Williams honored by Rescue 180 with Courage Award

A special event was held at the Rescue 180 Crisis Center to provide great food and fellowship, and to give honor where honor is due in the area, of our community’s leaders who have impacted us in the field of substance abuse recovery.

Rescue 180, the county’s Substance Abuse Coalition, has been providing Prevention Education for Jefferson County residents for over 17 years. Starting in 2014 the organization started looking into providing a wrap-around recovery service to help the county’s vulnerable population who have lost their way due to addiction.

In 2016, the coalition received their first recovery-oriented grant. This was called a T-CORS grant and it would be a pilot and a kick off for the coalition to get their feet wet in the area of providing recovery resources and peer support to the recovery community,

“Over the years, I have had one major influencer who has impacted me and taken the time to mentor me in the need of recovery services in this area: my friend and Colleague Patricia Williams, who is the Executive Director of the Fourth Judicial Recovery Services.”

Rescue 180’s Executive Director, Rev. Debra Shultz, held a special Christmas dinner for 2 women’s transitional homes that have benefited from the organization’s wrap-around services.

During the dinner a highly important person was recognized.

It all began in 2014 when Judge Duane Slone recognized Shultz’ hard work in building Rescue 180, and appointed her to the Board of the 4th Judicial Recovery services, and asked her to become a part of ‘the team’ that makes decisions for the participants of the program.

“I met Patty and began to listen and learn. She is one of the strongest women on this planet, just as a human! She has walked through so much personally and also has a wealth of experience and excellence in the area of helping those bound by addiction..”

For over a decade, the two have been colleagues and friends.

“I would not trade my education in recovery services for anything and of course give God all the glory for opening all of the doors I have walked through with Rescue 180, whether it be prevention services or Recovery.

“One thing for sure ‘Miss Patty’ as all the clients call her, has made a difference for many young women and men, in helping them find sobriety and their very lives.”

Her passion and wealth of knowledge about addiction and recovery would serve to become the most impactive tools in Shultz opening her heart to those in recovery. Rescue 180’s Jefferson County Crisis project focuses on providing peer support, entrance funding for co-clients, additionally providing services such as cooking classes,occasional transportation, meeting various needs and making trauma and spiritual restoration classes available.

Shultz says, “It is such a blessing to be able to help the community’s vulnerable population.

I really believe most people do not understand how difficult these folks have it because they made bad choices, and watched this disease called addiction not only destroy their lives but, sadly, their families.

“It could happen to anyone. The disease or stronghold of addiction, has no respect for people. It can latch on to any ethnicity, class, rich, poor, educated, uneducated all ages….”

Keith Shultz, Co Director of Rescue 180, shares, “We are so grateful for our funding that we receive from our county for our community crisis center. It is truly helping us save lives.

We also have a reentry program inside the Jefferson County Jail that is funded separately through a grant through the Office of Justice, Bureau of Justice’s Second Chance program.”

Shultz and Rescue 180 presented “The Courage Award” to Miss William’s in a room filled with the support of women in transitional housing; many have been impacted by William’s guidance.

One young woman Mallie Moore who was a graduate of the Recovery Court program was on hand to support her receiving the award.

Shultz also honored Moore for her progress in her recovery and acknowledged her achieving her credentials as a Certified Peer Specialist. Moore, is now the house manager of ‘the Cabin’, which is now separate from the recovery court program. The cabin has been opened up to all women in the community, who qualify as being in recovery and rebuilding their lives.

Moore added, “Patty Williams, my biggest supporter and the Recovery Court Director. Her unwavering belief in my potential and tireless dedication to guiding me through my challenges have been instrumental in my journey.

“Patty’s expertise, compassion, and commitment to helping individuals like myself navigate the complexities of recovery have made an indelible impact.”

Williams summarized, “I am beyond honored to have been involved in the communities of the Fourth Judicial District and receiving the Courage Award. However, I cannot take credit for the work so many have been a part of. Judge Slone would say “it takes a village”. We are but the hands and feet of our God. Hope springs eternal and what all of us need to have in order to pull ourselves out of the darkness that addiction creates. But for the grace of God go I.”