Thrive’s Justice Involved Program provides individuals with compassionate, lived-experience support while they are incarcerated, helping them prepare for successful transition back into the community. As an integrated site-based peer recovery supporter at Cuyahoga County Jail, Kelly Brewer works to ensure peers receive lasting support for individuals working to rebuild their lives while incarcerated. The following story is shared through the experience of Kelly Brewer, a peer supporter with Thrive, whose commitment to meeting people where they are helped one woman move from uncertainty to the next step in her recovery journey.
When the peer first entered the recovery housing unit at the jail, her path forward was anything but straightforward. She and her sister had initially been housed together, but for security reasons, they were separated. During the transition, she unintentionally slipped through the cracks of an already complex system—a situation that is all too common within correctional settings.
Her journey became even more complicated when she was transferred to another county jail to resolve an outstanding warrant. By the time she returned, her bond had already been paid, but she found herself sitting in limbo, uncertain of what would happen next or where she would go. Feeling overwhelmed and unsure, she requested to meet with Kelly Brewer, a Peer Supporter with Thrive.
By this point, Thrive had built a strong reputation within the jail. Staff and participants alike had come to recognize Peer Supporters from Thrive as individuals who could navigate barriers, connect people with resources, and help bridge the gaps that often prevent someone from accessing care. Kelly had become known as someone who could help when others had reached a dead end. When she met with the peer, she immediately began working alongside her to create a plan.
Although it was clear that the peer would likely be leaving the facility soon, she made one thing known from the very beginning—she wanted help after her release. She was determined to continue her recovery journey outside the jail walls and was eager to connect with treatment and support services.
Kelly acted quickly, arranging for an assessment and reviewing the progress the peer had already made. While incarcerated in another county, she had independently started the process of seeking admission into a treatment program. Rather than starting over, Kelly recognized the value of the work she had already done and built upon it. Even better, Kelly already had an established relationship with the treatment provider the peer had been working with, allowing communication and coordination to happen much more efficiently.
The interaction highlighted one of the most meaningful aspects of peer support: recovery is often built through connection. During their conversations, the peer shared that another individual had encouraged her to pursue this treatment program after finding success there herself. One person’s willingness to share their experience had inspired another to seek help, creating a ripple effect that continued to spread hope throughout the recovery community. Kelly viewed this as one of the most rewarding parts of peer support. Recovery creates opportunities for people to lift one another up, and each success story has the potential to inspire the next.
Even with a treatment opportunity in place, the peer remained hesitant. The program appeared to be a positive fit, but fear and uncertainty made her question whether she was ready to commit. Like many individuals facing significant life changes, she worried about stepping into the unknown.
Recognizing those fears, Kelly leaned on the most valuable tool she had: her lived experience.
Rather than simply encouraging the peer to attend treatment, Kelly openly shared parts of her own recovery journey, speaking honestly about spending more than a decade navigating recovery, setbacks, and personal growth. Hearing someone who had lived through similar struggles made a difference. The conversation shifted from uncertainty to understanding. The peer began opening up about the hardships she had faced, the challenges that had led her to incarceration, and the exhaustion she felt after years of cycling through addiction and the criminal justice system. She admitted that she was getting older and no longer wanted to continue living the same way.
Over the course of several conversations, Kelly gently encouraged the peer to reflect on the pattern that had developed in her life. Together, they talked about how each stay in jail seemed to become longer while the amount of time she spent in the community before returning became shorter. Kelly understood this realization because she had experienced similar turning points in her own recovery. Rather than speaking from a place of judgment, she spoke from experience, helping the peer see that recovery could offer a different future.
These conversations centered on hope, personal choice, and the belief that lasting change was still possible. Kelly met the peer where she was, listened without criticism, and offered encouragement grounded in empathy and lived experience. By building trust andcreating a genuine connection, she helped the peer move from uncertainty toward confidence in taking the next step.
While the peer had already demonstrated remarkable determination by beginning the treatment process on her own, Kelly helped ensure that momentum was not lost. Through advocacy, collaboration with community partners, and consistent encouragement, she bridged the gap between incarceration and community-based treatment, helping position the peer for continued success after her release.
Her story is a powerful reminder that recovery is rarely a straight line. Obstacles, setbacks, and unexpected detours are common, and many individuals find themselves feeling overlooked by the systems meant to help them. Through Kelly’s support, the peer found someone who understood those challenges firsthand and believed in her ability to build a different future. At Thrive, Peer Supporters continue to serve as that bridge—connecting individuals to resources, sharing hope through lived experience, and reminding every person they meet that recovery is possible.
