What's Next?

The journey of recovery doesn’t stop with just getting sober—it’s about living a life that reflects growth, connection, and the desire to make a difference.

What’s Next is about taking the steps to not only continue your recovery but to actively engage in your community, help others, and contribute to the movement of breaking the stigma around addiction. Recovery is not a quiet process, and by living it out loud, we can inspire others, create lasting change, and strengthen the fabric of our community.

Getting involved in your local recovery community is a powerful way to reinforce your own recovery while helping others on their journey. Whether it's volunteering, supporting local recovery groups, or becoming a Peer Recovery Coach, your involvement can provide the encouragement and accountability needed for both your growth and that of others. By living recovery out loud, we pave the way for a more inclusive, supportive, and understanding society, where addiction is seen as a health issue, not a moral failure.

Taking action and embracing the opportunities around you can make a significant impact. Living recovery out loud means actively breaking down the barriers of shame and isolation that often accompany addiction, showing others that recovery is not only possible but something worth celebrating. The more we engage and share our stories, the more we create a community where people in recovery can find support, empowerment, and hope for the future.

Opportunities to Serve in Montcalm County

Make a Difference in Your Community
Montcalm County offers many ways to get involved and give back to those in need, particularly in the areas of addiction recovery and mental health support. Whether through volunteering at local recovery events, helping at shelters, or offering a helping hand in community workshops, there are countless ways to contribute. Serving your community not only helps others but also strengthens the fabric of our local recovery network.

Montcalm RISC
(Recovery and Integrated Services of Care)

Our mission: To establish as many pathways as necessary to achieve substance use disorder recovery.

Our vision: Montcalm County has an active, inclusive, and thriving recovery community.

Carrying the Message of Recovery
If you are interested in being a part of RISC, 'there is room at the table'. Or, for more information on resources, to request additional flyers, or submit revisions, contact John Kroneck

PHONE: 616-302-6009

EMAIL: Jkroneck@mmdhd.org

Become a Peer Recovery Coach

Empower Others Through Support
Becoming a Peer Recovery Coach is a rewarding way to support individuals on their journey to recovery. Peer Recovery Coaches use their lived experiences to help others navigate the challenges of addiction recovery. This role is vital in breaking down barriers, offering hope, and creating a strong support system for those in need. If you’re passionate about making a difference and have personal experience in recovery, this could be the next step in your journey.

Becoming a CCAR (Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery) Peer Recovery Coach is a powerful way to give back to the recovery community while continuing to grow in your own recovery. As a Peer Recovery Coach, you'll use your lived experience with addiction and recovery to support others on their journey. This role involves guiding individuals through the challenges of recovery, helping them set goals, access resources, and build a fulfilling, sober life. The training provides the skills and knowledge to offer empathetic, practical support to those in need.

The process of becoming a certified Peer Recovery Coach not only helps others but also deepens your own understanding of recovery. By engaging in this role, you reinforce your commitment to sobriety while making a tangible difference in the lives of others. The certification program equips you with the tools to communicate effectively, set healthy boundaries, and maintain ethical standards while supporting individuals through their recovery process. If you’re passionate about helping others find their way, becoming a Peer Recovery Coach can be a rewarding and impactful step in your recovery journey.

Click here to get started!

Ionia / Montcalm

Face Addiction Now Chapter

The Ionia/Montcalm (I/M) FAN chapter was originally founded in 2015 by 8th Circuit Court Judge Suzanne H. Kreeger, who presides over the Ionia/Montcalm Adult Recovery Court (I/M ARC), with assistance from Phil Pavona from the Ingham-Okemos FAN chapter. Judge Kreeger saw the work being done in Lansing and wanted that opportunity for her communities. It was I/M FAN’s hope that, with the help of community volunteers, the challenges of addiction would be more understood, and its grasp on our communities would be lessened, or even removed. Due to Covid 19, our I/M FAN chapter stopped meeting. Now it is our time to re-launch and welcome back I/M FAN to our communities!

Our goal is to raise awareness of the opioid epidemic and the hold it continues to have on our communities, to reduce the stigma and change the face of addiction, to educate people about the dangers of prescription and illegal narcotic use, and to support those affected by substance use disorder. Through real people sharing real stories and the use of data, we will reduce the stigma attached to addiction and create an open forum for families and professionals to receive valuable insights on the prevention and treatment of this disease.

In Ionia and Montcalm counties, the "not my car, not my house, not my kid, not my problem" belief/philosophy is killing our families and communities. These are our husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters. We will educate to raise awareness and save lives by partnering with public safety, medical professionals, insurance companies, legislators, legal professionals, schools, families, and friends, facilitating change in the way addiction is viewed and treated. Making a difference one step and one life at a time.

Get Involved Today!

In 2007, Face Addiction Now (FAN) started as a group of concerned community members who met in a church basement in Fraser, MI, to address the tragic loss of young lives due to substance use. Today, communities statewide continue to meet to educate their communities on trends related to substance use disorder (SUD), recovery, how to navigate SUD as a family and more.

FAN Forums are the one place where individuals who are actively struggling with substance use, those in recovery, and family members can all come together and experience community. We at FAN believe that addiction is a family disease and we know that it can be isolating. These forums are designed to unite families and communities in the fight against substance use while providing a welcoming and supportive environment where individuals can come together to share experiences, gain insights, and find hope