We were lucky to catch up with David Nalls recently and have shared our conversation below.

David, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?

I am the author of “Reconciled: #IGotwell” and I donated a couple of copies to the behavioral health agency I was working for. It is a faith based recovery book designed to provide some understanding of spiritual recovery. A young lady I was working with as a Case Manager (CM) asked to read a copy and I was glad to provide it. But there was a condition; she had to write a book report. She agreed. Seven days later I had a report in my hand. After facilitating the group she handed it to me and told me she really got something out of it, and that things just got hard accept or understand sometimes. I read the report and on the very first page at the bottom she writes “I don’t know where I want to go or what I want to do, all I know is this tho, I want to be sober, and I want to see my beautiful daughters. Call on God for help “dismiss it, move past it” (lines from the book) I don’t have a Bible.” I could not provide her with a Bible, only suggest where to get one based on policy. I couldn’t sit and discuss what she needed to understand or glean and later that same year a few months later, she died of an overdose. I regret not challenging policy and procedure, not standing up spiritually for her while seeing she was thirsty and hungry. To this day I hold the book report as a reminder of the courage I need to continue what I do; Reconciling Recovery #IGotwell.

David, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I first stepped into the addiction field as someone addicted to crack cocaine. My substance use disorder caused me to live a lifestyle of survival, lying to my wife, neglecting my children, job, and overall self. Having lost my identity in a matter of three and a half years, I was introduced to the 12 steps in a prison bootcamp for first offenders. I was there for ninety days and learned the steps on call from ex-military drill instructors. Those men knew how to break a spirit and exercise the mind at the same time. We had to recite the steps when approached and explain what they meant to me. That was the beginning of my Recovery journey, but not the last of my drug use. That came after I matured in my relationship with the God of my understanding, He guides me in the Management of my recovery. I mean after all, He is the power that was greater than myself that restored me to sanity. Having experienced trauma as a child there was much to be uncovered and the periodical use to extremes led to learn more about Recovery as the practice continued. In 2008 what led me to become acquainted with addiction is what ultimately became the catalyst that propelled me into understanding the Reconciling Recovery. . .Trauma. My 11 year-old-son died while I was incarcerated, because of episodes of use, survival decision guided my thoughts and desires. All the promises I made to him ultimately died with him. I often wonder if he was thinking that day, “Is today the day my dad is gonna come get me?” The pain of my experience is something I can’t prevent others from going through, but if I can assist in finding a pathway to acceptance, to identifying strengths, and support Recovery, the pursuit of living up to full potential, then I am living my purpose.
In 2011 I asked the director of the Urban Minority Alcohol and Drug Addiction Outreach Program of Lucas County (UMADAOP) if he had any jobs I could do. I told him I wanted to talk to the kids about addiction and avoid the lifestyle. He did not have any jobs, and I asked if I could just mop the floors, I did not want to go back to a lifestyle of survival. He said, “I have a janitor, but I may call you if something comes up.” Well, he called a week later to come fill out an application for recovery coach. In 2012 I was called by the Ohio Citizens Advocates for Addiction Recovery (OCAAR) to take part in developing a curriculum (DACUM), the method for analyzing jobs and occupations specifically for addiction Recovery Coaching (Peer Support), along with the mental health’s Ohio Empowerment Coalition (Peer Specialist). Upon completing that I was trained in the facilitation of the created employment role as a Trainers of Trainers in 2013. One thing that set my executive director apart from any others that I have had is what he told me from the start “know your craft!” This is why Recovery and all that it holds has been my study, that is my craft, and my discipline. I was asked in 2015 to be an advisor to a new curriculum which led to a supervisor of peers and agency trainer. I provided in 2016 the Professionalizing of Peer Support (Certification) Role in Ohio workshop for Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS) and created Reconciliation Recovery Unlimited LLC, which then, identified with the message training provided by OCAAR facilitated by John Shinholster of the Mcshin Foundation.
I went back to school and achieved an Associates in Business Science in pursuit of a Bachelors in Social Work. I wanted to change policy as it relates to addressing Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Mental Health (MH). I made it as far as my internship and ran out of funds to continue school and had to withdraw. Only months away and a few more credits and I would have had the degree. I felt as though I could not make an impact, but I believe in God, and when it comes to the impossible, that’s where he works. I provided lectures at The University of Toledo, a message training on Recovery. I provided a workshop for the Human Trafficking Conference on Recovery a few times. I have provided a couple of lectures at Owens Community College psychology class. I was happy to be asked to be a part of the Goodwill of Northwest Ohio’s Building the Future Mentors Program for Returning Citizens. It was even more of a joy to be asked to write the mentor procedures manual. This was done under a grant provided by the department of justice.
Recently I was on the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County. As a trustee, I have participated in the allocation of millions of dollars for programs and services. I served a 4-year term but felt there is more that I can do in the provider shaping with Recovery Management. I began diving deeper and deeper into recovery, wanting to provide information to the people so they can support the process of Recovery. I learned that Bill Wilson said he created AA as a spiritual kindergarten. This means to me, there is a process of maturity and that can only be gained by improving my conscious contact with God.
My studies have led to analyzing the data already collected concerning the process of Recovery. There are those with access to information and I feel I am given the information from those pioneers, who went before me to learn what recovery is and understand the process. Pioneers like , William L. White and John Kelly, Ernest Kurts, Carl Jung, Dr Silkworth, Vivek Murthy, and many, many more provided the science can be considered marrow; delivering essential evidence of the Recovery Informed Care (RIC) needed for long-term Recovery. Language is at the top of the charts and spirituality shows to have an impact on achieving longer stability. Therefore, it was essential that I obtain a ministers license.
My journey has led me to being a writer for the latest OMHAS Ohio Peer Recovery Curriculum, Module 1. What is Peer Support and Sharing Your Story. What Reconciliation Recovery advances in is the connection between what the client is coming in treatment searching for and what the treatment provider has to offer. Reconciliation Recovery Provides a Recovery Management System of the individual now and then experience. Helping providers understand recovery and helping those seeking to understand the framework and pathways that develop recovered identities. This RM system helps connect the group facilitator, the case manager, therapist, and client to the same Recovery information with choices.
For example: a client may be experiencing quantum Recovery traits (knows what they need right now, wanting to talk others more, active with suggestions concerning others recovery, seeming to move faster than program expectations). Don’t slow them down, Recovery is fostered by support, it is contagious and like a virus it can respond in people differently. This person has landed on the shores of their recovery practice, while others my move with conscious incremental steps.
What I want people to finally know is Reconciliation Recovery is spiritually influenced, scientifically designed and constructed with lived experience to bridge the gap between treatment and recovery. It is truly a work that fits in the health stream of every behavioral health provider. When people feel you have something that you can truly offer them, they may return. However, when people feel you care, they never leave, they’re always connected. Therefore, Reconciliation Recovery Unlimited is truly a Recovery Management System of todays Recovery movement; “Nothing for Us Without Us”.
Reconciliation Recovery Unlimited #IGotwell.®

