A hard look Hill serves as case manager at the Family Recovery Program. He assesses clients and refers them to the best suited program based on their unique needs, reviewing the client’s substance abuse history, mental health, housing, education and physical health needs. A recovery plan is created next, highlighting one or two areas of focus so clients are not overwhelmed at first. Hill understands the challenges of entering treatment. At age 16, he began using due to peer pressure. What started as adolescent fun began to control his life. His addiction led him to multiple incarcerations. The confinement of jail forced him to reevaluate his life. “You realize one day that your whole life has passed in prison. When I first got in there, I was calling others mister. By the end, the young guys were calling me mister,” Hill says. “But, for me, it took being set still to see what was really going on with myself. I had to take a hard look at my life, being 46 and sitting in jail without an identity. I was just a number.” Hill admits he had to be selfish at the time, putting himself before anyone else and exploring his spirituality. It was terrifying to evaluate parts of himself he had been ignoring for so long, but that was the process that lead him to recovery. When he decided to enter treatment, Hill didn’t have any money or transportation. There were no housing programs. Clients were told when and where to show up, otherwise they were on their own. He hopes clients understand what a blessing it is to have the resources that are now available at centers such as Family Recovery Program.
Giving what you get “I am so proud of her. She’s been a wonder to her field,” Hill says about Executive Director Dr. Jocelyn Gainers. “She works so hard to keep the center running but is always approachable too. She’ll come in, greet everyone and take a walk with a client. I think that’s important for them to see.” The clients at Family Recovery Program do see it. The warmth and efforts of the entire staff are undeniable. They work with each individual to plan a successful recovery and equip clients with the tools they’ll need to carry on after graduating from the program. Their alumni groups meet once a month to support recovered clients and allow them to share their experience and guide others through the treatment process. “After you get help, it’s important to give it back,” says Hill. “That’s what I had to do and it’s very rewarding. We plant seeds for the clients and after a year or so we begin to see the fruit. It’s amazing to watch.”
“We plant seeds for the clients and after a year or so we begin to see the fruit.” -Gerald Hill
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