Samantha Woodruff has had a passion to help others the same way she was helped through her own recovery process, but she wasn’t exactly sure how to make that happen. Sober for almost 5 years, Samantha knows what if feels like to be at the bottom, but she also knows how it feels to climb out of the pit of addiction and walk with her head held high.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Samantha found herself unemployed and struggling through some other rough spots in her life, including the loss of her father. Instead of turning to past coping mechanisms, she kept trudging forward to keeping building a brighter future.
In October 2020, Samantha was introduced to the Missouri Works Together program from Case Manager, Whitney Davis. MoWorks Together offers career training for opioid addiction recovery treatment for those who have been affected by the opioid crisis.
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Excited to offer the same hope to others she was given while battling addiction, Woodruff was able to become certified as a Peer Support Specialist by the State of Missouri Credentialing Board and find employment with Lane Change in Lebanon, Missouri. Lane Change is a Christian, non-profit organization, committed to “helping our community by providing hope through outreach, prevention, and education for substance abuse.”
“It (MoWorks) really has really given me a great opportunity to get my feet wet in something I am invested in making my lifetime career,” said Samantha.
Woodruff meets with clients daily seeking long-term sobriety and recovery, as well as facilitating recovery meetings and assisting with social media marketing.
“It (MoWorks) really has really given me a great opportunity to get my feet wet in something I am invested in making my lifetime career.”
It’s isn’t just Samantha who has noticed the change in her life since choosing sobriety and seeking to help others in their journeys; her family and friends have noticed too. “I am doing better with boundaries and facilitating groups,” said Samantha. “It made my dreams more feasible, and has made a huge difference in my mental health. The pandemic definitely presented its own feats and this kept me focused. I am so grateful and feel so blessed to utilize this opportunity and be able to do what I am passionate about.”
“It made my dreams more feasible and has made a huge difference in my mental health.”
Congratulations, Samantha, and thank you for your continued passion to help others choose sobriety and recovery.