Beyond the Brick and Bars

Jean Stoddard first heard about the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Training Certificate (SUDTTC) Program from her adult daughters.  “First one daughter started the program, and she loved it so much she convinced her sister to do it with her,” Ms. Stoddard recalled.  Then they started convincing their mother to apply. 

Ms. Stoddard had been working as a meditation and mindfulness instructor.  Her daughters told her meditation could play an important role in recovery; so she decided to enroll in the SUDTTC Program.  “It was unexpected,” she said, “But I ended up loving it.  It had been a while since I had been in school—23 years—but it was refreshing.  I liked the interaction and I loved learning.”

Now, almost two years post-SUDTTC graduation, Ms. Stoddard works as a substance use disorder counselor at the Salt Lake County Jail, along with a team of other specialists including a medication assisted treatment (MAT) program manager, a MAT program office coordinator, three MAT nurses, and one advanced substance use disorder counselor (ASUDC). 

Ms. Stoddard works primarily with maximum- and medium-security inmates, in addition to doing intake appointments.  Ms. Stoddard works with clients in both one-on-one and group settings for substance-related and co-occurring issues. The range of topics she covers in these sessions is wide: relapse prevention, connecting to community support, building mental health resilience, referring to other mental health services, and more.  Her training as a mindfulness instructor has been particularly useful in teaching clients tangible skills, like using meditation and breathing techniques they can practice in session and beyond. 

When Ms. Stoddard started the SUDTTC Program, she wasn’t quite sure this was the path she wanted. But with time in the field, doing the work, she has found it to be an excellent fit for her.  “I get so much out of being this kind of support for others,” she said.  Her experiences are particularly poignant because of her own personal history with the criminal justice system.  At one point in her life, Ms. Stoddard regularly visited a loved one in prison who had a horrible experience in the system.  “I wanted to work here so I could help make this experience better for people who found themselves here.”  She continued, “I know my experiences are different, but I have more empathy for the people I’m working with.”

It's easy for Ms. Stoddard to see how her education through the SUDTTC Program prepared her for her work.  “There are some materials that I refer to everyday—resources like the ASAM [American Society of Addiction Medicine] Criteria and the Counselor’s Treatment Manual created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).  I was introduced to them in class, and that introduction was good, but it was a bit theoretical.  When I got on the job and was using these resources every day, it came together.  Having support on the job has helped me apply it all.  That’s the fun part,” she said.  “Getting to know people and see them change is very rewarding.” 

Ms. Stoddard’s coworker, MAT Program Office Coordinator Cari Megeath, also had wonderful things to say about the work they’re involved in.  “I love working here,” Ms. Megeath said.  “It’s changed the way I view humanity to work here.”  

Ms. Stoddard agreed.  “Humanity is here.  And it’s beautiful.  I had some prejudices when I came in, but the longer I work here, the more I see the goodness inside of people—inside the MAT patients I’m privileged I work with.  I call them by name.  I get to know them.  And I love it.”