WE NEED SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO COMMIT TO THAT YEAR PROGRAM NO MATTER THE COST SO IT’S VERY DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING ON THEIR OWN FREE WILL UM BECAUSE THEY’RE THINKING YOU KNOW MAYBE THEY’VE BEEN SLEEPING AT THEIR PARENTS HOUSE OR MAYBE THEY’VE BEEN THEY COULD HAVE EVEN COME FROM THEIR OWN HOME AND REALIZED YOU KNOW I HAVE A PROBLEM THAT I WANT TO WORK ON AND I NEED HELP SO FROM GOING FROM YOU KNOW LIVING IN SOMEONE ELSE’S HOME OR MAYBE THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN BED OR THE COMFORT OF YOUR YOU KNOW YOUR GRANDMA’S COUCH UM AND HAVING YOUR OWN FREEDOM TO DO WHAT YOU WANT YOU KNOW YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO COME INTO OUR FACILITY AND YOU’RE GONNA BE LIVING IN A DORM STYLE SETTING WITH OTHER MEN OR OTHER WOMEN UM AND YOU’RE NOT GONNA HAVE A CELL PHONE YOU’RE NOT GONNA HAVE A CELL PHONE WITH YOU TO JUST FREELY BE ABLE TO TALK TO WHOEVER YOU WANT WHEN YOU WANT UM YOU ARE GONNA HAVE CHORES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND A RIGOROUS ROUTINE YOU KNOW FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN THE BIGGEST THING WE NEED IS YOUR WILLINGNESS WE JUST NEED YOU TO BE WILLING AND TO TRUST US TO BE A PART OF YOUR RECOVERY JOURNEY SO IF YOU’RE ABLE TO YOU KNOW GIVE UP SOME TIME WE ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE WE’RE LIKE YOU KNOW THERE WILL BE IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A JOB BEFOREHAND YOU KNOW AND THAT MIGHT BE A REASON WHY IT’S A STRUGGLE THERE WILL BE A JOB WAITING AFTER WE WILL HELP GET YOU A JOB AND THEN OF COURSE IF YOU HAVE CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILDREN AND YOU ARE YOU KNOW CURRENTLY THEIR THEIR PROVIDER THEN THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY TOUGH UM WE WE DO NOT ACCEPT WE DON’T HAVE A PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR YOU KNOW A MOTHER OR FATHER TO BE WITH THEIR CHILDREN SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND UM YOU KNOW RELIABLE YOU KNOW WHETHER IT BE A FAMILY MEMBER SOMEONE WATCHING THEIR CHILD FOR THAT TIME THOSE ARE MORE SLIM CIRCUMSTANCES UM BECAUSE YOU KNOW OF WHAT SUBSTANCE USE TYPICALLY IT TAKES EVERYTHING FROM YOU USUALLY SO MOST TIMES SOMEONE ELSE ALREADY HAS CUSTODY OF THOSE CHILDREN OR ARE CARING FOR THEM OR WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE A JOB YOU KNOW MOST TIMES MOST PEOPLE HAVE ENDED UP FINDING THEMSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE THEY DON’T HAVE A JOB AT THAT POINT OR DON’T HAVE RELIABLE HOUSING MANY WHO COME IN VOLUNTARILY ARE HOMELESS UM SO ONCE AGAIN JUST A WILLINGNESS TO TRUST US TO CARE FOR YOU AND A WILLINGNESS TO JUST WAKE UP EACH DAY AND DO WHAT WE ASK BECAUSE YOU WILL SEE GROWTH AND YOU WILL SEE CHANGE

BG: SO I THINK THE MESSAGE I’M GETTING THERE IS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS COMMITMENT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU TAKE LIGHTLY UM THIS YOU’RE THERE WITH A SERIOUS PROGRAM WITH SERIOUS GOALS AND YOU’RE YOU’RE GOING TO NEED SERIOUS COMMITMENT BACK FOR FOR WHAT YOU’RE GIVING AS WELL WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE THAT’S KIND OF A GENERIC TERM WHAT WHAT ARE YOU GUYS SEEING MOSTLY ALLISON UH WHEN IT COMES TO UH THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND USAGE THAT’S THAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR AREA WHAT’S UM WHAT’S WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON CAN YOU BREAK IT UP

ALLISON: YES SO SO SUBSTANCE USE UM YOU KNOW WE WE’VE TRIED TO SHIFT THE STIGMA UM HONESTLY WHEN WE USE THAT TERM BECAUSE YOU KNOW PEOPLE JUST SAY ADDICTION ADDICTION ADDICTION AND THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH USING THAT WORD THERE TRULY ISN’T BUT YOU KNOW WE’RE WE’RE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU KNOW THIS ISN’T A DECISION THAT SOMEONE JUST WAKES UP ONE DAY AND SAYS I THINK I’D LIKE TO USE DRUGS YOU KNOW IT NEVER HAPPENS THAT WAY THAT’S JUST WHAT UM YOU KNOW AS A BYSTANDER THAT’S WHAT YOU SEE AND THAT’S WHAT YOU THINK SO SUBSTANCE USE WHAT THAT UM WHAT THAT ENTAILS IS FOR US IT’S DRUG AND ALCOHOL SO SOMEONE WHO’S DEPENDENT ON ALCOHOL UM AN ALCOHOLIC OR SOMEONE WHO IS DEPENDENT ON DRUGS SO WE’RE SEEING YOU KNOW OPIOIDS WE’RE SEEING UM HEROIN AND METH I WOULD SAY ARE OUR TWO OUR TWO LARGEST SUBSTANCES UM THAT WE’RE TREATING BUT WE CAN TREAT YOU KNOW WE’RE TREATING ANYTHING FROM YOU KNOW MARIJUANA SOMEONE WHO’S DEPENDENT ON MARIJUANA WHO USES IT DAILY BUT SAYS I DON’T WANT TO BE USING THIS DAILY TO SOMEONE WHO IS AN AVID HEROIN USER SO THERE’S NOTHING UH THAT YOU KNOW THERE’S NOTHING TOO SMALL UM WE’RE SERVING ANYONE AND EVERYONE WILLING

