As a teenager, I was sent away to a program for troubled youth. I spent the last 18 months of high school on a ranch in Montana. At the time, they didn’t have a transitional program, and I struggled with the shift from staff-provided structure to independent adulting.

I spent the next ten years living in complete chaos before starting college at 28. That was the jumping off point for me to start doing the next right thing. Six years later, I finished my master’s in social work, and all my personal experiences from the very long road I had taken in my teenage years came full circle.

I met Stephanie at a Village Hall meeting where she was advocating for the opening of Providence Farm. She was a force who rallied the community when neighbors organized against the inception of Providence Farm. Stephanie went on to get approval for the opening of PF, and I feel so fortunate to be one of the very first hires before PF opened its doors in 2017. I spent a year working at PF before taking time off to start a family.

Eight years later, I’m grateful for all of life’s twists and turns that have allowed me to find myself back and PF. I’m honored that I get to work alongside these guys on creating the future they want. There is nothing braver than the fight an addict puts up to keep living and to build a better life in recovery. I have so much respect and admiration for our clients.

I’m humbled by the trust our clients and their families place in the hand of the Providence Farm staff, and I’m grateful for the opportunities we get to build relationships with our clients along their journeys.