We speak with our Admissions Coordinator, Lorraine Bethea, to learn all about the intake process, the complexities and challenges, opportunities and successes. The intake process is one of the first steps on a youth's journey at New Hope, and Ms. Lorraine is often one of the first faces that a child will see. It's an uncertain and confusing time for many, but Lorraine's calm demeanor and reassurance is a a vital first step.
April Simpkins is a dynamic HR leader with over 30 years of experience in executive business strategy and multiple HR certifications. After eighteen years, April successfully sold her consulting practice to focus on her career as a professional speaker. Recognized for her expertise, she is a sought-after international keynote speaker who has spoken at many conferences, including Fortune 500 corporate events, and on the campuses of several Ivy League universities.
April's leadership extends beyond her professional duties. She has served as the Board Chair for the York County Regional Chamber and is an active member of the South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SCSBDC) board. She is on the Duke Energy Advisory Board in the Upstate of South Carolina and was appointed by the Governor of South Carolina to the York County Natural Gas Board of Directors.
April is a passionate mental health advocate, serving as an Ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and a board member of NAMI Piedmont Tri-County. Her dedication to eliminating the stigma around mental illness is deeply personal and meaningful. After losing her daughter, Cheslie Kryst, to suicide in 2022, April has become an even more vocal supporter. Cheslie, who struggled with depression, co-authored the New York Times Bestseller called "By The Time You Read This – The Space Between Cheslie's Smile And Mental Illness - Her Story In Her Own Words" with April. To honor Cheslie's legacy, April founded the Cheslie C. Kryst Foundation.
She is also the host of the podcast As I Was Saying, in which she explores the intersection of professional life and mental health with candor, insight, and compassion.
(00:02:03-00:11:57) – The process of becoming an author and the completion of her book outlining her daughter’s life.
(00:11:58-00:28:07) – What April learned about herself and Cheslie while writing the book and in the immediate aftermath of her passing, as well as some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding suicide and mental health.
(00:28:08-00:35:15) – How she approaches her speaking engagements, what she shares with families and individuals depending on the specific cases.
(00:37:00-00:43:15) – How she balances telling Cheslie’s story while still healing and protecting her privacy.
(00:43:17-00:46:39) – What skillsets she transferred into her speaking, podcasting, book publishing and advocacy from her experience and time as an HR consultant and businesswoman.
(00:46:41-00:57:17) – Her partnership with NAMI.
(00:57:18-00:59:57) – The legacy her book and Cheslie’s story will hopefully leave.
(00:58:58) – The stuff that matters.
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Sitina Digby has been a part of the New Hope family for almost 30 years!! One of our longest tenured employees and someone that has perhaps the closest connection to the building itself. She has moved around quite a bit in her time with us and is now assisting in the PQI department.
On our first Hope Grown with a current staff, we welcomed on the ever effervescent Ms. Kim Hudson. She was named as the building’s third Residential Director in January, 2024, tasked with overseeing the Learning Enriched Autism Program (LEAP). After just four years at New Hope serving in various roles, her tenacity, persistence, attention to detail and dedication to excellence allowed her to advance in her career.
Ms. Kim is considered a force of positivity and creativity. Her compassion and understanding of the residents are unquestionable and well known throughout all at New Hope. Ms. Kim embodies being kind, yet firm. She has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and is constantly wanting to improve her craft. She is admired and beloved by the staff and the residents at New Hope. She is a powerful example of what people should strive to be.
Joining New Hope in January, 2020, the South Carolina native served as a Team Lead, Clinical Counselor and a Supervisor on the LEAP program. Hudson brought her talents NHTC after years of experience working in customer service roles and as a lead employee trainer for Belk Fulfillment Center, program coordinator and Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Chester.
She is a wife, a mother and a grandmother. Hudson is a professional who is dedicated to fostering growth and connection, with a passion for building meaningful relationships. Hudson is a lifelong learner who has a bachelor’s and master’s in business and a bachelor’s in biblical studies. Ms. Kim is also an Ordained Minister and empowerment speaker who has over 30 years of experience working with youth. She is full of enthusiasm for life and embraces new opportunities. Her Motto is “Everyone Deserves to Feel their Best”
(00:01:48-00:02:36) Her background and journey at New Hope, arriving in her current role as Residential Director of LEAP.
