Motivation, Support and Education Drive Camrin’s Success
At Pioneer Human Services, staff across programs often work together to support clients as they build healthier, more stable futures. Camrin’s story is one example of what can happen when compassionate treatment, employment support and a person’s own determination come together.
While receiving treatment at Pioneer’s North Sound Behavioral Health Treatment Center (NSBHTC), Camrin worked with Dana Whitney, a former NSBHTC staff member; Terry Sutton, Supportive Employment Specialist; and Kady Woodard, Supportive Housing Specialist. Both Terry and Kady are employees in Pioneer’s Foundational Community Supports program.
Together, the team helped Camrin address his substance use disorder, strengthen his recovery and stability, and explore a path toward meaningful employment.
Pictured from Left: Terry Sutton, Camrin, Kady Woodard
Choosing Recovery
Camrin came to NSBHTC after years of struggling with a substance use disorder. He enrolled in the center’s co-occurring residential treatment program for people experiencing both mental health and substance use challenges.
Dana Whitney recalled that in 2024, Camrin was in a contemplative stage of change and found it difficult to maintain his sobriety outside of a structured environment. After completing the co-occurring program, he was encouraged to continue with an intensive outpatient program (IOP) to strengthen his recovery.
Camrin took that advice. He chose to extend his stay at NSBHTC so he could focus on his recovery and fully participate in IOP treatment while beginning to think about his goals for the future.
When he completed the programs and prepared for discharge, he made the significant decision to relocate to Snohomish County to build a stronger foundation for his recovery. Because of his criminal justice involvement, transferring supervision and establishing himself in a new county came with additional challenges.
Supportive Services and Stable Housing
Kady Woodard, who first connected with Camrin as a Peer Bridger during a discharge-planning group at NSBHTC, supported him throughout the transition. She helped him navigate the move, connect with community resources and prepare for discharge into clean and sober housing. After discharge, Kady continued meeting with Camrin regularly, encouraging him to engage in the local recovery community, remain connected to a positive support system and work toward the goals he had set for himself.
When Kady later transitioned into a supportive housing role with Pioneer, she continued working with Camrin as he built greater stability and independence.
“Watching Camrin’s journey has been incredible,” Kady said. “He made the decision to leave what was familiar and build something different for himself. I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside him as he’s worked through challenges and accomplished goal after goal. Today, he’s working full-time, acquired his license back, purchased his first car and is preparing to become a dad. Camrin did the work to get where he is today.
Kady concluded, “Watching him build a life he is proud of is exactly why I do this work.”
Finding the Right Career Path
During this time, Camrin also began working with Terry Sutton to explore his interests, career goals and employment opportunities. Camrin had significant barriers to overcome, but he remained committed to creating a different future for himself.
Initially, Camrin and Terry developed a plan for him to study substance use disorder counseling through the Addiction Studies program at Edmonds College. But after his first quarter, Camrin realized that counseling wasn’t the right career path for him.
Rather than giving up, he took what he had learned about himself and considered what kind of work would truly fit his interests and strengths.
Camrin knew he enjoyed working with his hands and wanted a career that was both physically active and creative. He decided to pursue landscaping. Through hard work and determination, he established himself in the field, began earning good wages and discovered a new goal: becoming a tree surgeon, or arborist.
Today, he is studying to pursue that career – a field that combines his love of physical work with the creativity and challenge he was looking for in employment.
Building a New Future
Camrin’s journey has not been without setbacks. But challenges that once might have derailed his recovery have instead become opportunities to demonstrate his growing resilience and maturity.
As Terry shared, Camrin has made significant strides in nearly every area of his life.
“He has cleared all holds on his driver’s license and established steady and rewarding work, re-established ties with his family, and shed relationships with negative influences—that is huge! Also, Camrin has maintained his sobriety, secured his own apartment, and recently announced that he and his partner will be happily welcoming a new baby in the future.”
For Camrin, recovery has become about more than overcoming substance use. It has meant building a life he once may not have believed was possible – one that includes meaningful work, financial stability, family and hope for the future.
Camrin’s story is a powerful reminder that with motivation, support and the opportunity to pursue a better future, people can overcome significant barriers and create lasting change.