Ryan improves relationship with his children while working toward recovery

Ryan is done starting over. He’s improved his relationship with his kids after working toward recovery at Avivo and finding permanent housing, and after graduating from Avivo’s career education programs he’s now working toward full-time employment.

“I’m done starting over… I’ve been kicking *** for 25 months and I don’t want to turn back around,” he shares.

“I’m done starting over… I’ve been kicking *** for 25 months and I don’t want to turn back around,” Ryan shares.

Looking back, Ryan reflects on his journey and what initially led him to Avivo. “I was using heroin and went to jail for burglary,” he shares. “I wanted to go to drug court because I was tired of using drugs… [The prosecution] were betting against me [when I first started]. They told me that at my graduation. When I graduated, the prosecutor was proud of me.”

Overcoming the odds was important to Ryan. He was excited to move on, past a life he says he never intended to get into.

“After my sister’s death in 2019, that’s what put me on heroin… That’s basically where everything spiraled for two years.”

After starting his initial treatment journey and graduating from a local inpatient program he was able to transfer to Avivo and move into Avivo’s recovery housing.

“Housing was the most important thing… I’d heard a lot about Avivo, that they help with housing,” shares Ryan. Now, with assistance from Avivo’s housing programs, Ryan is living in permanent housing of his own.

“Housing was the most important thing… I’d heard a lot about Avivo, that they help with housing.”

Ryan’s recovery story goes past entering treatment, however. While at Avivo, Ryan met staff from the Avivo Institute of Career & Technical Education, who informed him about career education courses available, and Avivo’s career counselors to help him find work.

“The career education program gave me something to look forward to,” shares Ryan. “I like computers, so I signed up for Avivo’s IT Training Program.”

Since then, Ryan’s interests have shifted and he’s moved toward helping others in the situation he was in, by becoming a peer recovery specialist. “I’m still going to school for IT, because I want to knock out all of my certificates, but I’m also interested in the whole recovery field. I have so much experience in the criminal and drug use side of things that I can share as a peer recovery counselor,” Ryan shares.

Ryan shares that his life now is significantly better than just two years ago. “I feel great. In the last two months since I got my place I’ve improved my credit… things are going great now.”

And the biggest benefit of Ryan’s life restart? His relationship with his children. “Reaching recovery has made my relationship with my kids 100 times better. They respect me now. They trust what I say and do. It’s impacted all aspects of my life.”

You can help more individuals like Ryan reach recovery and find employment by support Avivo. Make a gift now.