(00:02:38-00:03:33) What she finds most rewarding about the work she does.
(00:03:35-00:07:03) What a day in Ms. Kim’s life looks like while at our PRTF and what keeps her motivated and driven.
(00:07:05-00:14:40) Some of the misunderstandings and misconceptions about what the youth at New Hope go through and what their experience is like while receiving services; what makes the staff at New Hope different; the importance of engaging activities for the kids.
(00:14:41-00:16:50) How her perspective on mental health has developed and changed while working at New Hope.
(00:18:36) What LEAPS expansion has meant to the program, the staff and kids.
Mary is the Executive Director of Emerald School of Excellence, an accredited recovery high school in Charlotte dedicated to providing a nurturing and supportive environment for students struggling with substance use disorders and other mental health challenges. The school offers a comprehensive range of services designed to support both academic success and personal recovery.
The nonprofit opened its doors in September 2019. Founded in 2017, the school was created to provide a safe, supportive environment where teens in recovery from substance use and mental health challenges can heal, grow, and succeed.
Mary’s passion for this work is deeply personal. Adopted from Guadalajara, Mexico, she has walked her own journey of recovery from an eating disorder, depression, and self-harm. Her lived experience fuels her mission to ensure that young people facing similar struggles have access to the education, resources, and encouragement they need to thrive.
Before founding Emerald School of Excellence, Mary dedicated 11 years to teaching and coaching in the public school system. This invaluable experience gave her firsthand insight into the challenges students face and the importance of creating an environment where every learner feels seen, supported, and empowered. She holds a 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 and has become a recognized leader in the recovery and education space.
Through 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, Mary is not just building a school—she’s building a movement. A place where teens can rediscover hope, embrace their potential, and create a future full of possibilities.
𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 & 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
• 𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 (𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁)
• 𝗡𝗖𝗔𝗗𝗗 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰) – 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺.
• 𝗔𝗣𝗡𝗖 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬) – 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Mary’s story is one of resilience, purpose, and unwavering dedication. She continues to inspire and uplift countless young people, proving that with the right support, healing and success are possible.
00:01:48-00:12:23 – What a recovery high school entails.
00:12:24-00:26:23 – Origin story of Emerald.
00:28:08-00:42:01 – Kids being introduced to substances whether it be drugs or alcohol; what influences that initial use, the different factors and upbringings of children and the socioeconomic impact on addiction and substance abuse.
00:42:02-00:46:34 - The relationship with the alumni, resources that are offered to graduates and how they stay connected with past students.
00:46:36-00:55:25 - Success story and what people can do to support and contribute to the school.
00:55:26 - The Stuff that Matters.
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Our Mental Health Ambassador, Kiara Grace Nalle was joined by a recent graduate of New Hope. Nathan Simmons completed his treatment a few years ago and is now living in Seattle, Wash. He is currently working in the mental health space, giving back to kids that had a similar upbringing and face similar battles.
Ian once embraced the “work hard, play harder” mentality, diving head first into a lifestyle that celebrated excessive drinking. He started sipping beer at the age of 1, bartended in the middle of nowhere at 13, built a business from the ground up in 2003, endured two failed marriages, and ultimately sold his company in 2016 while fat and drunk in Vegas. Ian then reached a breaking point and began his journey to reclaim his life. This time, he rebuilt everything—his relationships, his business, and his sense of purpose—without relying on the crutch of martini lunches or wine dinners.
Today, Ian is a successful author, his book Wild Ride to Sobriety can be found on Amazon, an entrepreneur, and the creator of Make It Great (MIG). Proudly sober since 2017, he has dedicated himself to personal growth, family, and living a life of purpose and clarity. His journey from addiction to empowerment has become his mission: to help others trapped in the same cycle of self-destruction break free and embark on their own transformative path to health, passion, and a renewed mindset.
