The Power of Second Chances Housing Coordinator helps instill confidence in inpatient clients
There’s an old saying that says, “Giving up on your goal because of one setback is like slashing your other three tires because you have one flat.” Jocelyn Burks, housing coordinator at the Lima UMADAOP, believes life is about having second chances. Joycelyn Burks began her work at the Lima UMADAOP office in 2009. As Housing Coordinator, she helps to facilitate a sober- living environment where inpatient clients can work with clinicians and counselors every day toward the goal of reclaiming a life of sobriety. Joycelyn’s confidence in the recoverability of those who’ve struggled with addiction motivates her to lend substantial help day in and day out.
Enjoyable connections Because connection with other recovering addicts is so important, Joycelyn believes activities outside of the traditional mode of treatment are essential. Some of her favorite memories with the inpatient clients are ones most don’t associate with treatment. “The roller skating and the cookouts with dancing and music are some of my favorite moments. People get to meet people who are clean and sober – it encourages them to meet people who have come through [addiction recovery] successfully,” Jocelyn says. She believes in the intentionality UMADAOP takes toward involving recovery patients in activities that facilitate connectivity both on and off the organization’s grounds. Throughout the years, Joycelyn has witnessed the difficulty some inpatient residents endure in their attempts to reconcile relationships that have been hurt through previous years of addiction. Her advice to recovering patients is, “I encourage people to remain steadfast in being sober. Take in one day at a time. Don’t worry about trying to prove it to anyone; family and friends will come around eventually. Continue to move forward and don’t force-feed it. Sometimes it really gets to [patients] that family members don’t buy into [their recovery] so soon. Be patient.”
“encourage people to remain steadfast in being sober.” -Joycelyn Burks , housing coordinator Lima UMADAOP
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