Abstract

This presentation will embark on a captivating exploration of resilience and redemption as Jimmy McGill unveils his remarkable journey from a lifetime of incarceration and a 23-year struggle with substance use disorder. Overcoming childhood trauma and defying the stigma of a criminal history, McGill emerges as a beacon of hope for reentry and recovery, catalyzing national awareness on these critical issues.

In his 2022 published book, "From Prison to Purpose," McGill provides a detailed and intimate account of his journey to sustained recovery. As a nineteen-time convicted felon and long-term IV drug user, he not only secured a State Position as the Director of Peer Services for Arkansas but also became the first parolee to do so, working alongside the individual who had arrested him multiple times.

The narrative goes beyond McGill's personal triumphs to highlight his groundbreaking work in building over 54 successful peer recovery programs. These programs have found homes in emergency rooms, jails, prisons, recovery residences, Recovery Community Organizations, the Department of Health, and specialty courts, showcasing McGill as a trailblazer in the realm of peer recovery.

Having earned a full pardon 7 1/2 years post-release, McGill currently holds dual directorships as the Executive Director of Next Step Recovery Housing and the Director of the National Peer Recovery Alliance. His story serves as a testament to the transformative power of resilience, purpose, and an unwavering belief in the possibility of redemption.

This session will cover how the Arkansas State Drug Director (once McGill’s arresting officer) hired a person on parole (McGill) to be the first parolee to hold a state position and lead the development and implementation of peer support services throughout Arkansas.

Drawing on my personal recovery and lived experience with substance use and incarceration, we challenged the status quo and changed the state laws surrounding the criminal history for state recovery workers.

Our dedicated efforts have allowed Arkansas to place peer recovery inside the Department of Human Services, the Division of Youth Services, the Department of Health, emergency rooms, drug courts, jails, reentry centers, prisons, law enforcement partnerships, Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs), transitional living facilities, and community service centers. This presentation will cover the process of peer recovery training, supervision by certified peer workers in leadership positions, testing, and certification. It will cover program development in peer recovery programs in every imaginable setting.

McGill shares insights that challenge preconceptions and illuminate the transformative potential within every individual, regardless of their past. Witness firsthand how McGill's work has redefined the landscape of peer recovery, offering hope and guidance to those seeking a path from adversity to purpose.