Through his book, Wild Ride To Sobriety, Ian aims to inspire others to overcome their struggles and embrace a life of balance, success, and fulfillment.
(00:02:16-00:08:47) – His book.
(00:08:48-00:20:04) – How his upbringing and environment played a role in his addiction to alcohol.
(00:20:05-00:23:21) – His rock bottoms and what sparked a change in his behavior.
(00:25:17-00:43:49) – His core 4 and what it is in his life that keeps him on his path of sobriety; the relationship he has with his family, friends and loved ones today.
(00:45:33-00:52:49) – Make it Great
00:52:50 – The Stuff that Matters
Watch full episodes on YOUTUBE.
Introducing a new series to the STM channel! Hope Grown features New Hope success stories. This highlights a former resident turned current employee! Nathan graduated from New Hope several years ago. He discusses his childhood, upbringing, some of the struggles he was face with both prior to entering into New Hope's care and then after as well. He and Kiara dive into the impact that being back at New Hope has had on him and the impact he is making on the kids being served. This is the definition of FULL CIRCLE!
Victor Armstrong - Vice President for Health Equity & Engagement at The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He is a nationally recognized speaker on issues regarding health equity and access to healthcare, particularly as it relates to individuals living with mental health challenges.
Victor previously served as North Carolina DHHS’s inaugural Chief Health Equity Officer, with responsibility for leading the overarching strategy and operational goals to promote health equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Victor also served as Director of NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (Mental Health Commissioner). Prior to this role Victor served as Vice President for Behavioral Health with Atrium Health in Charlotte, NC.
He is the host of “Strong Talk”, a monthly podcast dedicated to the discussion of equity, access, and impact as it pertains to mental health and addictions.
Victor currently serves on the Steering Committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. He also serves on the Board of Directors for i2i Center for Integrative Health, College for Behavioral Health Leadership, and McLeod Centers for Wellbeing. In addition, Victor serves on the board of advisors for East Carolina University School of Social Work and the 988 National Steering Committee. He is a member of the NC Institute of Medicine and National Association of Social Workers.
Victor’s awards and recognition include:
• Living Waters Annual Mental Health Summit 2022 “Lifetime Mental Health Champion” Award
• National Association of Social Workers North Carolina (NASW-NC) 2022 Social Worker of the Year
• Addiction Professionals of NC (APNC) 2021 DEI Leadership & Impact Award
• Mental Health America’s 2021 H. Keith Brunnemer, Jr. Award for “Outstanding Mental Health Leadership”
• Black Mental Health Symposium 2019 Mental Health Advocate of the Year
• Atrium Health 2019 Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Award
• East Carolina University School of Social Work 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award
• i2i Center for Integrative Health 2018 Innovation Award for "Whole Person Care"
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NC, 2012 Mental Health Professional of the Year.
00:02:30-00:22:15 - His background and experience, the story of his trip to Cameroon.
00:23:59–00:43:17 - 988, mental health resources, soul shops.
00:43:19-00:55:55 – Growing up as the son of a preacher.
00:58:51-1:02:32 – His podcast – “Strong Talk”.
1:02:35-1:05:25 – Community events, charity events for suicide prevention, the impacts they have on the research and raising awareness.
1:05:26 – Victor’s Stuff that Matters.
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We speak with the Executive Vice President and COO of Grafton Integrated Health and the President of Ukeru Systems, Kim Sanders.
00:02:30-00:14:28 – All about Ukeru.
00:14:29-00:27:14 – Outcomes and datasurrounding Ukeru.
00:28:58-00:38:33 – Ukeru’s approach toprevention with proactive interventions.
00:38:35-00:44:24 – The reaction to Ukeru’ssystem from the residents, kids, youth.
00:47:20-00:51:51 – How Ukeru is gettingapproved and how far the reach is, with more than 1000 schools and facilities utilizing the system throughout the globe.
00:51:52-00:58:08 - How long it took for Kimto see the benefits and impact Ukeru could have and the reception from the Grafton staff when it first launched.