BG: GOTCHA OKAY SO THERE’S A LOT OF STIGMA YOU MENTIONED STIGMA ABOUT DRUG ABUSE AND DRUG ADDICTION AND UH YES UM THERE’S ALSO A BIT OF A STIGMA ABOUT RECOVERY PROGRAMS THERE’S SOME TYPE OF FEAR UH DETOX AND HORROR STORIES THAT YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS WE CAN GET INTO THIS AS DEEP AS YOU WANT TO BUT I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOUR PROGRAM WORKS THE PHASES THE PROCESSES AND WHY YOU’RE SO CONFIDENT IN IT AND MAYBE YOU COULD EVEN SHARE YOU KNOW UH SOME SUCCESSES AND WHY YOU’RE SUCCESSFUL AT WHAT YOU’RE DOING UM IF YOU COULD BREAK THAT DOWN FOR US OF

ALLISON: COURSE I’D BE HAPPY TO SO THINK ABOUT IT LIKE I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IT AS SO WE’RE A RECOVERY PROGRAM THAT YOU KNOW WE TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT YOU KNOW WE’RE DOING THINGS WITH EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM BEHIND US AND WE’RE DOING THINGS ETHICALLY UM AND WHILE I WISH EVERYONE WAS WE CAN’T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE THERE ARE SOME REALLY REALLY REALLY INCREDIBLE RECOVERY PROGRAMS AND THERE’S ALSO SOME RECOVERY PROGRAMS THAT MAYBE AREN’T UP TO PAR UM BUT IT’S LIKE THAT WITH ANY BUSINESS SO YOU KNOW THERE’S GONNA BE JUST LIKE FOR YOU ALL BG LIKE YOU ALL I I KNOW THAT YOU DO THINGS ETHICALLY I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ARE ARE GREAT AT WHAT YOU DO WITH MARKETING AND WEBSITES BUT GUESS WHAT THERE’S ALSO SOME THAT AREN’T DOING THINGS RIGHT AND ALL WE CAN DO IS WORRY ABOUT OURSELVES UM BUT IT IS UNFORTUNATE HOWEVER BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA THAT’S ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION AND EVERYTHING IT COMES INTO THE RECOVERY PROGRAMS AND IT’S LIKE OH MY GOSH IT’S ANOTHER RECOVERY PROGRAM YOU KNOW COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY NOW THERE’S GOING TO BE DRUG ADDICTS EVERYWHERE AROUND US IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT’S LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE RIGHT BUT THOSE SAME PEOPLE WERE ALREADY THERE YOU JUST DIDN’T SEE THEM NECESSARILY LIKE YOU KNOW RIGHT THERE’S A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SUPER SUPER NERVOUS ABOUT A RECOVERY PROGRAM COMING TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THINKING THAT IT’S GONNA MAKE THINGS SO MUCH WORSE AND IT’S LIKE NO IT’S GONNA IT CAN’T MAKE IT ANY WORSE OKAY BECAUSE THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE ALREADY IN THE BACKYARDS WHETHER THEY WERE STEALING SOMETHING OR WHETHER THEY WERE USING SOME PLACE YOU JUST DIDN’T SEE IT NECESSARILY SO WE JUST NEED YOU TO TRUST US GET BEHIND US AND THINGS ARE GOING TO BE A LOT BETTER IF YOU JUST JUMP ON BOARD WITH IT RATHER THAN FIGHTING IT UM KIND OF IF YOU WOULDN’T MIND KIND OF RESTATE THAT QUESTION THAT YOU THAT YOU STARTED WITH

BG: JUST JUST CURIOUS ABOUT MAYBE HOW THE PROCESS OF THE PROGRAM WORKS UH MAYBE DIFFERENT PATHS AND JOURNEYS FOR YES PEOPLE ACCORDING TO WHERE THEY ARE I’M SURE BUT UM JUST SORT OF UH AN OVERALL SKETCH OF OF OF WHAT A FAMILY MEMBER OR EVEN AN INDIVIDUAL WHO’S WHO NEEDS THE HELP WHAT THEY MIGHT EXPECT WHEN THEY COME TO THE BEGINNING

