The Recovery Review: August 2018

A Second Chance

Jesus spoke a parable about a man who had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and when he came looking for fruit, he found none. In fact, the tree had been barren of fruit for three years and he was prepared to cut it down. It becomes clear from the parable that God is the owner of the fig tree and the parable is not only about Israel, the church, but about each of us. In the parable, the fig tree disappointed the owner, just as the people of Israel and their leaders disappointed God. I know I have, without doubt, made my share of contributions to God’s list of disappointments. Perhaps you would say the same.

Instead of fruit, the owner found only leaves which is a sign that the season for figs was now over. Another season had come and gone without the producing of fruit. For some reason, the pepper plant I planted in my garden this year failed to produce any fruit. I can relate to the disappointment. The gardener pleads for the tree to be given yet another chance before it was cut down and the plea is found in Luke 13:8-9, “But he (gardener) said to him (owner), ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’” The gardener reminds me of Jesus who is always pleading our case before the Father. The reminder for me from this parable is that Jesus is never quick to cut down. He always allows yet another chance to cultivate and produce good fruit.

At least for me, there have been things in my life that have justified a “cutting down.” Many times God severely prunes us but then patiently waits for us to bear fruit again. You may have a loved one in addiction and have waited and waited for good fruit to be produced only to be disappointed again and again. I want to encourage you to not lose hope in that person. Continue to pray and be encouraging even when small steps are made in the right direction. Remember, God remains the God of second chances, the God of pruning and cultivating and of even more chances. God loves us, pursues us and longs for us to be set free from every stronghold. Be encouraged from knowing God longs for your loved one to overcome addiction. He is always at work! Please pray for all of our staff as we strive to be part of the process God uses to help rescue those in addiction and see them successful in sobriety and in life!

Sincerely,

Mike Cox
President, Isaiah House, Inc.  

Justin Found Hope for Addiction

My name is Justin Clarkson. I was raised in Danville, Ky and graduated from Boyle County High School in 1996. There wasn’t any addiction in my family and I had a great childhood as well as a good upbringing. Right after high school, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. I served in the Infantry for 16 years until I was wounded in combat.

While I was at Wounded Warrior, I soon got addicted to pain killers. I was on the West Coast in California and the job placements were in California not in Kentucky. This caused depression for me. The job opportunities were amazing, but I needed to get back home to be close to my 9 year old daughter. I was given Suboxone as I left Wounded Warriors. Once I was retired and returned home, my addiction progressed further.

I realized quickly that I wasn’t getting any job offers here like I did on the West Coast. So the feeling of no accomplishment, going from being a Platoon Sergeant in the Infantry to coming home and being nothing made me use even more to block it all out. I soon realized while using that I didn’t have the nightmares I was having while I was sober. My addiction kept spiraling downwards.

Until I entered the Isaiah House Long Term Program, I had lost all hope. I had no idea how to beat my addiction. Since I have been here at the Isaiah House in treatment, I have learned the tools to beat addiction. I also have a strong support group with positive influences in my life. I can’t explain it, but since I have been at Isaiah House, the nightmares have stopped with no medication.

I am currently serving as an Intern at Isaiah House with the Case Management Office while working on my recovery as a client. I am thankful for my job- helping the guys has been the biggest part of my recovery. I am happy to say that I am on good terms with my parents today. I recently saw my daughter for the first time since November 2017 at an Isaiah House graduation. My relationship with her and being the best father I can be is my drive to keep moving forward in my recovery. My newly regained faith in my higher power is what motivates me daily. I have found that hope.

#realhopeforaddiction
Isaiah-House.org

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Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. Supports Isaiah House’s Employment Program for Recovering Addicts

Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) is located in Georgetown, Kentucky and is Toyota’s largest vehicle manufacturing plant in the world. TMMK is helping recovering addicts prepare for jobs and successful re-entry into the community. We are grateful to have received a $7,500 grant from TMMK which will support Isaiah House Treatment Center’s employment program and will be used to purchase equipment for clients to gain work experience in construction, mechanics and landscaping.

Financial stress and inability to meet personal and family needs is a leading cause of addicts returning to old behavior after treatment, according to Mike Cox, President of Isaiah House. “Over the years, we have found that clients who can function in the workplace are far more likely to maintain sobriety over time,” said Cox. “Fortunately, residential treatment provides the time and resources to help them overcome employment challenges before returning to the community.”