00:58:09 – Kim's Stuff that Matters.
Subscribe and like, you can also watch full episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter
WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com
Dr. Cynthia Persily at the site of one of our West Virginia transition homes. We held an Open House with 50+ providers, partners and stakeholders in the state. Dr. Persily recently served as the Cabinet Secretary, West Virginia Department of Human Services. She has years of experience on boards, working in hospital settings and also spent 20 years at West Virginia University. We discuss her accomplishments in the state and the need for what New Hope will be providing, which is a chance to keep West Virginia's youth home.
Subscribe and like, you can also watch full episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter
WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/
Stephen Trzeciak, MD, MPH is a physician scientist, the Edward D. Viner Endowed Chief of Medicine at Cooper University Health Care, and Professor of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. Dr. T, or Steve as he so graciously allowed us to call him during this episode, is a practicing intensivist (specialist in intensive care medicine), and a clinical researcher with more than 100 publications in the scientific literature. Of those publications, there are two books in which Steve is the co-author. Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself released in 2022, and Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference came out in 2019. His work has been featured in numerous media outlets including CNN, NPR, USA TODAY, The Washington Post, Harvard Business Review, Freakonomics and now Stuff that Matters. Steve’s mission is helping people see the power of compassion, kindness, and hope — through science. As a self-proclaimed research nerd, we dive into Steve’s research and data that went into Compassionomics, what led to that research, the impact it has had on the healthcare industry and more.
00:02:10-00:20:39 His book Compassionomics. What got him started down the path of researching compassion in healthcare and the science behind compassion translating in a healthcare setting.
00:22:23-00:36:33 - Burnout and compassion fatigue.
00:36:34-00:41:37 - What impact the book had on the healthcare industry.
00:41:38-00:47:57 - His latest book, Wonder Drug.
00:49:52 - The stuff that matters.
Subscribe and like, you can also watch full episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter
WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/
We are joined by the CEO and Clinical Director of Youth Haven Services, Dawn Johnson. Dawn is also the author of the book, I Survived...So Far, which outlines her incredible story as a mother who has endured the unimaginable pain of burying two of her children and a grandchild. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in child mental health, she offers a unique perspective that intertwines professional expertise with personal experience. Her journey through grief is not just a tale of sorrow but a testament to resilience and determination. Her story is a powerful illustration of the enduring power of love and the infinite perseverance of the human spirit.
00:01:22- 00:15:36 – Her story and ultimately what went into the book.
00:14:15-00:19:57 - How she was able to push forward and the hurdles she faced.
00:22:19-00:27:52 – How tragedies and challengesin life can put things into perspective and change how you live yours.
00:27:53-00:36:43 – Some of the misconceptionsabout trauma pertaining to ones mental health and if her past experiences as a counselor helped her get through her own trauma with her family.
00:38:28-00:41:50 – How she’s able to find thejoy in life and has been able to push forward as a mom, CEO, simply living her life.
00:42:23-00:48:34 – More about Youth Haven Services.
00:48:52 – The Stuff that Matters.
Subscribe and like, you can also watch full episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter
WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/
Episode 30! We’ve made it, and we’ve officially made it to March, which celebrates many things including Women’s History Month which you can hear throughout this episode, National Social Work month and the first day of Spring. With that comes a busy time for students across the country, so we were honored to welcome on Clinton Reynolds, Vice President of Programming at Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, or CIS for short.
Clinton is a servant leader in the education and mental health community who chooses to connect daily with his inner teacher and mentor. He has a passion for unraveling the great potential in today's youth through education, exposure, and compassion.
In this episode, we dive into the state of adolescents and kids and families, how it connects to mental health and what Clinton see through his work at CIS. We will also take a broader look at the state of kids and schools and communities in today’s world.
After working as a high school instructor in Charlotte, Clinton spent more than four years in the residential setting leading the education department before returning to teaching. He shares what he was able to learn from both environments and how much being an educator prepared him for working with youth in need.