ALLISON: OKAY SO LIKE I SHARED OUR PROGRAM IS 9 TO 12 MONTHS IN LENGTH SO THERE ARE A LOT OF RECOVERY PROGRAMS THAT ARE ONLY 30 DAYS 60 DAYS 90 DAYS BUT WITH US YOU’RE GOING TO BE THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE MOST ARE LIKE OH MY GOSH WHAT AM I GOING TO BE DOING FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR LIVING WITH YOU LIKE HOW COULD THERE BE THAT MUCH TO LEARN TO HELP ME YOU KNOW AND SO WHEN YOU COME IN THE DOORS YOU NO MATTER WHAT IF YOU’RE COMING FROM JAIL IF YOU’RE THERE VOLUNTARILY WHETHER YOU USED A SUBSTANCE RIGHT BEFORE YOU WALKED IN THE DOOR AND YOU’RE HIGH WHEN YOU’RE WALKING IN OR WHETHER IT’S BEEN MAYBE YOU’VE BEEN IN JAIL AND YOU HAVEN’T EVEN USED THE SUBSTANCE FOR SIX MONTHS YOU ARE ALL GOING TO START IN DETOX SO WHAT DETOX IS IS IT’S ABOUT YOU’RE GOING TO BE THERE FOR ABOUT THREE TO SEVEN DAYS SO WE JUST KIND OF SAY ON AVERAGE YOU’LL BE IN THERE FOR A WEEK THIS IS JUST IT SOUNDS REALLY FANCY LIKE OH YOU’RE IN DETOX LIKE NO IT’S JUST ANOTHER ROOM IN IN OUR BUILDING IN OUR FACILITIES IT’S JUST A ROOM WITH SOME BUNK BEDS AND YOU ARE IN THERE WITH THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALSO DETOXING SO FOR SOME IF YOU’VE JUST USED UM YOU KNOW LET’S JUST SAY YOU’VE JUST USED SOME HEROIN AN HOUR BEFORE YOU CAME INTO OUR PROGRAM YOU ARE GOING TO BE HURTING FOR THAT WEEK YOU KNOW WE ARE NOT A MEDICAL FACILITY SO WE DO NOT ADMINISTER ANY SORT OF MEDICATION TO HELP WITH THE DETOX PROCESS UM WE SIMPLY TAKE VITALS AND WE MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW YOU ARE PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF WE WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE FOOD YOU WANT ALL THE CARE YOU WANT BECAUSE OUR MEN AND OUR WOMEN WHO ARE IN DETOX WE ALWAYS SAY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING BECAUSE FOR SO LONG THEY HAVE PROBABLY BEEN TOLD BY EVERYONE AROUND THEM THAT THEY’RE NOTHING THAT YOU KNOW THEY’RE JUST A JUNKIE OUT ON THE STREET UM AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO SHOW THEM YOU ARE A PERSON YOU ARE LOVED YOU MATTER YOU ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ANYONE ELSE AND WE CARE ABOUT YOU SO THAT’S WHY YOU KNOW WE SHOW THEM ALL THE AFFECTION WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD DEFINITELY WE LOAD THEM UP ON ALL THE SUGARY YUMMINESS LIKE ALL THE CAKES AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE THAT DOES HELP WITH THE DETOX PROCESS AND IF THERE WAS ANY SORT OF EMERGENCY UM OR THEY’RE SEVERELY ILL YOU KNOW WE WILL UM YOU KNOW WE’LL EITHER TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL OR WE’LL HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE HOSPITAL COME TO PICK THEM UP BUT IT’S A ROUGH TIME SO BUT IT ALSO IT ALSO HELPS THEM TO REMEMBER IF THEY’RE DETOXING LIKE THAT NATURALLY I DON’T WANT TO FEEL THAT AGAIN I DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN THAT WAS MISERABLE I NEVER WANT TO BE BACK IN THAT ROOM DETOXING UM AND THEN OUR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FURTHER ALONG IN THE PROGRAM WILL COME BACK TO THAT DETOX DORM AND JUST HANG OUT WITH THEM YOU KNOW EXPLAIN TO THEM HEY I WAS IN THIS POSITION FOUR MONTHS AGO I PROMISE YOU IT GETS BETTER I PROMISE YOU YOU CAN DO THIS JUST GIVING THOUGH THAT GIVING THEM THAT REASSURANCE AND AFFIRMATION THAT YOU KNOW THEY ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THIS SO AFTER DETOX IS OVER THE ROUGH THE REAL ROUGH PART YOU ENTER IN TO THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROGRAM CALLED OTS WHICH STANDS FOR OFF THE STREETS SO IT’S OFF THE STREETS ONE AND WHAT THIS IS IS THIS IS ABOUT THREE MONTHS IN LENGTH UM AND IT IS IT DEFINITELY THE MOST UM RIGOROUS PART BECAUSE YOU ARE WAKING UP AT YOU KNOW APPROXIMATELY 5 45 A.M FEET HIT THE GROUND YOU KNOW YOU HAVE MORNING MEDITATION THAT YOU DO YOU HAVE MORNING CHORES YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR BED UM WE’RE TEACHING THE LITTLE THINGS WE’RE WE’RE EXPRESSING THAT YOU KNOW IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MATTER SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK INTO THE DORMS AND SEE THAT THESE BEDS ARE MADE PERFECTLY BECAUSE IF YOU CAN’T HANDLE THAT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE SOMETHING BIGGER SO THEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY THEY HAVE CLASSES AND UM THE BIGGEST THING UM DURING OTS THAT WE TEACH IS WE’RE TEACHING UM RECOVERY DYNAMICS IS ACTUALLY THE CURRICULUM THAT WE USE AND SO THERE THEY HAVE MULTIPLE CLASSES ON THIS DAILY FOR THREE MONTHS AND WE’RE RE-TEACHING AND RE-TEACHING SO IT’S LIKE SOMETIMES YOU’RE GOING IN YOU’RE LIKE OH MY GOSH THIS IS THE SIXTH TIME I’VE HEARD THIS LESSON BUT WE’RE REALLY TRYING TO INGRAIN IT IN THEIR MIND AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND I LIKE TO COMPARE IT TO OKAY SO YOU HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS YOU’VE GOT ONE WHO IS SITTING IN OUR RECOVERY PROGRAM THEIR YOU KNOW USE OF SUBSTANCES STARTED IN COLLEGE STARTED WITH PARTYING WITH COCAINE YOU KNOW AND THEN IT’S LED THEM TO WHERE THEY ARE NOW WELL THEIR BEST FRIEND WAS PARTYING IN COLLEGE WITH THEM USING COCAINE WELL THEIR BEST FRIEND IS A NURSE WITH A FAMILY WITH A BEAUTIFUL HOME ALL THIS STUFF NOW IS IT OKAY THAT EITHER OF THEM WERE PARTYING USING COCAINE NO BUT HOW IS THAT IT AFFECTED THIS PERSON’S BRAIN THIS WAY TO WHERE THEY NEEDED IT SO DESPERATELY THAT IT LED TO THE NEXT SUBSTANCE THE NEXT AND THE NEXT TO WHERE THEY’VE LANDED THEMSELVES HOMELESS OR IN JAIL IN NEED OF OUR SERVICES BUT THE NEXT PERSON IT WAS A PHASE LASTED FOR TWO YEARS AND NOW THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY COULD HAVE DREAMED OF AND THEY’RE NOT USING SUBSTANCES AT ALL YOU KNOW IT’S JUST WE’RE HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE A CONDITION JUST LIKE ANY OTHER MEDICAL CONDITION YOU KNOW I HAVE SOMETHING IN MY BRAIN THAT IS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS FOREVER AND I HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH IT JUST LIKE SOMEONE WITH DIABETES HAS TO LEARN HOW TO MANAGE THEIR DIABETES SO I’M GONNA LIVE WITH THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE AND IT’S UP TO ME TO FIGURE OUT WHY AM I LIKE THIS AND HOW AM I GOING TO UM YOU KNOW BE ABLE TO THRIVE STILL IN LIFE AND HAVE A WONDERFUL WONDERFUL LIFE DESPITE THIS SO THAT’S THREE MONTHS IT’S LONG IT’S TOUGH BECAUSE IT’S REPETITIVE BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE’RE WE’RE REALLY HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND UM THOSE THOSE ISSUES AND SO AFTER IF THEY CAN HANG ON AND JUST MAKE IT THROUGH THAT PHASE OF THE PROGRAM I WAS GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT IS THE PHASE OF THE PROGRAM UM THAT’S THE TOUGHEST IN THE SENSE THAT LIKE YOU KNOW ONLY ABOUT 20 TO 25 OF INDIVIDUALS WHO COME INTO OUR PROGRAM STAY IN THAT PORTION AND I HATE I HATE HAVING TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW I WISH WE COULD JUST BE LIKE YES THE MAJORITY ALL STAY UM BUT THAT’S JUST SIMPLY NOT THE CASE I I DON’T LIKE TO HAVE TO SHARE STATS THAT