Bell County took another step toward becoming a certified Recovery Ready Community on Friday as Dallas Hurley and Sue Fox from Volunteers of America visited several local programs that offer support and assistance for people battling addiction.

They toured and spoke to the staff at Winds of Change in Pineville, Crater of Hope in Middleboro and at the RHOAR Center.

Hurley is the senior director for policy and advocacy of Volunteers of America Midstates. He and Fox will report back to the Recovery Ready program’s statutory council.

“It’s a 22 member council and they’re the ones who actually certify cities and counties as recovery ready from substance abuse disorder,” he said. “The ladies here have done a  great job in terms of making their application. That application looks at the entire recovery ecosystem from prevention to treatment and then to recovery support on the back end. Second chance employers who are willing to step up and work with folks are a huge protective factor. That economic hope is how you keep a lot of people from returning to use.”

The program was started in February of 2023 and has grown to include 21 certified counties.

“We’re now up to  1.4 million Kentuckians that are living under certified programs so we’re making really good progress,” Hurley said. “I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that it was Rep. Adam Bowling that got the bill passed. He and Gene Detherage  were in the same BRIGHT Leadership group and they were the genesis of the program. We owe a big debt to them and we’re really excited to have it growing.”

Fox is also on the Operation UNITE Board.

“It was great to visit and see the services that are provided. I come to a lot of the UNITE Coalition meetings in this area so I know some of the services that are provided here. It’s really enlightening to be on the ground and see them in action,” she said.

Hurley added that it was a feather in Bell County’s cap to have so many non-profit organizations working together to help those in seeking help find treatment options and support as well as job placement programs once they are in recovery.

“I really love working with non-profits and ASAP boards, Operation UNITE is great. We’ll work with any entity that’s going to strengthen recovery capital at the individual, family and community level,” he said.