Full circle: From drug addict to drug counselor
VIDEO NEWS RELEASE
Maui College
Kimberly Villegas
Kimberly Villegas at Aloha House
Kimberly Villegas, Bernie Villegas
Kimberly Villegas, son Dillon Rodrigues
Kimberly Villegas (fourth from left) with daughter and family
Link to video and sound (details below): https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/IFXIntUzXX
WHO: University of Hawaiʻi Maui College student and Aloha House Substance Abuse Counselor Kimberly Villegas,
WHAT: Overcame decades of drug and alcohol abuse and serving time in prisons in Maui and Kentucky to become a substance use counselor.
- Villegas started at Maui Behavioral Health Resources’ Aloha House two years ago as a program associate and was able to become a counselor after she became a Hawaiʻi Department of Health Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) through UH Maui College.
HOW: With the help of the UH Maui College and its partners.
- Villegas was in the first cohort of UH Maui College’s Kealahoʻimai Substance Abuse Counseling program for a series of seven free courses to earn two certificates required to become a CSAC.
- The program is sponsored by Hui No Ke Ola Pono, Inc., a non-profit community-based health enhancement, disease prevention and health care center.
- The second Kealahoʻimai cohort started classes this spring.
OTHER FACTS:
The 52-year-old grandmother will be the first in her family to graduate from college when she earns her associate in science degree in human services in May.
More details in the UH News story: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2024/01/26/from-drug-addict-to-drug-counselor/
VIDEO:
B-ROLL: (1 minute, 55 seconds)
0:00-0:46 - Kimberly Villegas at UH Maui College
0:46-0:52 - Kimberly Villegas holds certificates from UH Maui College
0:52-1:37 - Kimberly Villegas at Aloha House
1:37-1:55 - Stills of Kimberly Villegas and her family
SOUND:
Kimberly Villegas, UH Maui College student (23 seconds)
“I come from a lineage of alcoholics and addicts. I goin’ cry. I wasn't given the opportunity to learn the basics of life.”
Villegas (21 seconds)
“So I started using, I started drinking and using drugs at a young age, I started drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana when I was 11. And that was going on for a while. I had my first baby at 14”
Villegas (13 seconds)
“From a substance abuse user to a substance abuse counselor is so rewarding today.”
Villegas (13 seconds)
“I can make a difference. I can show people that it is possible to make a difference and not continue the vicious cycle of substance abuse.”
Timothy “Charlie” Schlather, UH Maui College associate professor (15 seconds)
“A helping professional oftentimes comes from a place of disadvantage where they had their own unique struggles personally in this world. And she's been able to rise above it and contribute to our community in ways that are really beneficial.”
Nicole Hokoana, Maui Behavioral Health Resources CEO (19 seconds)
“She's super passionate, so much heart and love and she's bright, like she has so much energy and aloha to give to the world, but lucky for us she’s here and gives it to our participants.”