WE’RE NOT PROUD OF BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT’S STILL A HIGHER STATISTIC THAN MOST RECOVERY PROGRAMS FOR THAT FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS IF WE CAN KEEP ABOUT 20 TO 25 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THE GREAT THING IS IF WE CAN KEEP THOSE INDIVIDUALS FROM THOSE 20 TO 25 IF THEY STAY THEN IT’S 80 OF THOSE THAT THEN WILL GO ON TO GRADUATE OUR PROGRAM SO IT’S TOUGH IT’S TOUGH BUT AFTER YOU’VE MADE IT THROUGH THAT PORTION OF THE PROGRAM THE OTS ONE YOU MOVE ON TO OTS2 SO OFF THE STREETS TWO THIS IS JUST LIKE A TWO WEEK WINDOW OF ITS IN BETWEEN SO YOU’RE YOU’RE BETWEEN OTS AND YOU’RE BETWEEN OUR PHASE PORTION SO YOU’RE IN OTS2 IT’S ABOUT TWO WEEKS WHERE YOU’RE STILL LEARNING ALL OF THOSE RECOVERY DYNAMICS CURRICULUM BUT YOU’VE ALSO NOW BEEN GIVEN A JOB ON SITE SO THIS JOB MIGHT BE HOUSEKEEPING THIS JOB MIGHT BE SECURITY THIS JOB MIGHT BE KITCHEN DUTY WE’RE ABLE TO KEEP OUR COSTS SO LOW AT RECOVERY POINT BECAUSE OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO HANDLE ALL OF THOSE ON-SITE JOBS THAT YOU KNOW SOMEPLACE ELSE MIGHT HIRE YOU KNOW YOU MIGHT HIRE CLEANING SERVICES BUT WE DON’T NEED TO HIRE WHEN WE HAVE 100 MEN WHO CAN DO THAT SO WE’VE GOT THAT TWO-WEEK WINDOW UM WHERE THEY’RE WAITING TO GO INTO THE NEXT PHASE AND IN THAT TWO-WEEK WINDOW NOT ONLY ARE THEY WORKING THE RECOVERY DYNAMIC RECOVERY DYNAMICS CURRICULUM BUT THEY’RE ALSO NOW FINALLY INTRODUCED TO THE 12 STEPS SO WE FOLLOW A 12-STEP MODEL OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS UM AND THEN ONCE THEY MOVE INTO THAT PHASE ONE PORTION THAT’S WHAT THEY’RE WORKING THE ENTIRE TIME IS THEY’RE WORKING THROUGH THE 12 STEPS SO THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE WHEN YOU’RE IN PHASE PHASE ONE YOU THAT’S ABOUT SIX MONTHS IN LENGTH AND SO FOR ONE PERSON THEY THEY MIGHT FLY THROUGH FOR THE NEXT PERSON IT MIGHT TAKE A WHILE ALSO WE’VE SEEN IT HAPPEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHEN SOMEONE MAKES IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THEIR STEPS AND YOU KNOW IT MAY HAVE TAKEN THEM FOUR MONTHS THEY’VE MADE IT TO STEP 10 SO THEY’RE ALMOST COMPLETED THE 12 STEPS BUT WHEN THEY WERE ON UH STEP 10 THEY REALLY REALLY BATTLED SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU’RE DIGGING DEEP YOU’RE HOLDING YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE AND YOUR BROTHER’S ACCOUNTABLE YOU ARE REALLY SEARCHING WITHIN YOU UM YOU KNOW ALL OF THE BAGGAGE THAT YOU’VE CARRIED FOR YEARS AND ALL OF THOSE EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS YOUR BROTHERS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE AND SAY YOU KNOW JOHN OVER HERE HE IS NOT WORKING WORKING THESE STEPS RIGHT HE’S JUST FLOWN THROUGH HIM AND NOW HE’S ON STEP 10 AND SOMETHING’S REALLY REALLY WORK WITH HIM IT MIGHT TAKE HIM TWO MONTHS TO MAKE IT THROUGH THAT ONE STEP OR WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE YOU KNOW KIND OF GOTTEN THEMSELVES IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY’VE JUST GONE THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND YOUR BROTHERS OR SISTERS ARE LIKE I KNOW THAT YOU’RE NOT DOING THINGS RIGHT AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY BE RESTARTED TO STEP ONE IF IF WE DON’T THINK THAT YOU KNOW YOU’RE DOING IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS OR YOU’RE REALLY DIGGING WITHIN YOURSELF WE’RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO THAT BECAUSE IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE YOU GRADUATE OUR PROGRAM AND ARE WELL EQUIPPED FOR WHAT LIFE IS GOING TO THROW AT YOU SO PHASE ONE YEAH IT’S IT’S IT’S A LONG IT’S THE LONGEST PORTION OF OUR PROGRAM SIX MONTHS UM BUT ONCE YOU MAKE IT TO THE END OF THAT UM WHEN YOU’RE ON THAT 12TH STEP OBVIOUSLY YOU’RE SO EXCITED YOU’RE LIKE OH MY GOSH I’VE ALMOST MADE IT I’VE ALMOST MADE IT SO WHAT’S NEXT UM YOU’RE TRANSITIONING FROM THAT LAST STEP UM THE 12TH STEP IN PHASE ONE OF OUR PROGRAM TO THE LAST PORTION OF OUR PROGRAM WHICH IS PHASE TWO SO YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS SO LET’S JUST SAY UM I’M GONNA SAY THAT SOMEONE WHO IS AT THIS PORTION HAS PROBABLY BEEN IN OUR CARE FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS AND PHASE TWO THERE’S TWO OPTIONS YOU CAN WORK AS A PEER MENTOR SO AS A PEER MENTOR YOU WOULD ACTUALLY LIVE ON PROPERTY WITH US AT ONE OF OUR RECOVERY POINT FACILITIES AND YOU WOULD BE A PEER MENTOR TO EVERYONE IN THE FACILITY SO YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH GOING TO BE RUNNING HELPING RUN THE PROGRAM WITH OUR STAFF YOU’RE GOING TO BE TEACHING CLASSES YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A CASELOAD OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE PROGRAM THAT YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING WALK THROUGH THE PROGRAM THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WE ALWAYS SAY IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK WHAT WAS FREELY GIVEN TO YOU AND OUR PEER MENTORS THEY RECEIVE A STIPEND UM THEY RECEIVE A WEEKLY STIPEND AND LIKE I SAID THEY LIVE ON SITE WITH US SO THAT’S FREE UM THEY REALLY WHEN WE TALKED IN TO INDIVIDUALS WE WE BELIEVE THEY GET THE MOST OUT OF THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT’S IT’S A THREE-MONTH COMMITMENT TO BEING A PEER MENTOR AND MANY WILL SAY I LEARNED MORE ABOUT MYSELF IN THOSE THREE MONTHS THAN THE ENTIRE TIME THAT I WAS THERE NOW THERE’S SEVERAL REASONS THAT SOMEONE MAY CHOOSE NOT TO GO YOU KNOW THE THREE MONTHS AS BEING A PEER MENTOR THE OTHER OPTION THAT YOU HAVE IN PHASE TWO IS TO GO LIVE UM IN ONE OF OUR PHASE TWO HOUSES SO AT EACH OF OUR FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE WE HAVE A PHASE TWO HOUSE WHETHER IT BE DOWN THE ROAD OR RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AND WHAT YOU’LL DO IS YOU’LL LIVE WITH US FOR THREE MONTHS BUT YOU’LL YOU’LL UM OBTAIN A JOB ACTUALLY OUTSIDE THE FACILITY SO YOU KNOW MANY OF OUR MEN MIGHT BE DOING SOME CONSTRUCTION WORK WITH A COMPANY THEY MIGHT BE YOU NAME IT UM THEY’LL GET A JOB OUTSIDE THE FACILITY WORK FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEN THEY’RE STILL REQUIRED TO ATTEND A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YOU KNOW MEETINGS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YOU KNOW THERE’S THERE’S A LIST OF ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY’RE REQUIRED TO DO WHILE THEY’RE LIVING IN THE PHASE TWO HOUSE FOR THREE MONTHS BUT AT THAT POINT YOU KNOW ONCE THE THREE MONTHS IS UP YOU’RE GRADUATED BUT RECOVERY POINT DOES EVERYTHING WE CAN UM TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE YOU KNOW WE WON’T LET YOU GRADUATE IF YOU DON’T HAVE A JOB LINED UP IF YOU DON’T HAVE HOUSING LINED UP WE HELP YOU YOU KNOW GET YOUR ID WE WILL HELP YOU GET YOUR GED ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE BARRIERS TO EITHER EMPLOYMENT OR BARRIERS TO YOU KNOW YOU BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT AND LIVE ON LIFE’S TERMS UM THAT’S WHAT I THINK THAT’S WHAT I THINK TRULY SETS US APART UM FROM OTHER PROGRAMS