As Clinton said, students and kids need a caring adult. He has certainly been that through the relationships he has built which has allowed him to become the leader he is today.
01:01:31-00:10:53 His background, what CIS is.
00:11:23-00:18:49 Diving into the attendance rates across high school kids in the greater Mecklenburg county and across the country as well, specifically post covid. Also, the state of educating in the school systems, how are kids these days responding to being in school.
00:19:22-00:30:26 Parents engagement in school functions and how challenging it has become for parents to attend things given the time, day, scheduling conflicts.
00:32:07-00:41:51 – Transitioning from an education background and the school settings to working in the mental health space and residential settings.
00:42:24-00:46:55 – How Clinton has grown as a leader applying it his current work with CIS.
47:12 - The Stuff that Matters.
Subscribe and like, you can also watch full episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter
WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/
We're back! We kick 2025 off with Brant Evans. He is a therapeutic consultant and author. He helps connect kids and families to services, having gained a ton of experience and knowledge from his work in Wilderness therapy programs. He was very observant and taught himself different techniques, practices, preparing himself for more of a leadership role. He went on to work as an Executive Director for a recovery program, co-author his book co-author of Gods, Heroes, and Groups, to explore how timeless stories offer powerful insights into modern therapy and leadership. Brant is now a therapeutic consultant at Stucker, Smith, and Weatherly.
00:00:09 - How he got started, culture shifts, examining the family system and helping kids through a different perspective and lens. How the wilderness program allowed him to examine different approaches.
00:19:23 (19:20 vdeo) The causality of a shift in the wilderness therapy model and working with families from a therapeutic angle as it pertains to placement in residential treatment facilities.
00:30:43 (30:55 video) The family involvement when a child does need to go into a residential setting.
00:40:40 (41:00 video) His transition into a leadership role and therapeutic consulting, what lessons he learned that has carried along throughout his personal and professional journey.
00:44:06 (45:29 video) We dive into his book.
00:55:49 (57:11 video) The Stuff that Matters.
Subscribe and like, you can also watch full episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter
WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/
The first of three parts! Kiara is joined by her friend, the first guest on KC, to discuss the impacts of social media, particularly on ones mental health. There are certainly some drawbacks and negatives, but there are also a lot of positives and uplifting content being posted that can really help in your life.
Kiara’s Corner is a real and relatable new series that will touch on various topics as it relates to mental health, wellness, and healing. Get deep with host, Kiara Grace, and embark on a journey to healing through the experiences life brings all of us.
(00:01:36-00:16:13) Talks about his dad, our founder, Dr. George H. Orvin. His recollections of how New Hope began and the stories of the early chapters of the company. What made New Hope unique and a true trailblazer in our space when it first launched.
(00:16:14-00:22:36) How Dr. Orvin influenced Jay as a leader.
(00:24:33-00:33:29) How the vision that Dr. Orvin had when he started this organization match up with where it is today. How it matches with the vision that Jay had when he succeeded him. Over the years, some of the accomplishments, milestones, successes, memories that stand out the most.
(00:33:31-00:44:42) As we continue to expand into different states, add new locations, new services and grow the company well beyond 600 employees, other opportunities that we have yet to tap into that Jay would like to see us explore. Where he wants to see the company in 5 years. What has being an owner of New Hope meant to he and his family.
(00:46:08) The Stuff that Matters.
Subscribe and like, you can also watch full episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter
WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/
Kiara’s Corner is a real and relatable new series that will touch on various topics as it relates to mental health, wellness, and healing. Get deep with host, Kiara Grace, and embark on a journey to healing through the experiences life brings all of us.
We were live at this past weekends annual NAMIWalks event at Cherry Park in Rock Hill. Our very own Mike O’Connor was on hand, as he spoke with various leaders and staff of New Hope, NAMI Piedmont Tri-County, in addition to other members of the community as well as friends and family who were there to walk and simply show their support. Everyone had the same goal in mind, to join together for mental health awareness. As a wise man once said, and may have even said that same morning, why walk alone when you can walk together. Together we walk and together we stand up for mental health.