The goal of our employment program is to provide recovering addicts with a solid start in furthering their education, gaining work experience and learning new job skills. Isaiah House offers GED and college classes onsite, has built Mike Mullins Vocational Center for vocational training and gives our clients opportunities to work on projects in the community and in partnership with local manufacturers and businesses.

Founded in 2002, Isaiah House provides substance abuse treatment for over 400 Kentucky residents annually offering short-term and long-term residential programs in addition to outpatient counseling and ongoing peer support services. TMMK provides grants to support Kentucky nonprofits with an emphasis on education. “We are deeply grateful to Toyota for its generosity,” said Cox. “Without private support, we simply wouldn’t be able to offer these types of job training and educational opportunities.”

Good Samaritan Foundation Supports

Isaiah House Treatment Center

Isaiah House Treatment Center will be able to enhance its substance abuse treatment program thanks to a generous grant from Good Samaritan Foundation, a ministry of the Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. The $13,041 grant will be used to purchase medical equipment and supplies and to provide educational resources on healthy living.

Increasing access to substance abuse treatment for Kentucky families is a primary strategic goal of Isaiah House. To that end, Isaiah House is opening two new 28-day residential programs this year in Nelson County. Grant funds will provide these programs with access to the same healthcare and healthy living education now offered at Isaiah House’s facilities in Washington County.

Isaiah House takes a holistic approach to treatment considering a broad range of challenges faced by recovering addicts and alcoholics including family relationships, spiritual renewal, mental health, education, job skills and employment, and health and nutrition. “The medical and physical challenges brought on by long-term substance abuse cannot be ignored when treating people in addiction recovery programs,” said Mike Cox, Isaiah House President. “Many people arrive at Isaiah House exhausted, seriously malnourished and without medical care for months and often years.”

Isaiah House recognizes that helping addicts recover their physical health is critically important to providing them the best possible chance for long term sobriety. The Good Samaritan grant will provide critical resources for treating and monitoring clients’ physical ailments in addition to supporting their return to health. Funds will also provide educational materials to teach clients about important lifestyle changes and encourage healthy habits.

Good Samaritan makes grants to charitable and educational activities related to health care and health education in Kentucky. Funds support organizations serving low income and uninsured individuals in underserved areas of the state.

 August’s Five Star Employee of the Month is John Robertson

Congratulations to our August 5 Star Employee of the Month, John Robertson! John is our Financial Case Associate. He has been with us for a year and a half. His job includes ensuring the collection and proper dispersion of all incoming client money (cash on hand, savings, medical, legal, canteen and fees). He is responsible for shopping for all of the clients personal items, nicotine, and over the counter medications. He ensures proper payment for all client responsibilities and bills, i.e. child support, probation and parole, court fines, restitution, etc. Making sure all client pay checks, stubs, any personal money receipts, money requests, canteen and travel logs are turned in. Also responsible for the upkeep of all money request sheets, fee collections.

What do you like about your job?

“I graduated from UK with a degree in finance so this job allows me to use my background to help place clients in a better financial position than they were the day they arrived at Isaiah House.”

What do you like about working for Isaiah House and being a part of the team?

“This place gave me a new life and a support system that I’ve never had before. I couldn’t think of a better way to help give back than to be a part of the team that gave me the new found hope that I have today. This award means the world to me. I used to believe that I would never be able to function on a job without amphetamines in my system. So getting this award has obviously proven me wrong.”

We are glad to have John a part of the Isaiah House family. He was chosen by his co-workers. He received a special keepsake gift, front door parking in the designated “Employee of the Month” parking space and he will enjoy lunch with Isaiah House, Inc. President, Mike Cox.

Congressman Brett Guthrie Visits Our Chaplin Center

Congressman Brett Guthrie, U.S. Representative for Kentucky’s 2nd congressional district, and his staff visited Isaiah House Treatment Center’s Chaplin campus to see our new 16 bed Medicaid facilities, Jake Kuertz and Greg Bowen Centers. Congressman Guthrie came to tour the facility and to discuss addiction treatment with our executive staff, Mike Cox, President, and Andy Ayers, Vice President of Operations.

