Lee Gibson of Sylva has joined the Workforce Development Team as a Certified Peer Support Specialist for the Recovery to Career Initiative.

Created to provide peer support services for those with a history of substance use, the initiative is designed to encourage and assist with going to work. Assistance can be help with finding shoes or uniforms, resume-building, or acting as an advocate or a liaison between the employee and employer.

Employment is reported as a top life priority by people in all stages of their path to wellness, says Gibson, who has been in this position for about three months. “Work is one of the best predictors of positive outcomes for individuals with Substance Use Disorder," she explains. "Regardless of whether work is paid or on a volunteer basis, individuals who work are more likely to reduce their substance use and maintain sobriety.”

Gibson says the job is giving her exactly what she seeks – a way to give back. “To see the small, sometimes minute, baby steps that people in recovery are taking is so rewarding. They may see them as insignificant, but they really are huge, monumental leaps forward.”