BG: THANK YOU THAT IS UH THAT’S THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HAVE SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE PROGRAM BECAUSE I I WANTED PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND SORT OF HOW THE PROCESS WORKED AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT NOT TO YOU KNOW MAKE UH YOU KNOW TOO SHORT OF INFORMATION ON THIS OF WHAT YOU SAID BUT TO SUM THAT UP IT LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE JUST HELPING FOLKS TO UM FIRST OF ALL GET CLEAN TO BE HEALTHY THE RIGHT MIND AND THE RIGHT HEALTH TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS AND THEN YOU’RE TEACHING THEM LIFE HABITS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND YOU’RE TEACHING THEM HOW TO COHABITATE AND AND THEN EVENTUALLY THEY GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY’RE LEARNING NEW THINGS ABOUT THEMSELVES DISCOVERING MAKING COMMITMENTS TO EACH OTHER AND THEMSELVES AND THEN EVENTUALLY OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAD AND TO TAKE OTHER RESPONSIBILITY AND TO GROW BEYOND THAT IT’S A THAT SOUNDS AMAZING UM AND I KNOW YOU SORT OF YOU KNOW WE’RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ONLY MAKE IT BUT YOU’RE DEALING WITH FOLKS WHO UM FOR OUR AUDIENCE IS LISTENING YOU’RE DEALING WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE TO MAKE AS YOU MENTIONED ALREADY A COMMITMENT TO THE PROGRAM YEAH SO IT’S NOT THAT THOSE 25 PERCENT UH ARE ONLY MAKING IT BECAUSE YOU’RE ONLY COMMITTED TO 25 YOU’RE COMMITTED TO A HUNDRED BUT YOU’VE GOT THAT FEEDBACK AND THAT COMMITMENT BACK FROM UH THOSE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM SO  UM THANK YOU ALLISON THAT’S FANTASTIC TO HEAR ABOUT HOW THAT FOR SURE SO DO YOU HAVE SOME FAVORITE STORIES OR A FAVORITE STORY OF SUCCESS DO YOU CAN YOU IS THERE ANYTHING THAT JUMPS OUT IN YOUR HEART THIS IS KIND OF A A SHAREABLE THING THAT YOU’D LIKE TO LIKE TO TO GIVE FOLKS TO UM YOU KNOW INSPIRE US ABOUT RECOVERY POINT AND AND WHAT YOU’RE ACCOMPLISHING