Congressman Guthrie took his time walking through our halls, exploring the dorm rooms, gym, dining hall, offices and medical room. He even stopped in to speak with a classroom of clients to address how our legislators are working to help people suffering from substance abuse disorder.

We are honored to have Congressman Guthrie visit and look forward to having him and his staff visit again.

Declaring a Brand New Life through Baptism

Seven men of Isaiah House were baptized on August 19th at Willisburg Church of God of Prophecy by Pastor Keith Creech. Pastor Creech is not only the Pastor at Willisburg Church of God of Prophecy, but he is also our Chaplain at Isaiah House.

Baptism is a symbol of a new life as a Christian. As the men dip into the water burying the ‘old life’ and rise to walk in a ‘new life’ they are exemplifying what Christ did for us by dying on the cross, his burial in the tomb and his resurrection from the dead. The following version of Colossians 2:12-14 says it beautifully.

“Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive- right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross.” Colossians 2:12-14 MSG

It is uplifting to see these men who once came into Isaiah House broken filled with despair and no hope now awake, filled with hope and faith in a future. Their faces say it all as they raise out of the water. Praise the Lord.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” -2 Corinthians 5:17

 Isaiah House, Inc. Businesses

Hire experienced, skilled men for the work you need while supporting addiction treatment. 

Click on the logo for more information.

Career Opportunities

Nurse/RN for Our Chaplin Center-

We are hiring a licensed RN for our Chaplin Center in Nelson County.• Prefer knowledge of recovery, mental health and other co-occurring disorders and experience in working with addiction in a residential and / or intensive outpatient milieu. • Prefer Experience in crisis intervention and conflict resolution skills. • Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, fluid and stressful environment. Send your resume to Melissa.howard@isaiah-house.org. 

Medical Billing Assistant-

Prefer a minimum Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management, 1 year experience.• If you hold a current medical coders license you must be current on all CEU’s
• Proficient with ICD 9.• Prefer experience working with various funding streams and ability to collaborate with our billing department. Send your resume to Melissa.howard@isaiah-house.org

Book Keeper-                                                                                                           

We are hiring a Book Keeper. Preferred applicants have a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or 5 years equivalent work experience.• Experience in medical billing preferred.• Record A/R.• Reconcile P/C and bank statements. • Print checks.• Record general ledger entries. • Record credits/debits in accounting records.• Run checks online. • Print deposit slips.• Process payroll.• Process payroll taxes Federal/State/Local on a monthly/quarterly basis.• Prepare financial reports for board of directors and grant applications. • Process UNITE vouchers. • Work with CPA to ensure financial accountability.• Ensure all required filings are made in an accurate and timely fashion i.e. 990.• Assist in acquiring any and all financial accreditations. To apply, send your resume to Melissa.Howard@Isaiah-House.org 

Upcoming Events

Isaiah House Graduation Ceremony– October 27, 11:00 am at Asbury Methodist Church Campbellsville, KY. Pastor Jason Roop  will be our speaker

Grand Opening of Jake Kuertz & Greg Bowen Center- TBA

   Making it Simple To Help Isaiah House

As we grow and open more beds to provide addiction treatment for men in our communities, we have increasing needs for items ranging from vehicles and computers to bed linens and supplies for Patricia’s Place and Isaiah House in Willisburg, KY, and the Jake Kuertz Center in Chaplin, KY. We are a non-profit 501(C) 3 organization, donations can be tax deductible. We couldn’t do what we do without you. Thank you! 

To donate an item, contact the Public Relations Department by calling 859-375-9200.

Monetary donations can be made through our website by clicking the Donate Now buttons on our Newsletter.

You can support Isaiah House Treatment Center while you grocery shop at your local Kroger. When you enroll in Kroger Community Rewards®, you’ll earn rewards for Isaiah House every time you shop and use your Kroger Plus Card. To enroll your card just click on the logo.

.As you shop online on Amazon, use AmazonSmile and the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to Isaiah House, Inc. as the charitable organization of your choice. Choose Isaiah House, Inc as your charity and go shopping by clicking on the logo!

Start saving money nearly everywhere you go, just by using iBennie and iBennie will make a donation to us. You can save money and support addiction treatment. Sign up for this free program by clicking the logo.   

Thank you for your support of Isaiah House Treatment Center

Thank you to our Drive for Recovery Sponsors