It was a desperate and sad time in Kimberly’s life. Her son’s father died of a drug overdose.

To deal with the tragic loss, Kimberly turned to drugs and alcohol to fight the pain. But the answers weren’t at the bottom of a pill or liquor bottle. Soon, her son, Joseph*, was removed by Child Protective Services (CPS).

Reeling from grief and now Joseph’s absence, Kimberly was in serious need of help. On a referral from CPS, she began participation in a “stipulated” substance abuse program at Rise Recovery, a United Way nonprofit partner.

“I tried get sober many times before but just never found the love and support that I finally began to receive at Rise Recovery.”

Kimberly now became serious about getting better – being better. Participating on a steering committee, Kimberly was also fully involved in helping facilitate meetings while continuing her one-on-one recovery counseling. She attended most social activities, as well as the group’s yearly retreat.

“The love and support that I have received here at Rise Recovery changed my life.”

Because of her dedication, Kimberly was eventually hired by Rise Recovery and became the organization’s administrative intake specialist. She also earned a Recovery Support Peer Specialist certification.

“I was very active in the program and finished my stipulated requirements, but I ‘kept coming back,’ as they say, and still to this day I have never stopped ‘coming back.'”

After a three-year period of working with CPS, Joseph finally came home. He, too, began participating in a Rise Recovery support group for youth ages 9-17.

“I believe everything happens for a reason and God placed me here at Rise Recovery so my son and I could receive the love and support we needed to be successful in life. They taught us how to deal with life‘s problems in a healthy way without turning to drugs and alcohol to cope.

They let us know that we didn’t have to do it alone.”

The ramifications are profound when traumatic events interrupt self-sufficiency: addiction, adverse childhood experiences, crime, abuse, isolation, mental illness or chronic stress. United Way’s Strong Individuals and Families Impact Council is there to help people like Kimberly reach their full potential. Collaborating together, three United Way nonprofit partners — Rise Recovery, Alpha Home and Lifetime Recovery — combine data, resources and compassion to support those seeking recovery from substance and alcohol abuse.

“I am eternally grateful that God has placed Rise Recovery and the amazing people who work here in my path and that the organization was here to help me and many others in need.

If their services weren’t available, my life would not be the success story it is today!”

*name changed