ALLISON: OH THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND WE SHARE A LOT OF WE SHARE A LOT OF UM SUCCESS STORIES STORIES OF HOPE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SO TO PICK ONE WOULD BE TOUGH I’M TRYING TO THINK SO I IT’S REALLY REALLY TOUGH TO PICK ONE BECAUSE HONESTLY I I HEAR SO MANY ALL THE TIME AND THAT’S A HUGE BLESSING TO ME NOW THAT I GET TO HEAR SO MANY BECAUSE BEFORE WORKING HERE YOU KNOW I’M I WAS ONLY HEARING THE NEGATIVE SIDES UM SO I CAN LOOK AT AT THESE THINGS IN A POSITIVE LIGHT SO WHILE I CAN’T NECESSARILY PINPOINT ONE I WILL SHARE WITH YOU UM ONE THAT YOU SHOULD TOTALLY GO FOLLOW RECOVERY POINT WEST VIRGINIA ON FACEBOOK LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE BECAUSE EVERY FRIDAY WE SHARE A STORY OF HOPE WHICH IS UM YOU KNOW A SUCCESS STORY OF ONE OF OUR RECENT GRADUATES BUT SOME OF THE FAVORITE STORIES THAT I REALLY REALLY LIKE TO HEAR ARE WHEN YOU’RE READING THROUGH SOMEONE’S STORY OR I’M GETTING TO TALK TO SOMEONE AND I HEAR A STORY WHERE SOMEONE SAYS I HAD A NORMAL CHILDHOOD OR I HAD YOU KNOW A WONDERFUL CHILDHOOD I WAS CARED FOR I WAS FED WELL I HAD A WONDERFUL FAMILY I WAS RAISED IN CHURCH YOU KNOW ALL OF THESE THINGS WHERE THEY’RE SHARING I WAS RAISED RIGHT I WAS RAISED KNOWING RIGHT FROM WRONG JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE JUST LIKE MY FRIENDS JUST LIKE MY FAMILY AND SOMETHING THOUGH GRABBED A HOLD OF THEM WHETHER IT BE YOU KNOW WHEN THEY WERE YOU KNOW 16 YEARS OLD A LOT OF IT STARTS WITH YOU KNOW I WAS 16 YEARS OLD I WAS HANGING OUT WITH YOU KNOW MY FRIENDS FROM SCHOOL WE JUST SO HAPPENED TO START SMOKING A LITTLE BIT OF MARIJUANA AND THEN SOMETHING WITHIN A COUPLE YEARS THEY’LL SAY YOU KNOW I WENT THROUGH A DEEP DARK STAGE OF DEPRESSION AND SOMEHOW STUMBLED UPON DRUGS AND THAT’S WHERE IT TOOK A TURN OR FOR MANY I I HAVE ACTUALLY I’VE BEEN TAKEN BACK BY HOW MANY OF OUR INDIVIDUALS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE OF BEING IN A CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF BEING IN SOME SORT OF ACCIDENT WHERE THEY WERE PRESCRIBED THESE DRUGS AND THEY SIMPLY SIMPLY COULD NOT LIVE THEIR LIFE WITHOUT THEM YOU KNOW WE THINK THAT THAT’S JUST LIKE OH THAT’S A REALLY SMALL PERCENTAGE NO IT’S NOT LIKE I’VE JUST BEEN AMAZED BY HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS THIS TRULY DOES AFFECT UM SO THIS JUST HELPS ME TO REALIZE AND ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU KNOW NOBODY WAKES UP WANTING WANTING TO GO DOWN THIS PATHWAY AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME IT COULD HAVE BEEN YOU WE COULD HAVE BEEN THAT INDIVIDUAL WHO FOUND THEMSELVES HOMELESS WHO FOUND THEMSELVES SO DEPEND ON DRUGS THAT THEY LOST EVERYTHING UM AND SO I LIKE TO HEAR THOSE STORIES WHERE THEY’RE LIKE I I HAD A NORMAL CHILDHOOD I HAD A GREAT CHILDHOOD BECAUSE HELPS ME TO BE ABLE TO RELATE AND TO YOU KNOW BREAK MY WALLS DOWN AND HELP ME TO NOT BE PRIDEFUL