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I lived a life that was full of periodical chaos, deception, heart breaks, and isolation. Bouncing from one city to another. I found myself isolated and locked up; mentally and physically. Individuals such as myself who have overcome the desire to use the tools led to captivity are elevated to their next level in life. Our struggle was visible, we were criminals of the nation (war on drugs) and based on the stigma surrounding our medical disorder, hopeless. Resiliency story; having served as a prisoner of the war on drugs, and been enemy of the state. Rising to being a person considered a Subject Matter Expert who participated in the creation of state workforce of health; Living two lives in one lifetime, going from chow halls to Banquet halls, having contracts fulfilled with The Ohio State University School of Social Work Program, fulfilled obligation in federal grant, becoming an ordained minster, and speaking publicly, I’d say being resilient has been the story of my life’s story.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In my career I have had to pivot several times, shifting in to roles and moving in different directions. While working as a Recovery Coach with a counselors assistant certification, I was asked to manage or supervise the case management program. I went from managing cases to managing the people who manage the cases. This role caused me to look at leadership and the functions of policies. This knowledge of the policies and my work ethic caused be me be chosen as the agencies non-violent crisis intervention instructor. Now with double the leadership, I had to consider several new topics to provide my superiors with proper training. Having to pivot deliverables such as trainings to an entire agency actually fosters one in becoming more marketable. Your experience elevates your ability to both bounce back and shift as needed. To me, that’s talent multiplied.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.igotwell.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.nalls.3
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@davidnalls9372
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidnalls433

Image Credits

Training Manuals fresh of the printer, Anton Gunn is a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama and the world’s leading expert on Socially Conscious Leadership at a workshop of his. Picture with Senator Marcy Kaputur after the Grounds Breaking Ceremony for Dani’s Place, which I was apart of allocating funds decisively for the project as a Board Trustee. Teaching session Professionalizing Peer Support workshop for Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Service, Workshop. Diversity Equity and Inclusion Employee Inclusion Group Leader Champion For Buckeye Health Plan, Centene Spark Company innovator of the year award,