I was working as a nurse and addicted to pain meds. I was arrested on August 8, 2018 after taking drugs from the hospital where I worked. I had never been arrested before and found myself in jail for the first time, charged with a felony. I was sentenced to drug rehab surrounded by people I’d never been around. I was out of work and couldn’t get a job because of my pending drug charges. I fell into a really deep depression. I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel and believed I would never have a reason to smile again. On September 23, 2018, I tried to take my life. My teenage daughter found me unresponsive and I was Baker Acted.
After that, I did my best to carry on. I was working odd jobs and getting help from my family. I was going through drug court, working on getting my charges dropped. I saw a possibility to return to nursing, and submitted my case to the Board of Nursing to arrange a settlement. But 8 months into my State charges, my case was changed to Federal. The media picked up the story, and my face was plastered all over the news. I went back down a dark path and stopped seeing the light at the end of tunnel again. I felt like I was starting all over again.
Thankfully, my sister-in-law told me about Operation New Hope. At first, I didn’t want to enroll in the Ready4Work program because I didn’t want to waste my time and get my hopes up. But I realized that I didn’t know everything because if I did, I wouldn’t be where I was then. So I took a leap of faith, and what I found was the possibility of hope.
The program was so good and just the help I needed. I was encouraged, supported, and connected with an opportunity at Beaches Recovery. I’ve been at that job ever since, I am no longer struggling, and my daughter is so proud of me. I get to work with people that feel like family and help other women in their recovery journey.
People really do deserve a second chance. I feel so blessed that Operation New Hope took a chance on me, and I am thankful for the Ready4Work program. I don’t know where I would be without it. I am so happy now. I have peace, and you can’t put a price on that.
We provide support, life and job skills training for people affected by the criminal justice system and place them in employment that offers a sustainable quality of life.
Home Office
1830 North Main Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32206
Central Florida Program Location
617 N. Magnolia Avenue, 2nd Floor
Orlando, Florida 32801
St. Johns County Program Location
525 West King Street
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
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