BG: YOU’RE A 501C3 THAT MEANS YOU GOT TO HAVE DONATIONS TO MAKE ALL THIS SO UM LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A FEW MINUTES WHAT UM FIRST OF ALL BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT HOW TO GIVE LET’S TALK ABOUT THE CONFIDENCE IN GIVING TO YOU UM TELL US ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION OF UH RECOVERY POINT HOW ARE YOU UH SELF-MANAGED UH WHAT KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY IS THERE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE THAT THAT MIGHT DO THAT WHAT WHAT CAN UH CONVEY GOOD CONFIDENCE TO OUR LISTENERS THAT YOU’RE A GREAT PLACE TO SEED UH SOME HELP INTO OUR COMMUNITY WELL

ALLISON: WE ARE COMPRISED OF YOU KNOW WE HAVE A BOARD OF 28 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS AND SO YOU KNOW ALL ALL LARGE DECISIONS ALL ANYTHING WITH WITH HEAVY WEIGHT GOES THROUGH THEM YOU KNOW GO GOES THROUGH THEM AND SO THAT’S YOU KNOW IT’S VOTED UPON UM YOU KNOW WE ARE NOT MAKING ANY DECISIONS EVER JUST ON THE FLY FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AND FOR OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HIS NAME IS REGGIE JONES REGGIE HAS OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE NON-PROFIT FIELD HE’S HE’S A NATIVE OF WEST VIRGINIA HE HAS HIS BACHELOR’S AND MASTER’S FROM WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY AND WE’VE BEEN VERY BLESSED TO HAVE HIM HERE AT RECOVERY POINT FOR ABOUT THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE THAT’S LOCATED IN HUNTINGTON WEST VIRGINIA COMPRISED OF ABOUT 15 INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU KNOW HELP OVERSEE OUR STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION HELP MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE JUST RUNNING AS SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE UM WITH 360 UH MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR CARE STATEWIDE UM BUT WE ACTUALLY SO JUST TO JUST TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW WE RECEIVE OUR MONEY HOW YOU KNOW HOW CAN WE DO WHAT WE DO EACH AND EVERY DAY WHERE DOES THAT MONEY COME FROM HOW IS HOW WOULD MY MONEY BE USED IF I’M GOING TO DONATE TO RECOVERY POINT SO TO JUST SHARE THAT WITH YOU UM WE RECEIVE SEVENTEEN DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS PER PERSON PER DAY FROM THE STATE SO THAT COMES DOWN FROM A FEDERAL LEVEL AND THEN TO A STATE LEVEL THAT WE RECEIVE SO IT’S A SEVENTEEN DOLLAR FIFTY CENTS PER DIEM RATE THAT WE GET AND OUR OPERATIONAL COST IS ACTUALLY 25 PER PERSON PER DAY SO THAT’S ACTUALLY SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAP UM BECAUSE IN A IN A J IF YOU WERE TO BE IN JAIL IN WEST VIRGINIA THE AVERAGE COST IS ABOUT 55 PERCENT 55 PER PERSON PER INMATE PER DAY PER PERSON PER INMATE PER DAY I’M REPEATING SOME THINGS BUT YOU YOU GOT IT YOU GOT THE SENSE 55 A DAY TO BE IN JAIL WHEREAS IT’S 25 DOLLARS TO BE A RECOVERY POINT SO IT’S HONESTLY THE ECONOMIC DECISION FOR YOU KNOW OUR YOU KNOW OUR POLITICIANS AND EVERYONE TO GIVE TO US JUST SIMPLY IT MAKES SENSE FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT YOU’RE GOING TO SAVE MONEY BY GIVING TO US UM AND HELPING US OUT SO ANYWAY WE LIKE I SAID 25 IS OUR COST PER PERSON PER DAY WE RECEIVE 17.50 FROM THE STATE THAT STILL LEAVES US WITH A 7.50 GAP WE’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR FULFILLING SO WHILE WE COULD NOT DO THIS AT ALL WE DID NOT RECEIVE YOU KNOW THAT MONEY FROM THE STATE WE’RE STILL LOOKING AT A SIGNIFICANT COST BECAUSE WE HAVE AROUND 360 MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR CARE SO 360 MEN WOMEN AT 25 PER PERSON PER DAY I MEAN YOU’RE LOOKING AT CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLAR GAP THAT YOU YOU KNOW US WERE REQUIRED TO FULFILL UM ON AN ANNUAL BASIS SO THE WAY WE DO THAT IS THROUGH FINDING SMALLER GRANTS UM SO INSTEAD OF THAT STATE LEVEL WE’RE LOOKING FOR SMALLER GRANTS TO HELP SUPPORT OUR PROGRAM AND WE’RE HOSTING YOU KNOW WE’RE HOSTING ANNUAL FUNDRAISERS WE’RE HOSTING YOU KNOW SOCIAL MEDIA TYPE CAMPAIGNS WE’RE LOOKING TO MAKE THOSE DEEP HONEST CONNECTIONS WITH THE EVERYDAY INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD COME ALONGSIDE US AND BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR OF OURS WHETHER IT BE BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY HAVE A SON OR DAUGHTER WHO YOU KNOW WAS IN OUR PROGRAM OR THEY YOU KNOW THEY’RE IMPACTED IN SOME WAY BY SUBSTANCE USE OR WE’RE HELPING SHIFT THOSE STIGMAS FROM YOU KNOW JUST THE LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY HELP HELP OPEN THEIR EYES TO SEE THE PROBLEM BUT SEE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING A SOLUTION AND THEY WANT TO JUMP ON BOARD WITH THAT SO THE DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING GIVEN THEY ARE GOING DIRECTLY TO SERVING THE INDIVIDUAL IN OUR PROGRAM IT’S NOT GOING TO YOU KNOW OH WE’RE JUST DOING A FEW LITTLE UH LITTLE ENHANCEMENTS HERE IN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE WE’RE MAKING THINGS LOOK PRETTY LIKE WE DON’T HAVE WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT MOST OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE LIKE ALL RIGHT HOW CAN WE UH HOW CAN OUR STAFF PULL SOME FUNDS TOGETHER TO TO IMPROVE YOU KNOW TO GET SOME NEW BLINDS OR SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED NO THE MONEY THAT EXACTLY SO THE MONEY THAT YOU KNOW INDIVIDUALS IF YOU’RE GOING TO OUR WEBSITE AND DONATING OR YOU’RE WRITING A CHECK AND YOU’RE GIVING IT TO US WE CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THAT MONEY IS GOING DIRECTLY TO THE MAN WHO IS DOWN THERE AT RECOVERY POINT HUNTINGTON WHO IS WORKING TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND WHETHER IT BE WHETHER IT BE THAT YOU’RE PROVIDING HIM SHELTER WHETHER IT BE YOU’RE PROVIDING HIM FOOD FOR THAT WEEK TO EAT YOU’RE PROVIDING HIM WITH MOST OF OUR YOU KNOW WE RECEIVE MOST OF OUR HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND CLOTHES COME FROM DONATIONS AND THOSE ARE THAT’S ANOTHER WAY TO GIVE BACK IS TO YOU KNOW GO TO WHENEVER YOU’RE ON YOUR LOCAL OR WHEN YOU’RE ON YOUR REGULAR UH GROCERY HAUL AT YOUR LOCAL WALMART YOU KNOW IT’S STOPPING BY THE SOAP AISLE AND GRABBING FIVE FIVE BOTTLES OF BODY WASH OR YOU KNOW PICKING UP AN EXTRA PACK OF RAZORS SO ALL OF THAT STUFF IS USUALLY PURCHASED THROUGH THAT WAY BUT YOU KNOW YOU ARE TRULY YOUR MONEY IS HELPING TO PUT A ROOF OVER THE MEN AND WOMEN’S HEADS C

