Substance abuse disorder affects millions of people in America. For people struggling with substance abuse disorder, recovery is possible; sometimes they just need a helping hand. Valparaiso resident Kristi Chervenak is passionate about helping people in the community recover from substance abuse disorder. Chervenak currently works for Recovery Connection and also volunteers outside of work to help people.
Recovery Connection is a center in Valparaiso that helps people with all forms of addiction, not just substance. Chervenak began working there in January of 2020. She had experience seeing what substance abuse does to people, so she decided to do something about it and applied to Recovery Connection.
“I actually worked in the funeral industry for over seven years,” explained Chervenak. “I also work for the Porter County Coroner’s Office, so I see the end result of substance abuse disorder and the struggles within our community with the lack of resources. Then the job at Recovery Connection opened up, so I took a leap of faith and applied.”
Chervenak’s passion also stems from personal experience with seeing loved one’s battle substance abuse disorder.
“Another reason this field is a passion for me is that I grew up with my sister and mom both struggling with substance abuse disorder,” said Chervenak. “As a family member, I can empathize with other family members about the struggles they are going through.”
Chervenak is the coordinator for Recovery Connection, and she oversees the daily operations and research grant opportunities. She also does recovery navigation, meaning she does an initial intake assessment for a client and then connects them with whatever resources they need.
Even outside of work, Chervenak is dedicated to helping her community. Working in the field of helping people recover has made Chervenak realize that she wants to do more to aid her community. She regularly volunteers at Porter County Substance Abuse Council, where she is a coalition member. She is also the co-chair of the Porter County Drunk Driving Taskforce.
“I value making a difference in the community,” explained Chervenak. “It’s very important to educate and reduce the stigma in our community around substance abuse disorder and addiction as a whole. Until you’re actually working every single day in this field and seeing the need for help and the needs that aren’t being met, it makes you want to fight harder.”
When Chervenak is not working tirelessly for the community, she is a mother of three. Very recently, she welcomed the arrival of her third child.
“Outside of working, I have my family, and they are very important to me,” said Chervenak
Recovery Connection is a resource for both people who need help with addiction and their families. To learn more about Recovery Connection, please visit https://www.recoveryconnectionpc.org/.