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911������ Addiction Counseling student Misty Helm was awarded the 2025 Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist of the Year by MARRCH, an organization that serves its agency and professional members in providing excellence in addiction care throughout Minnesota and beyond.

Helm never expected that a single decision would shift the entire direction of her life. Three years earlier, she had stepped through the doors of NUWAY Residential as a brand-new Peer Recovery Support Specialist, hoping to discover whether helping others heal was truly her calling. 

The moment she began working with the men and women who walked through those halls each day—carrying histories of pain, courage, relapse, and grit—something inside her clicked into place. She found herself listening, offering encouragement, and celebrating each small victory as if it were her own. It was indeed her calling and did not go unnoticed when she was nominated for and received the award.

“I never imagined I would be walking the path I’m on today,” said Helm who thought she would be in prison or dead due to her own history of addiction. “When I became sober, everything unfolded and today, I can’t imagine anything different and I am honored to share my story to help others see what’s possible.”

“Misty provides invaluable services to our clients at NUWAY,” said Vicki Sandberg, Mental Health Professional at NUWAY. “Like myself, she is tasked with client services for 93 clients at two men's and one women's residential treatment centers. It's not so much the housing, insurance, or the multitudes of miscellaneous resources and knowledge Misty possesses that makes her unique; it's the way she delivers the information with hopeful optimism and grace. Misty approaches each person individually with respect encouraging self-efficacy and strength from a ‘been there, done that’ perspective, living her recovery out loud while supporting others on their recovery journeys.”

“The awards are taken seriously by our professional association,” said Jonathan Lofgren, past President of MARRCH and Addiction Counseling faculty member at 911������. “Peer Recovery Specialist professionals are making a profound impact by filling the gaps that treatment alone cannot address. When people seek treatment and recovery, receive services, and navigate self-directed recovery pathways, they need a personal connection only a successful peer can provide.”

Lofgren stated, “Peer Recovery Specialists receive specialty training and certification, demonstrating their unique ability to walk alongside individuals in recovery and offer essential coaching and resource support to strengthen those recovery journeys. Being selected as Peer Recovery Specialist of the Year from more than 3,000 Peer Recovery Specialists in Minnesota means Misty is truly the best in the state. The work she does through her own recovery is a beacon—a shining light—guiding others along their own pathways.”

Taking a major step toward her long-term goal of becoming an LPCC and eventually opening a private practice focused on supporting individuals re-entering society after incarceration, Helm enrolled in 911������’s Addiction Counseling Program in January 2025. As part of the state’s oldest program of its kind, she is gaining practical, hands-on experience from seasoned faculty who are helping her build a strong foundation in counseling essentials. The program’s emphasis on interpersonal and cross-cultural communication also equips students to meet the requirements for Minnesota Alcohol and Drug Counselor licensure.

“Misty brings her light to 911������, where she integrates her recovery into her scholarship and collegiality, making our campus stronger and better for all of us,” said Lofgren.

“Beginning college at 44 felt intimidating, but 911������ made the experience smooth and straightforward,” Helm said, noting that she was encouraged by colleagues who had completed the Addiction Counseling Program. “We often don’t realize what we’re capable of until we’re surrounded by people who believe in us. If you’re considering going back to school, go for it. You can do it, and 911������ will support you every step of the way. Don’t let that inner voice hold you back from chasing your dreams.”

To learn more about MARRCH and its ongoing commitment to supporting individuals, families, and communities impacted by substance use .