♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

THIS WEEK WE TAKE YOU INSIDE THE HEALING PLACE.

THE HEALING PLACE IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ADDICTION RECOVERY CENTER IN LOUISVILLE, OFFERING FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING AND PROFESSIONAL RECOVERY SERVICES TO ANYONE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.

ALL AT NO COST.

AND THAT'S THE MISSION THAT BROUGHT JOHN-MARK HACK HOME.

THE LOUISVILLE NATIVE WAS NAMED PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE HEALING PLACE LAST YEAR AFTER SERVING VARIOUS ROLES IN BUSINESS, CONSULTING, GOVERNMENT AND HIGHER EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE.

HE ALSO IS A RECOVERING ADDICT HIMSELF.

HE HAS BEEN SOBER FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

COMING UP, YOU WILL HEAR WHY THIS JOB IS A CALLING.

BUT FIRST CHRISTIE DUTTON TAKES US INSIDE THE HEALING PLACE WHERE ABOUT 80% OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO ALUMNI OF THE PROGRAM.

DONALD HINKLE IS ONE OF THEM.

♪ ♪ >> I'M ACTUALLY FROM CHEVYVILLE.

SO I'M A COUNTRY BOY.

I DID LIVE IN AN AREA THAT WAS PRETTY ROUGH FOR THE MOST PART.

I MEAN IT WAS DIFFERENT.

GOT INTO A LOT OF THINGS, THAT PROBABLY LED ME HERE.

I JUST WANTED TO FIT IN WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT CREW.

DRUG ACTIVITY, TRYING TO SELL DRUGS OR USE DRUGS.

LOST A KID IN 2010 AND REALLY, REALLY STARTED GOING DOWNHILL.

DUE TO MY SUBSTANCE ABUSE, I ENDED UP HAVING ANOTHER CHILD THAT I LOST TO C.P.S.

FOR A LITTLE BIT BUT IN MY EYES, IT WAS LIKE I LOST ANOTHER KID.

MY MIND SET WAS I JUST BURIED ANOTHER KID OR FAILED ANOTHER KID, NO THE QUITE SURE.

BUT I DOVE OFF ON THE DEEP END FROM THAT POINT ON.

PRETTY MUCH NUMBING MYSELF AND I ENDED UP PUTTING DRUGS BEFORE EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE ELSE.

YEAH, IT LED TO HOMELESSNESS.

WE HAD A JUNK YARD THAT I STAYED IN FOR PROBABLY SEVEN TO NINE MONTHS BEFORE I ENDED UP HERE.

THE CRAZY THING IS, IT WAS LIKE FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM MY FAMILY ANYONE WOULD TAKE ME IN ON THEIR COUCH BUT I WAS TOO SHAMEFUL TO LOOK AT THEM.

I STAYED THERE.

IT WAS THROUGH THE WINTER.

SO IT WAS, YEAH, IT WAS PRETTY ROUGH.

I WENT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS LIKE, I DON'T HAVE ANYMORE OPTIONS.

LIKE IT WASN'T ABOUT OPTIONS AS FAR AS WHERE I CAN SAY.

IT WAS JUST LIKE EVERY TRICK I DONE COME UP WITH TO NUMB THE WAY I FEEL WAS NOT WORKING NO MORE.

THAT'S HOW I CRASH LANDED HERE AT THE HEALING PLACE.

I SAY CRASH LANDED BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE.

I FELT LIKE I CRAWLED THROUGH THE DOOR, CRIED THE HOLE WAY WHOLE WAY DOWN 64.

NOW THAT I'M HERE, WHAT I-- WHAT DO I DO?

THE ONLY THING I KNEW FOR SURE IS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A BETTER IDEA.

SO I JUST STAYED HERE UNTIL I CAME UP WITH A BETTER IDEA IN BETWEEN HERE AND THERE SOMEWHERE , I TOOK SOME TOOLS IN THAT ALLOWS ME TO STAY SOBER TODAY AND CONTINUE TO GROW.

SO I GET THROUGH A DAY.

AND THEN THE NEXT DAY I DONE IT AGAIN AND 364 DAYS LATER, WHEN I WAS MOVED OUT OF HERE FINALLY.

BUT EVERY DAY FROM THAT POINT ON WAS LIKE I WANTED TO LEAVE EVERY DAY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS TAUGHT WAS JUST GET THROUGH TODAY.

IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE-- A BUDDY OF PINE SAYS IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE TODAY, PUT IT OFF UNTIL TOMORROW.

AND IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE TOMORROW, THEN MAKE A DECISION.

I USED THAT EVERY DAY.

I WANTED TO LEAVE FROM LIKE UNTIL I COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN AGAIN, I'M GOING TO STAY HERE UNTIL I FIGURE IT OUT.

DONE THAT ALL THE WAY UNTIL I PUT AN APPLICATION TO WORK HERE.

MOST DAYS IS STILL ABNORMAL FOR ME.

KNOWING THAT I GET TO WAKE UP AND COME INTO WORK AND DO WHAT SOMEBODY DID FOR ME.

IT'S GOOD THAT I HAVE A PART OF MY PAST THAT I'M NOT WILLING TO SHUT THE DOOR ON.

I DON'T HAVE TO RUN FROM IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE HELP FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

>> WELLION MARK HACK WAS JUST-- WELL JOHN-MARK HACK WAS JUST NAMED PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE HEALING PLACE.

YOUR BACKGROUND COMES FROM BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIA, AND SO WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE TO THIS ROLE?

>> MY JOURNEY TO THE HEALING PLACE STARTED PROBABLY STARTED ON JULY 8, 2012.

AND THAT'S MY SOBRIETY DATE, WHEN I RECOGNIZED THAT I DIDN'T DRINK LIKE A NORMAL PERSON.

IT WASN'T A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE.

IT HAD A LOT OF NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS.

IT GOES BACK THAT FART.

I-- IT GOES BACK THAT FAR.

I WAS CASUALLY LOOKING ONE DAY ON LINKEDIN AND I SAW THE POSITION FOR C.E.O.

AND I THOUGHT WHY NOT.

I SENT MY MATERIALS INTO THE RECRUITER WHO CALLED ME RIGHT AWAY AND ASKED ME, ARE YOU SURE THIS IS THE JOB YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR?

AND I SAID YEAH, I THINK IT IS.

AND ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE BOARD AND I HAVE NEVER HAD GREATER CLARITY ABOUT WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE AND WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAN I DO RIGHT NOW.

>> WOW.

AND SO YOU KNOW, WE JUST MET DONALD HINKLE WHO WORKS THERE AT THE HEALING PLACE.

AND WHO IS ONE OF 80% OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE ARE ALSO IN RECOVERY.

AND YOURSELF INCLUDED.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT GIVES ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE SUCH A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD IMAGINE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE?

>> OUR RECOVERY PROGRAMS ARE KNOWN LITERALLY KNOWN WORLDWIDE.

THE HEALING PLACE HAS A 35-YEAR HISTORY IN LOUISVILLE AND OVER 8,000 ALUMNI OF OUR RECOVERY PROGRAMS.

ONE THING THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS OUR COMMITMENT TO HIRING ALUMNI.

AND WE HAVE A PEER DRIVEN MODEL SO WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO THE MEAL-- WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO THE HEALING PLACE, THEY DON'T GET MATCHED UP WITH A COUNSELOR EVEN THOUGH THAT IS EFFECTIVE IN CERTAIN SET SETTINGS.

IN THE LONG-TERM RECOVERY PROGRAM, THEY GET MATCHED UP WITH PEOPLE WALKING THE SAME PATH THEY ARE AND THAT EXTENDS TO EMPLOYMENT.

SO WHEN PEOPLE COME OUT OF OUR PROGRAM, WHEN WE HAVE POSITIONS OPEN, WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO HIRING ALUMNI WHO ASPIRE TO WORK IN RECOVERY.

AND AS A RESULT, WE HAVE THIS AMAZING ENVIRONMENT THAT'S JOYFUL AND ENCOURAGING AND MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE.

IT'S THE BEST PLACE I CAN IMAGINE WORKING.

>> THE MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE.

THAT HITS A CHORD BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THIS TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN THERE, BUT VICE VERSA, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND ARE ABLE TO GIVE BACK IN THIS WAY.

>> SO MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES CITE THAT AS A LIFE CALLING.

ONCE THEY GO THROUGH THE RECOVERY PROGRAM, AND OUR CORE PROGRAM IS A SIX TO NINE MONTH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM.

AND ONCE THEY GO THROUGH THAT, OFTEN TIMES SOMETHING IS TAPPED WITHIN THEM THAT THIS IS THEIR CALLING.

THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

SO TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THEM AND MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AND PARTNER WITH THEM AND PUT THEM IN POSITIONS THAT ESTABLISH A TRACK, A CAREER TRACK FOR THEM TO WORK IN RECOVERY, THAT'S AN ESPECIALLY REWARDING PART OF WHAT THEY DO AT THE HEALING PLACE.

>> YOU SAID, TOO YOU FEEL YOUR OWN CALLING BECAUSE OF YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

BUT YOUR BACKGROUND, AS I MENTIONED, IS SO FAR FROM ANYTHING IN THIS REALM, BECAUSE YOU WERE COMMISSIONER OF THE KENTUCKY TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IN GOVERNMENT, TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION, IN BUSINESS, IN CONSTRUCTION AND CONSULTING AND SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS IN YOUR BACKGROUND THAT DO, YOU THINK, UNIQUELY QUALIFY YOU TO WORK IN THIS PLACE?

>> I THINK A LOT OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS CAN BENEFIT FROM BUSINESS-BASED LEADERSHIP.

OFTEN TIMES THE MISSION OF NON-PROFITS IS WHAT WE ARE SET UP TO DO, WHAT WE ARE SET UP TO ACCOMPLISH.

THE WAY WE GO ABOUT THAT OFTEN TIMES CAN BE-- CAN PUT NON-PROFITS IN A VULNERABLE POSITION PHENOMENONLY, IN-- FINANCIALLY IN PARTICULAR.

OUR BOARD WAS VERY CONSCIENTIOUS IN LOOKING FOR BUSINESS-BASED LEADERSHIP; SOMEBODY WHO COULD BRING TOTAL TRANSPARENCY, WILLING TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS, BUT IMPLEMENT SOME FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE THAT ENSURES THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE AROUND FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

FOREVER, YOU KNOW.

WE WANT TO PUT OURSELVES ON A PATH TOWARD SUSTAINABLE FUTURE BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEED FOR OUR SERVICES IS NOT LIKELY TO GO AWAY.

AND THE HEALING PLACE HAS BEEN A MAYBE STAY-- A MAIN STAY IN THE LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY FOR SO LONG I THINK THE REASON THAT THE BOARD WAS ATTRACTED TO MY CANDIDACY WAS SPECIFICALLY MY BUSINESS BACKGROUND AND THOSE LEADERSHIP TRAITS THAT I COULD BRING TO THE POSITION.

>> YEAH, IT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GOOD FIT.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE HISTORY OF THE HEALING PLACE HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

IT'S BEEN HERE FOR 35 YEARS, HELPED COUNTLESS PEOPLE IN SO MANY WAYS.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MISSION OF THE HEALING PLACE AND THAT REALLY PLETHORA OF SERVICES THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE.

>> WE ARE AN OPEN ACCESS LOW BARRIER PATHWAY TO RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ADDICTION.

THAT STARTS IN OUR DETOX PROCESS WE HAVE TWO CAMPUSES IN LOUISVILLE.

ONE THAT SERVES AROUND 520 MEN ON WEST MARKET.

ANOTHER THAT SERVES UP TO 260 WOMEN AT 15th AND HILL IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

AND THEN WE HAVE A 100-BED FACILITY IN CAMPBELLSVILLE AS WELL.

THE POINT OF ACCESS IS A DETOX FACILITY THAT IS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO LITERALLY ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO WALK IN.

OUR LONG-TERM RECOVERY PROGRAM IS A SIX TO NINE-MONTH PEER DRIVEN SOCIAL MODEL, AS WHAT WE CALL IT, RECOVERY PROGRAM THAT IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO CLIENTS.

WE DO OFFER OUTPATIENT SERVICES, CLINICAL SERVICES FOR WHICH WE BILL INSURANCE.

IT'S A MUCH SMALLER PART OF OUR OPERATION, BUT WE WANT TO BROADEN THE PATHWAYS OF RECOVERY AS MUCH AS WE CAN, TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

FROM DETOX, PEOPLE GO INTO EITHER THAT LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM THAT I MENTIONED, OR WE HAVE THREE UNIQUE PROGRAMS THAT ARE DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR MILITARY SERVICE VETERANS WHO HAVE ADDICTION ISSUES.

