LIMA, OH (WLIO) - A local woman was named the best in Ohio for her work with people who are dealing with substance abuse issues.
Angie Mueller was named Sobriety, Treatment, and Recusing Trauma's Family Peer Mentor of the Year. Mueller works for Coleman Health Services and operates with the clients at Allen County Children Services, who are dealing with substance use disorders and have had their children placed in foster care. She leans on her own past experiences to work with the clients to get them the help that they need. This starts with recognizing that substance abuse issues are not a choice that people make.
"It is a disease, and we like to treat it as a disease. We believe this is not a choice that someone woke up and decided this is how they would like to live their life. So, recovering takes on all kinds of different realms. I mean, we are asking people to change people, places, and things and I feel like my job is to guide them to get to those new people places, and things," says Angie Mueller, Ohio's Family Peer Mentor of the Year.
Mueller says the best feeling is when a client is in recovery from their addiction and a family is reunited.
"I really can't contain myself when that happens, because it's just such a beautiful moment to see how far people have come in their journey, and how much strength the family has to get their children back," adds Mueller.
There are 53 agencies around Ohio that have START programs. Mueller was nominated for the award by the staff at Children Services and Coleman Services.
