Christy Anderson, 59, is a coal miner's daughter whose parents instilled in her the value of hard work. She worked hard for many years as a caretaker for the elderly. When her husband died, she could not afford healthcare for her children and relied on Medicaid for their regular checkups and medications. And when Christy began struggling with her mental health and was no longer able to work, Medicaid was there for her.
Before I really understood what a peer specialist was, my opinion was made up by someone else.
“Why would you pay a sponsor?” I heard a researcher scoff during a lab meeting. He was referring to sponsorship — the volunteer exchange of support rooted in recovery, found in the rooms of 12-step groups. He recoiled at the idea of compensating someone for empathy, accountability, and advice. And if that’s all peer specialists did, why pay them?
One year down and we’re all smiles!
Chestnut Family Dental in Bloomington, IL is celebrating its one-year anniversary.
Since opening its doors in May 2024, staff have seen 942 patients for 2,156 visits.
For as long as she could remember, Wendy Siefert has always had a deep desire to help people.
Years into recovery from heroin, Frankie Ward’s life had fallen back into place.
It was all behind her. She graduated from Recovery Court, a program that offers individuals facing drug-related charges a chance to complete treatment and rehabilitation instead of serving traditional jail time. She had overcome many obstacles and there were a lot of reasons to be grateful.
“But there was something missing,” said Ward. With a record of felonies, Ward accepted that a career would not be possible.