Welcome, Katie! Where are you from?

I was born and raised here in the Louisville area, so I’m honored to help people in recovery in this community.

What led you into the career you now have?

My personal experience with substance abuse dates back to my childhood living in a dual-alcoholic household. My mom was sober for just over a decade while I was young but she relapsed when I was a Senior in high school. And that’s when a lot of my own issues began. 

There is a lot to my journey but it also contributed to the work I’m passionate about now.

Can you share about your educational background?

I went to South Oldham Middle School and South Oldham High School. Then, I moved to the University of Kentucky for my undergrad. I was undecided for 3 years then I chose psychology, but my goal was to go into nursing. 

Throughout those college years, my mom was relapsing, so that was very hard on me. My senior year at UK, she was admitted to the ICU and eventually had to be taken off life support. She passed away when I was 21. 

I ended up taking a year off before starting my nursing program at Bellarmine. During my time at Bellarmine, my dad’s addiction got worse too. He actually missed my graduation but it became a wake up call for me and for him. 

He ended up getting sober! At the Brook, he had been doing IOP when he asked me to come to a family day. I thought I was just meeting his doctors and having lunch with him, but I ended up experiencing an AA meeting with him. 

Immediately, it felt like I was meant to be there! I spoke up during the meeting and made some connections. A woman invited me to another meeting. This encounter helped me realize my own struggle with sobriety. 

Do you want to share more about your sobriety journey?

During the first couple months of my own sobriety, my dad died from a brain aneurysm. This was another very difficult time but it was a complete 180 in how I handled his passing compared to my mom’s. 

Through sobriety, my grief was manageable. It would have been so much worse to process it while lost in my addiction. People expected me to relapse, but I never felt a reason to take a drink. I’m also so thankful my dad got to experience sobriety before the end of his life.

This past December, I celebrated 8 years of sobriety!

This is amazing! Congratulations! So, when did you transition to recovery work and case management?

Through the ups and the downs of those years, I ended up forfeiting my nursing license. But I found great purpose in helping others with recovery. I worked at Landmark recovery for a while where a supervisor took me under their wing. They showed me the path I needed to take to get into Case Management. 

Once I started in that career, I fell in love with it! The common thread throughout my past jobs was that I wanted to help people. But something truly clicked in me when I became a case manager, especially when I got to work with people in recovery. It gave me a chance to give back to others what sobriety has given me.

How long have you been a case manager now?

I’ve been doing Case Management for almost 6 years. I did a contract position for a private company for a while. I also did street outreach and worked with a local nonprofit for a few years. I partnered with their Director of Community outreach to reach people with mental illness. I met a lot of people during that time. But ultimately, I wanted to come back to the recovery field. 

How did you hear about The Beacon House and this role?

I was working from home when I saw the role posted by the Beacon House last year.

It felt like God had orchestrated all of this. It was a great fit for me. Everyone at the Beacon House has been so welcoming and appreciative of what I bring to the community.

Another cool fact is that my dad always loved lighthouses! After a few weeks of being in our facility, I took a good look at the lighthouse symbols and decorations. It really reminded me of him and felt like my dad had a hand in me being here. Also our CEO, Russ Read, went to Trinity High School at the same time as my dad.

What’s your favorite thing about your job at the Beacon House?

I love seeing the growth and change that comes over people. It’s not always easy or positive. Sometimes it’s heart-wrenching when you see someone struggle and make an impulsive decision to leave the program or go back to their addiction. But those who stick around, it’s so inspiring to see their change; to see how they’ve overcome so much and are still working to overcome even more.

What do you appreciate most about the Beacon House?

It’s different from any other recovery-affiliated organization I’ve worked with. It’s the first place where I felt like they care deeply about each person that comes into the house and not just as a number. I can’t say I’ve gotten that at many other organizations I’ve encountered or partnered with in the past.

It’s not just about logistics and filling beds. Not just getting them help but it’s about helping them become the best versions they can and to build a life outside of these walls. Happiness, spirituality, and stability, its values like these that are upheld here.

Describe the main goal of your role.

I’m not a therapist. I tell the guys in the program that my goal is much more than just accomplishing some social services tasks. It is to support them however I can. That might look like helping them find an answer to a question they’ve had for a while about college. They might need help approaching basic aspects of life and relationships. Whatever they need, my door is always open and I’m here to support their long-term success as independent and healthy individuals.

What does a typical day look like around there?

Meeting with residents throughout the day, mostly the newer residents who aren’t employed yet. When the others get off work, they check in with me too. That kind of consistent interaction is important. I love that this program includes a long-term client base. Past roles, especially when I did street outreach, didn’t allow for that as it was a product of their circumstances. They might lose their phone or return to some kind of abuse. 

At the Beacon House, I get to really come alongside them on their journey. These men are already giving back too. I’m inspired by them and I really feel like they trust me.

Do you want to share anything about your family or life outside of work?

I’m married to an awesome husband who owns a videography company. He’s done a lot of work with nonprofits too. We first met in recovery actually. I wasn’t going to date for my first few years in recovery but our paths crossed. He produced an epic proposal video for me. It went viral and that’s how many people have found his work too, which is special.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Hawaii is one of the coolest places I’ve been!

The Beacon House Aftercare Program is honored to have Katie Foree as its new Case Manager. Thank you, Katie, for sharing your passion and skillset with us. Thank you for vulnerably sharing your journey that led you to us!