RECOVERING TOGETHER
ursuing substance abuse treatment while in a local jail, one young woman rediscovered her dream of working in real estate—and achieved it. co-founder Rose Young, who worked with the woman and recently attended her wedding. Rose and her husband, Vaughn Young, started the Naples-based nonprofit to support people in life transitions, particularly those reentering the community from incarceration. However, the organization assists veterans who need help and youths transitioning to college, too. The Youngs use their backgrounds—Rose’s work in addiction counseling and Vaughn’s personal experiences and expertise as a career coordinator—to connect with clients and fill in gaps where support is needed. “It’s not enough to just give out suits” for job interviews, Vaughn explains. “Most people coming home from incarceration, one of the things they definitely don’t have is health care to deal with the mental health component” of the transition. Together on Purpose provides diverse services, including sober-living opportunities, mental health referrals, ongoing accountability, and mentoring. They’re also creating a job certification program to help clients stay on track and excel. Adds Rose, “recovery is not just stopping drugs and alcohol; recovery is self-discovery.” ()
