Meet Us Monday: Katie, REAL LIFE Graduate

Katie grew up in Pennsylvania and was active in sports until an injury in high school led to prescribed pain medication. By the time she was 19, her Substance Use Disorder had progressed to heroin. For years, she balanced jobs in sales, restaurants, and management while struggling with substance use and unhealthy relationships.

After several attempts to stop using and a move to Virginia, she discovered that she was pregnant and a relapse followed the birth of her daughter. Eventually, Katie and her daughter’s father were arrested. Katie says, “When I got arrested and lost custody, I told the judge I wanted to get my life together for her. I knew I needed a program, not just time in jail.”

That’s when Katie found the REAL LIFE program through VPRJ (Virginia Pennensula Regional Jail) and the W.A.I.T.T. program. Following her release, she sought out REAL LIFE. “Coming out of jail into REAL LIFE was intimidating at first,” Katie remembers. “I thought I’d have all this freedom, but I needed the structure.”

After a few bumps in the road, Katie embraced the structure, support, and community REAL LIFE was offering. She recently graduated from the program and is now building stability through steady employment, parenting classes, and plans for the future. She is looking forward to working towards her own place sometime soon and more time with her daughter.

We are so proud of you, Katie! Thank you for sharing your story with us, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds!