Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Keen.
Hi Johnny, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2003 I began my recovery journey from Alcohol and drugs after years of struggling with mainly prescription drugs and alcohol.
Even though I had a background in mental health after working at a therapeutic children’s home in north Georgia I really didn’t want to be a Addiction Counselor but in 2005 my wife and I returned to work at Eagle Ranch Children’s Home many of the staff as well as my wife encouraged me to go back to school to my CAC ( certified addition counselor) which took me three years to complete. I continued to work at Eagle Ranch not knowing what I was going to do with my certification then out of nowhere I get a call from a counselor in Brunswick who had a large practice there and was looking for a addiction counselor, even though I had planned to retire from Eagle Ranch the pull to be back in St. Simons close to my daughter, her husband and most importantly my granddaughters was too strong to resist.
Once we were settled back there I was really enjoying working in the private practice and it was growing fast but then I get a call from a man who was ministering to the homeless and disadvantaged and needed help with some of the folks that showed a desire to get sober. Beth and I began working there on Wednesday mornings, it was obvious there was a huge need in that population that could use professional services but obvious they didn’t have the resources to pay for it so my wife had the idea to start a nonprofit so we could provide addiction therapy and other related services. Our goal was to raise enough money so we could provide these services one day a wee, with in six-months it had become a full time job. Thus the Remedy Project began and we are now in our fifteenth year with a staff of seven highly credentialed professionals that provide individual and couples counseling, three weekly support meetings with one of the meetings focused on helping the family of the addict understand what their role is and what are the most effective ways to help.
All of our services are provided free of charge. We decided in the beginning that that was the most effective method to provide our services.
Along with keeping a client load and oversight of the operations I the one who raises all of the necessary funds, this year our budget will be close to 400K which is still considerably smaller than most nonprofits.
Our ministry model is very much clinically based but we include a faith-based approach which has proven to be highly successful.
A little over two years ago we were approached by the Glynn County Schools wanting to know if we could help them with a growing problem. We students are caught with drugs at school they expelled but are given the opportunity to attend Glynn Learning Center which is a alternative school, this allowed the student to continue their studies and earn their way back to their base school, the problem was they were having students return to the alternative school two and three times. They needed help so we developed a once a week class for the highest at-risk students, we focused on them developing positive core beliefs and helping them understand how they make choices and how they can make positive decisions. Each semester we get a new group of students and we are now in our fifth semester and we have not had one student return to GLC that completed the semester and their overall school infractions are down 91%.
It’s amazing to see what is happening in these young peoples lives. We see that program growing in the future.
It’s been a great journey leading the Remedy Project and with God’s help it will continue to grow.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It can always be a challenge working with addicts and alcoholics but the most rewarding part is seeing families that are restored, that makes it all worth while.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been very fortunate over the years to work with two great organisations that focused on providing their employees a great workplace and support for your family life. So from the beginning I wanted the Remedy Project to be as much about the employees as the clients we serve. Beth and I are very sensitive about proving family support and professional development, I wanted our staff to feel like they hit the job lottery, it needs to be a win, win situation for both.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The best advise I’ve ever received was my former boss at Eagle Ranch, he said to create a strong board of directors that buys in to the mission which we are so blessed to have an amazing board, then be sure to treat your ministry like a business because if you don’t you will never have a ministry.
Pricing:
- We provide all of our services for free!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Theremedyproject.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRemedyproject
