“KPEP works if you work it. If you make it hell, it will be. But if you let it help you, it can change your life.”
Nicole arrived at KPEP with little hope and even less trust. After nearly 15 years of addiction and multiple arrests, she thought her story was already written. When her probation officer told her she was being referred to KPEP, every negative stereotype imaginable came to mind.
“I thought it was a trap,” she says. “I expected drugs, chaos, failure. I was convinced I’d end up in prison.”
But something changed.
At first, Nicole’s only goal was to finish the program and get back to her life. She’d already been trying—unsuccessfully—to hold onto her recovery while working full time. Her employer had held her job for her, and she was desperate not to lose it. What happened next, unexpectedly, marked the start of a turning point. Arrested on a failure-to-appear warrant, she landed back in jail alongside her best friend, Angie. A judge sentenced them both to KPEP.
That’s when things began to shift.
Finding Balance, Building Trust
Nicole and Angie leaned on each other to get through the program, trading strength on hard days and holding each other accountable.
“The turning point came when I stopped fighting it and started listening,” Nicole says. “The staff, the program—it all started to work.”
She credits several staff members by name—Kaley, Rebecca, Annie, Sara, Carly—people who showed empathy rooted in lived experience. “They understood addiction. They didn’t just tell us what to do—they knew why it was hard.”
Eventually, Nicole was given an opportunity to work in the Walnut & Park Café. She thrived in the structure and focused on her own progress.
“You get out what you put in,” she says. “If you’re invested in your program, it works. If you’re focused on everyone else’s drama, it doesn’t.”
A Life Rebuilt, One Step at a Time
After graduating, Nicole transitioned quickly: she moved in with a sober family member, resumed her job, and began rebuilding. Within three weeks, she had secured her own apartment and got her car out of the shop. She’s working full-time as lead support staff for NeuroCare Home Health, supporting clients with spinal cord injuries. She’s also a full-time online student with plans to move to Georgia to complete her degree.
Nicole is open about the bumps in the road—like a recent alcohol relapse she immediately reported to her probation officer. “Recovery’s not perfect. But I have the tools now to get back on track.”
Her advice to others?
“KPEP isn’t a handout—it’s a helping hand. It’s not supposed to be comfortable. If it was, I wouldn’t have changed.”