AND SO ONCE PEOPLE ARE IN THE PROGRAM, DAILY WORK RESPONSIBILITIES ARE A PART OF OUR RECOVERY.

AND THOSE WORK RESPONSIBILITIES RESTORE A SENSE OF SELF WORTH THAT CAN OFTEN TIMES BE DIMINISHED JUST BY VIRTUE OF THE BAD DECISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE IN OUR PAST AND DEALING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THOSE DECISIONS.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS THAT OUR PROGRAM, IT'S A SOCIAL MODEL.

AND SO THERE IS A BUILT-IN ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURE, NOT FROM AN AUTHORITY, BUT FROM PEERS.

AND ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS TO SEE IN OUR PROGRAM IS THE WAY THAT THAT RECOVERY COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS.

IT'S ACCOUNTABILITY THAT IS NOT PAIRED WITH NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES NECESSARILY, BUT IT'S PAIRED WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF ENCOURAGEMENT, HONESTY AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND WE ARE NOT SHY ABOUT SAYING THAT IN OUR MISSION.

WE ARE A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS IN YOUR PAST.

AND WE DO WORK WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR BACKGROUNDS, IN FACT 55% OF OUR STAFF HAVE SOME JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR BACKGROUNDS.

BUT WE ALSO WORK WITH PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS AND CHEFS AND COMMERCIAL BANKERS AND ATTORNEYS, A WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE COME TO THE HEALING PLACE FOR THEIR RECOVERY EXPERIENCE.

>> BECAUSE ADDICTION DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE.

>> IT DOESN'T.

IT CUTS ACROSS CLASS LINES.

IT CUTS ACROSS EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC LINE, AND ESPECIALLY TODAY, WHEN THERE IS SO MANY MORE ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE LETHALITY OF THOSE SUBSTANCES IS SO MUCH MORE SEVERE NOW THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

>> IT IS TERRIFYING.

>> LIFE OR DEATH ISSUES.

>> SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HEAR ABOUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE, PARTICULARLY TO KIDS RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE DO HEAR A LOT ABOUT THESE STATISTICS OF OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE DOWN.

THINGS ARE CHANGING.

BUT KENTUCKY STILL REMAINS VERY HIGH AT THE LIST OF DEATHS FROM OVERDOSE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVE SEEN A DECLINE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS THAT'S BEEN PROMOTED RECENTLY.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT DECLINE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS IS OCCURRING WITHIN ONE SLICE OF OUR DEMOGRAPHIC PIE.

AND WHERE IT'S NOT OCCURRING IS AMONG PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CHRONIC ECONOMIC DISTRESS AND IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO, A LOT OF THE REDUCTION IN OVERDOSE DEATHS HAS TO DO WITH ACCESSIBILITY TO DRUGS LIKE NARCAN, WHICH CAN IMMEDIATELY REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE ACCESSIBILITY OF NARCAN HASN'T PERMEATED ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES TO THE EXTENT IT HAS MIDDLE-CLASS AND UPPER CLASS COMMUNITIES.

SO WHILE WE CELEBRATE THAT REDUCTION IN OVERDOSE DEATHS, I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE RATES OF OVERDOSE HAVE NOT DECREASED, AND THE OVERDOSE DEATH RATE AMONG PEOPLE OF COLOR AND IN COMMUNITIES OF ECONOMIC DISTRESS IS ACTUALLY GONE THE OTHER DIRECTION.

IT'S INCREASING.

SO WE ALL HAVE OUR JOBS CUT OUT FOR US.

THIS IS THE POINT THAT THIS DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE, THIS DISEASE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE, THIS IS A TASK THAT EXTENDS FROM THE HEALING PLACE THROUGHOUT EVERY PART OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND IN ORDER TO TACKLE IT, WE HAVE GOT TO COME TOGETHER AROUND THE UNIFYING PURPOSE OF PROVIDING PEOPLE THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED, MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE AND PROVIDING THAT IN THAT CONTEXT OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

>> WE ALSO RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT THESE OPIOID SETTLEMENTS THAT THERE IS SEVERAL POCKETS OF MONEY COMING TO THE HEALING PLACE AND OTHER PROGRAMS FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT.

WHAT IS THAT MONEY GOING TOWARDS?

>> SO THAT MONEY COMES AS THE RESULT OF THE SETTLEMENT OF SOME LAWSUITS THAT STATES FILED AGAINST OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF OPIOIDS.

