When addiction nearly took everything from her, Christina gave her all to get it back – and then some.
Recovery takes a team, and Christina says she’s grateful to have not only received treatment at Herrington Center for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery in West Allis, but to have worked there, too, as a recovery support specialist.
“Being able to give back to the organization and treatment center that laid the foundation for me and my own recovery, while being able to work with individuals at the very ground level of their recovery journey — that’s a feeling hard to properly put into words,” Christina says. “My last day at Herrington was an emotional one, with feelings of both sadness for stepping away and elatedness for new opportunities.”
Recently promoted to Addiction Services liaison, Christina says she’s excited to pursue her dream of building relationships in communities and connecting individuals to substance use disorder resources.
“More people than ever before are struggling with addiction, and we have a call to answer,” Christina says. “We have such incredible services at Rogers, and as someone whose life was saved by that treatment, it’s an absolute honor to be able to give back on a larger scale.”
Not only is Christina honored to give back – she’s being honored for it.
Christina partners with the Southwest Suburban Health Department, which serves West Allis, Greenfield, and West Milwaukee, helping coordinate Narcan training sessions for West Allis Herrington residents, as well as adults and adolescents in PHP/IOP. Now the health department has recognized Christina with the Friend of Public Health Award, presented to her during a ceremony in April.
“We are so excited for Christina to receive this recognition,” says Michelle Maloney, PhD, NCSE, LPC, CAADC, CRPS, executive director of Addiction Services. “She embodies the spirit of recovery. Her passion and dedication to helping others find their path to recovery is ever going.”
Christina says she’s thankful to be on this path, hopeful her journey giving back is just getting started.
“It is such an honor to even be thought of for an award, let alone this one!” Christina says. “It makes me feel proud of the work we’ve done for our community and hopeful and motivated to continue finding new ways to serve others, meeting individuals where they are. I can’t think of anything else I would love to do more.”
