Alyssa Mainhart began her recovery journey in July 2012. She has truly undergone a profound transformation in this process. From a starting point of incarceration and homelessness, in recovery, she earned a degree in social work, winning numerous scholarships and honors in the process. She is a Substance Use Counselor for Foundations Medical Services. Foundations provides methadone treatment for people diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder. This is particularly impactful because Alyssa herself was a client of the very same methadone clinic for two years at the beginning of her recovery journey.
She’s known for going above and beyond for her clients, doing whatever it takes to remove barriers to people getting the help that they need. Whether it’s financial barriers, communication barriers, public assistance barriers, she fights alongside her clients to overcome them.
Alyssa’s nomination for this award said “She has a presence that people are attracted to, and they listen. When Alyssa tells her story and talks to others, she does not hold back from speaking about uncomfortable topics such as stigma, harm reduction, medications, and her own journey.”