MODELED LOOSELY AT LEAST ON THE NATIONAL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT IRONICALLY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP LEAD HERE IN KENTUCKY IN 1998, WORKING FOR GOVERNOR PAUL PATTON.

WHEN THE STATE SUED THE CIGARETTE COMPANIES FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE TREATMENT OF TOBACCO-RELATED ILLNESS THROUGH THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

WHAT WAS RECOGNIZED IN THE OPIOID CONTEXT WAS THAT MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS DIDN'T TAKE ENOUGH CARE IN SETTING UP THEIR DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS AND AS A RESULT, HIGHLY ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES WERE MADE AVAILABLE IN BLACK MARKET SETTINGS AND MUCH MORE READILY ACCESSIBLE THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

AND THE OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS SAW THE HAND WRITING ON THE WALL IF THEY WENT TO TRIAL THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE, JUST LIKE THE CIGARETTE COMPANIES DID.

AND SO THEY DECIDED TO SETTLE AND AT THAT TIME CREATED A POT OF MONEY FOR EVERY STATE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THOSE LAWSUITS.

IN KENTUCKY WE HAD A STATE FUND THAT'S ADMINISTERED WITHIN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE BY THE STATE OPIOID ABATEMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION.

AND THEN IN LOUISVILLE METRO, AND EVERY OTHER COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THEY GET A LOCAL ALLOCATION THAT I THINK IS BASED ON POPULATION.

AND THE HEALING PLACE HAS BENEFITED FROM BOTH OF THOSE POTS OF MONEY AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

>> AND SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL ON THE HORIZON, SOME OF I DON'T ARE GOALS-- SOME OF YOUR GOALS AND VISIONS FOR THE HEALING PLACE AS YOU ARE STARTING THERE?

>> GOAL NUMBER ONE IS TO NOT MESS ANYTHING UP.

BECAUSE THE HEALING PLACE HAS AN AMAZING TRACK RECORD AND THANKFULLY I HAVE A BUILT-IN MENTOR IN OUR CO-FOUNDER, JAY DAVIDSON, WHO IS WALKING ALONGSIDE OF ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

I THINK-- HE SAYS IT'S TO SUPPORT ME BUT I THINK IT'S HON HONESTLY TO MAKE SURE I DON'T MESS ANYTHING UP.

EITHER WAY I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT.

BUT A SECOND GOAL THAT WE HAVE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP PEOPLE ON THE PATHWAY TO SUSTAINED RECOVERY, THAT WE HAVE TO, AGAIN, MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE WHEN IT COMES TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF THEIR DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS FOR THEIR LIVES.

WHEN THOSE OF US IN RECOVERY COME TO TERMS WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR DECISIONS AND THE WRECKAGE THAT WE CAN OFTEN TIMES LEAVE BEHIND WITHIN THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR LIVES.

ONE EFFECT OF THAT CAN BE THAT WE DECIDE THAT WE ARE NOT WORTHY OF PURSUING OUR HIGHEST DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS.

WE ARE NOT WORTHY OF PURSUING WAS WE PAY HAVE FELT CALLED TO DO IN CHILDHOOD OR IN AT LATER STAGES IN LIFE.

AND SO WE, TOO OFTEN, CAN DECIDE TO SETTLE ON WHATEVER OPPORTUNITY MIGHT COME OUR WAY.

WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS YEAR IS REPURPOSING A FACILITY WHO IS NAMED FOR A VERY IMPORTANT MAN IN THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY IN KENTUCKY.

UNFORTUNATELY HE PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR.

Dr. BURNS BRADY HAD A MEDICAL PRACTICE IN SOUTH LOUISVILLE FOR A LONG TIME.

HE GREW UP IN MAYFIELD BUT WAS A RECOGNIZED LEADER.

WE HAVE A BRADY CENTER THAT WE ARE REDESIGNING AND REPURPOSING AND WE ARE CALLING IT THE BRADY CENTER FOR LIFE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND WAS WE WANT TO DO IS PAIR THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO OVERCOME PAST JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT.

ADDRESS CHILD CUSTODY ISSUES.

A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS OWE BACK CHILD SUPPORT.

SO FINANCIAL LITERACY.

