Although she didn't know it at the time, Katrina Davis's first step toward recovery from substance use disorder was also the start of a new, rewarding career path. Now, she helps others as they work toward sobriety.
Upon graduating from a rehabilitation program run by the Atlantic Outreach Group (AOG) in Richmond, Virginia, Katrina was asked to serve as a house leader. As house leader, Katrina supported others in earlier stages of their recovery journeys while also contemplating her own future, including potential employment options. With support from Virginia's Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), she discovered a strategy for pursuing a career in substance use disorder counseling: the Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) registered apprenticeship program.
At the time Katrina started the PRS registered apprenticeship program, it was facilitated through a different organization, but later, AOG decided to establish its own, renaming it the Residential Recovery Advisor (RRA) program. To do this, AOG worked closely with DARS' Pathways team and Virginia's Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (DWDA), which is responsible for ensuring all registered apprenticeship programs in the state meet required standards.
A key benefit of registered apprenticeship is the opportunity to “learn while you earn.” All programs combine related technical instruction with supervised, on-the-job training. But it's not just apprentices who benefit from the apprenticeship model. By sponsoring programs, organizations—like AOG—gain the opportunity to build a pipeline of future talent trained in the context of their own unique culture and operational systems. In Katrina's case, the on-the-job training requirement was 500 hours, with her assuming increased responsibility over time.
Pathways provided additional support and training to help Katrina succeed. After she completed the program, she took on increased leadership roles. For instance, she led the organization's workforce development team. She also decided to pursue more education and training. Today, she's working toward her Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant (CSAC) certification, with plans to eventually earn her bachelor's in human services.
Katrina encourages others with similar experiences to consider apprenticeship as a career pathway, whether the RRA program or in another field that interests them. “It's absolutely the greatest way to learn, in an environment that fosters independent growth, and where you have the support you need.”
She also believes that her lived experiences add value to her work. “I definitely think I do have a greater capacity to help others. I've always been more of a helper, but just being in recovery alone has helped me set goals,” she said.
“People who suffer from substance use disorder are highly resilient people, and if I can do it, then I know others can. You've just got to make sure that you have the right support systems and that you take advantage of all the opportunities that you hear about through networking and just put forth your best effort, because anyone can be a leader.”
According to Aline Jackson-Diggs, DARS' Pathways registered apprenticeship liaison, Katrina's openness is what led to and continues to propel her success. “She's highly driven, she's self-motivated, and she's very determined. She took advantage of all the DARS and Pathways resources that were available to her,” Aline said. "She just dug right in, took the leap, and landed a great career opportunity through apprenticeship.”