SI SUPRT

09/02/2026

Every year, Substance Use Counselor, Stacey Miller, kicks off Recovery Month by dying her hair purple. Stacey has helped countless people find recovery over the years, and she always goes out of her way to support the recovery community. We decided we should join her in the tradition. We all want to be more like Stacey. 💜

08/28/2026

Thank you, WPSD Channel 6, for covering our 13th Annual Overdose Awareness Day Event. 💜

We are so proud of how well the event went—but we are even more proud of our Recovery Services Program Manager, Chris Dennis, and Peer Support Specialist, Kindra York, for stepping out of their comfort zone and interviewing for the news. They both did phenomenal and are both the perfect examples that Recovery is Possible. 💜

If you have a few minutes, check it out!:

The Egyptian Health Department held its 13th annual Overdose Awareness Day event Thursday evening, honoring those lost to addiction while providing information and resources.

08/28/2026

We had our 13th Annual Overdose Awareness Event this evening💜 thank you to everyone who set up a table, who shared their story, attended the event, and to those who helped plan and coordinate it all. We had almost 80 people in the room. We heard stories on recovery and also talked a lot about the history of Overdose Prevention💜

Tonight, we also had the privilege of recognizing several individuals in Southern Illinois who truly are Visionaries in Overdose Prevention:

Dr. Michael Blain & Scott Fletcher for their prevention efforts and to Stacey Miller and Angie Hampton— who first brought Overdose Awareness Campaigns to our community 13 years ago.

We are so thankful for the community we serve—the individuals we work alongside, partnering agencies that provide so many wonderful resources, and for all the connections we have made along the way.

Thank you for helping us raise awareness on Overdose. We couldn’t do the work without all of you! And because of all of that great work: nationwide, overdose deaths are decreasing! 🎉

08/25/2026

Come see us today (Tuesday, August 25th from 2-6pm) at Angie’s Wash & Fold in Carmi! We'll be there with the First Presbyterian Church of Carmi. As always, you can wash and dry up to 3 loads of laundry for free. We'll also have free naloxone and info about other local resources. 💜

08/21/2026

We were SO happy to present this year's Community Champion Award to First Presbyterian Church's Loads of Love! They began sponsoring Free Laundry Days over three years ago, but then quickly took on the project in Saline County. They now host an event on the second Monday of every month!

It's hard to overstate how meaningful it is to have clean clothes, and we're so grateful for the kindness and love the church puts out into our community. Thank you, and congratulations First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg, IL! 💜

Recovery is for everyone. Every person. Every family. Every community.

Pictured L to R: Julie Bardos, Jill Fowler, Rachel Hutchinson, James Hogue, Julie Hogue, Laurie Fields (minister), and Chris Dennis (SI SUPRT team lead/Pres. Elect).

Congratulations to First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg, IL, SICHC's 2026 Community Champion. The award was presented at our annual meeting on Wednesday, August 19 to the Loads of Love team from FPC-H (Pictured L to R: Julie Bardos, Jill Fowler, Rachel Hutchinson, James Hogue, Julie Hogue, Laurie Fields (pastor), and Chris Dennis (SI SUPRT team lead/Pres. Elect).

We are grateful for their efforts made in our community as well as our other nominees.

(Photo credit: Holly Kotner)

08/11/2026

We're Hiring, Meet our Recovery Specialists💜💜

Kiesha Fromm, Certified Recovery Support Specialist, has been with Egyptian Health Department for 4 years.

Kiesha is a Peer Recovery Specialist. Kiesha helps people with substance use disorders navigate their daily lives. She is always busy helping people rebuild their lives in early recovery and throughout their entire recovery journey. Kiesha is a constant advocate and champion for making Southern Illinois a more recovery oriented place to live.

Kiesha says, “Being a peer has given purpose to the hardest chapter of my life. Working for Egyptian Health Dept has allowed me to serve my community alongside people who truly care for the people we help.”

Kiesha will always be your biggest cheerleader, will always be in your corner, is the person who will hold you accountable and will always stand up for those who need it the most.

We are hiring more Recovery Support Specialists, and would love to hear from you! If you, or someone you know (who is in recovery for 2 or more years) wants to learn more about this position, please reach out and apply today! egyptian.org/careers

08/10/2026

08/05/2026

We're Hiring, Meet our Recovery Specialists💜💜

Matt Shaffer, Certified Recovery Support Specialist, has been with Egyptian Health Department for 4 years.

Matt is a Peer Recovery Specialist. Matt helps people with substance use disorders navigate their daily lives. Matt is incredible in a crisis, is always compassionate, and we don't know what we would do without him. Matt transports people to treatment and is an important part of our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).

Matt says his favorite part about his job is "Being able to offer the same hope and compassion that changed my life. Helping others recognize their own strength and potential is the most rewarding part of what I do.”

Matt, the 2023 Employee of the Year at Egyptian Health Department, is an incredible coworker, recovery advocate, and exactly the friendly face you want to see when you need help.

We are hiring more Recovery Support Specialists, and would love to hear from you! If you, or someone you know (who is in recovery for 2 or more years) wants to learn more about this position, please reach out and apply today! egyptian.org/careers

07/30/2026

Meet our Recovery Specialists💜💜

Kindra York, Certified Recovery Specialist, has been with Egyptian Health Department for 5 years. You know her, we love her, and we want to share all about Kindra!

Kindra is a Peer Recovery Specialist. Kindra helps individuals with substance use disorders navigate their daily lives. Whether it's meeting people where they are at, in the office, taking them to or from treatment, or anywhere in between. Kindra never has two days that are the same and is fantastic at helping people who need it the most.

Kindra's favorite part about her job is picking people up from treatment. “I love picking people up from treatment and being able to witness the excitement they have for their new life.”

Kindra changes peoples lives every single day. The world needs more Kindra's, and so do we.

We are hiring more Recovery Support Specialists, and would love to hear from you! If you, or someone you know (who is in recovery for 2 or more years) wants to learn more about this position, please reach out and apply today! egyptian.org/careers

07/23/2026

We’re excited to share that two of our own SI SUPRT council members, Jerrie Baxley-Brown and Haley Smith, successfully submitted a proposal to the White County Board to receive opioid settlement funding for this year’s Walk for Recovery in Carmi! Thank you, Jerrie and Haley, for all you do to make your community a better place.

Opioid settlement funds are one way communities can invest in healing and recovery after the impact of the opioid crisis, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to use these funds to support our annual event — in partnership with the Southern Illinois Recovery Network!

We hope you’ll join us on Saturday, September 26 at the White County Fairgrounds in Carmi. Everyone is welcome!

Recovery is for everyone. Every person. Every family. Every community. 💜