AND THEN CONNECTING THEM WITH WHATEVER CONTINUING EDUCATION OR JOB TRAINING THEY NEED TO TAKE THEIR RECOVERY EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE OF THE CONFINES OF THE HEALING PLACE AND CONTINUE TO RESTORE A MEANINGFUL AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS THE HEALING PLACE 2.0, YOU KNOW.

WE ARE BETTER THAN ANYBODY IN THE WORLD AT ADDICTION RECOVERY.

AND WHAT WE WANT TO ADD TO THAT IS EQUIPPING PEOPLE WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO PUT THAT ADDICTION IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND TO INSPIRE THEM TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE FULLY WORTHY OF ACHIEVING THEIR HIGHEST DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> IT'S JUST GETTING TO THAT NEXT STEP SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU GET-- YOU KNOW, YOU CLIMB THE BRICK WALL AND YOU GET TO THE OTHER SIDE AND THEN YOU ARE LIKE OH, NOW WHAT?

>> NOW WHAT.

>> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO ADDRESS.

NOW YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN ON THE JOB FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED OR CHANGED THAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?

>> I GET TO WORK WITH THE MOST AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

AND SOMEBODY COMING IN WITHOUT A RECOVERY BACKGROUND, IF I WERE IN THEIR POSITION, I WOULD BE SKEPTICAL, WHAT IS THIS GUY COMING IN TO DO?

ONE THING I'M GRATEFUL FOR IS ESTABLISHING A LEVEL OF TRUST WITH OUR STAFF THAT I THINK IS BENEFICIAL FOR ALL OF US.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OVER NIGHT.

IT TAKES PERSISTENCE AND PATIENCE.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE BUILT THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS BRINGING A HIGH LEVEL OF FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE TO THE ORGANIZATION.

WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO UNLESS WE ARE THE BEST POSSIBLE STEWARDS OF THE RESOURCES ENTRUSTED TO US.

THE WAY WE MAKE LONG-TERM ADDICTION RECOVERY AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO CLIENTS IS THE RESULT OF MYRIAD OF FUNDING SOURCES.

AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNDING SOURCES WE HAVE ARE PEOPLE IN THE LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND WHO MAKE VERY GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR WORK.

WE ALSO HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND, AGAIN, WE OFFER SOME OUTPATIENT SERVICES.

BRINGING DISCIPLINE TO THE MANAGEMENT OF ALL OF THOSE FUNDING RESOURCES IS NECESSARY FOR US TO CONTINUE OUR WORK WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE TURNED A CORNER AND WE ARE ON SOLID FINANCIAL FOOTING, MORE SOLID FINANCIAL FOOTING, HONESTLY, THAN WE WERE WHEN I STARTED IN MARCH.

>> THAT'S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.

>> YEAH.

>> SPEAKING OF LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE, DO YOU SEE YOUR FUTURE HERE FOR A LONG TIME?

IS THIS YOUR PLACE?

>> I GREW UP IN THE SOUTH END OF LOUISVILLE.

I WENT TO LOUISVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

WHERE ELSE WOULD YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOL IN LOUISVILLE?

I WENT-- I'M A GRADUATE.

I'M NOT GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM THAT.

BUT I HAVEN'T LIVED OR WORKED IN LOUISVILLE.

I HAVEN'T HAD A PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE IN LOUISVILLE.

I HAVEN'T BEEN VERY FAR AWAY.

I'VE ONLY BEEN DOWN THE ROAD, RIGHT?

BUT STILL I HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN LOUISVILLE DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

SO 40 YEARS AFTER I LEFT HOME TO GO TO COLLEGE, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HOME.

AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HOME IN WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN TOWN.

AND, AGAIN, I HAVE NEVER HAD MORE CLARITY ABOUT WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING OR WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE.

AND I GET TO DO THIS IN MY HOMETOWN.

AND I'M JUST SO DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ EXPWR IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP, THEY CAN CONTACT THE HEALING PLACE ANY TIME.

THEY HAVE THREE LOCATIONS, CAMPUSES FOR MEN AND WOMEN HERE IN LOUISVILLE IN ADDITION FOR A CAMPUS FOR MEN.

WE LINKED YOU UP WITH MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE ket.org/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

THERE YOU CAN WATCH AND SHARE THIS EPISODE AND ALL OF OUR EPISODES PLUS BE SURE TO FOLLOW OWS SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BEHIND THE SCENES MOMENTS AND MORE.

WE ARE ON INSTAGRAM AT KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!