BG: OOL SO THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO HELP AND BE INVOLVED AND YOU’VE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION ON YOUR RECOVERY.WV.ORG WEBSITE AS WELL UM AND WHEN YOU UM WHEN YOU GET THERE YOU’LL SEE A DONATE BUTTON AND THAT’S WHERE YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT ALLISON I KNOW THE STRUGGLE OUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY REAL UM SOMEONE’S GONNA NEED YOUR HELP THAT’S LISTENING TO THIS PODCAST I’M CONFIDENT I DON’T KNOW IF THEY’LL STEP FORWARD OR NOT BUT A FAMILY MEMBER WILL KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS HELP OR A FRIEND HOW CAN THEY REACH YOU WHAT ARE THE STEPS THEY TAKE TO GET STARTED IN THE PROGRAM WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO START THIS PROCESS WITH RECOVERY SO A COUPLE OF THE BEST WAYS THAT I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A WONDERFUL RECEPTIONIST WHO SHE I MEAN SHE GETS THESE CALLS ALL UM DIRECTED AT THE APPROPRIATE FACILITIES BECAUSE WE’RE FIVE LOCATIONS UM SO I ALWAYS SUGGEST CALLING BETWEEN YOU KNOW THE BUSINESS HOURS OF 9AM TO 4PM I ALWAYS SUGGEST CALLING OUR MAIN LINE WHICH IS 304-523-HOPE SO THAT’S SIX 304-523-467 THREE AND YOU WOULD SIMPLY STATE YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AND SHE WOULD DIRECT YOU TO THE APPROPRIATE FACILITY HOWEVER WE ALSO HAVE A GENERIC WE HAVE A GENERIC EMAIL THAT’S INFO RECOVERY POINT WV DOT ORG AND THAT EMAIL THAT EMAIL ACTUALLY COMES TO ME AND I SHIP LIKE UM SIFT THROUGH ALL THOSE AND SEND THEM TO THE PROPER FACILITY HOWEVER WE DO HAVE I WILL SHARE I PREFER I ALWAYS LIKE TALKING TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE THAT’S WHY I LIKE YOU KNOW CALL AND TALK TO OUR RECEPTIONIST BECAUSE SHE IS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BUT WE DO HAVE A NEW FEATURE WITH OUR WEBSITE NOW WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO ON OUR WEBSITE AND THERE WILL BE A LINK TO AN ADMISSIONS PAGE OR A PRE-SCREEN INTAKE FORM YOU CAN ACTUALLY CLICK ON THAT AND FILL ALL OF THAT INFORMATION OUT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING YOU KNOW THE APPLICATION PROCESS STARTED UM TO GET ON THE WAIT LIST FOR A BED YOU CAN ACTUALLY FILL IT OUT THAT EASY ON OUR WEBSITE THAT’S A NEW FEATURE THAT I I’VE KIND OF FORGOT TO MENTION NOW RECENTLY BECAUSE WE’VE WENT THROUGH WE WENT THROUGH A LOT OF WORK UM TO MAKE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN SO THAT’S REALLY EXCITING THAT’S PROBABLY THE WAY THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD ACTUALLY WANT TO DO IT OKAY YEAH THERE ARE UH MULTIPLE LEVELS AT LEAST TO REACH OUT YES IF YOU WANT TO REMAIN AS UH ANONYMOUS AS POSSIBLE UH YES AT FIRST YOU CAN DO IT THAT WAY AS WELL WELL IT’S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE LIKE I SAID SIXTY PERCENT OF OF THOSE OF OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS DO COME FROM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM SO USUALLY IT INVOLVES AN ATTORNEY AND ALL THAT SO BUT IF YOU ARE IF YOU ARE READY TO MAKE THIS DECISION ON YOUR OWN FREE WILL PLEASE CALL THAT NUMBER 304-523-4673 YOU CAN GO VISIT OUR WEBSITE

BG: GREAT I’LL GET ALL THIS INFORMATION IN OUR SHOW NOTES AS WELL SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE WATCHING OR LISTENING TO THE PODCAST THEY’LL BE ABLE TO FIND THAT INFORMATION ALSO FANTASTIC THERE ALLISON THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU GUYS DO AT RECOVERY POINT WEST VIRGINIA AND I KNOW YOU’RE ALL OVER THE STATE UH AND YOU’RE LOOKING TO DO MORE AS YOU CAN UM WOULD YOU PUT US ON YOUR MAILING LIST HERE AT LOCAL IMPACT SO THAT WHEN YOUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISINGS ARE COMING AROUND YOUR EVENTS ARE COMING AROUND UH SHOOT THAT TO US AND WE’LL LET OUR AUDIENCE KNOW ABOUT IT AS WELL AND BE ABLE TO SHARE ALL THE ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IF YOU’VE GOT GREAT STORIES WE’LL BE WATCHING YOUR YOUR FACEBOOK FEED AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HELP SHARE FROM TIME TO TIME REALLY COOL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING BUT I HOPE THIS PODCAST WILL EXTEND YOUR REACH AND YOUR IMPACT WHICH IS WHAT WE’RE ALL ABOUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE JUST HELP MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING ON THE PODCAST TODAY THANK YOU IT’S BEEN GREAT UM LIKE I SAID YOU KNOW I KNOW YOU’RE GONNA SHARE IT BUT JUST GO FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AT RECOVERY POINT WEST VIRGINIA AND YOU’LL STAY UP TODAY ON ALL OF OUR FUNDRAISERS AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE’D LOVE TO HAVE YOU OR YOUR BUSINESS BECOME A SPONSOR OF OUR FUNDRAISERS GREAT WILL YOU COME BACK AND BE ON WITH UH WITH ME AGAIN SOMETIMES

ALLISON: YEAH YEAH OF COURSE YOU TELL ME YOU TELL ME THE TIME AND I WILL BE THERE

BG: FANTASTIC THANKS AGAIN ALLISON WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY

ALLISON: THANK YOU SO MUCH BG I APPRECIATE IT