NAMI Johnson County IA

02/23/2026

Bad days happen.

But don’t quit.

You don’t have to have it all together.
You just have to keep going.

02/23/2026

NAMI Iowa loves sharing recovery stories.

Every recovery story we share is proof that a life is more than its worst chapter. We tell these stories because someone out there feels stuck, or ashamed, or convinced it’s too late. It isn’t. This story is a reminder that change doesn’t require a perfect past, it requires a decision and a place willing to help you follow through.

This is Troy.

Troy’s story starts at 14.
That’s when addiction moved in and refused to leave.

His mom struggled too. His dad wasn’t really there. Chaos was normal. In the last years of her life, his mother got clean. They were somewhat estranged, he’ll admit he mostly came back around when he needed something. The last time he asked, she said no.

They never repaired that distance.

She was murdered by her then husband during that estrangement.

There’s no clean way to package that. It fueled anger. More using. More running. Jail time. He estimates about five years of his life were spent there in pieces. Addiction eventually led to dealing. At 32, he was arrested and facing a 35-year sentence.

And as he was sitting in jail, waiting to be sentenced, he saw a flyer for Harvest Academy Iowa, a recovery center in Indianola Iowa.

He wrote a letter.

A staff member showed up days later.

He was accepted.

Harvest is a two-year program. Not 30 days. Not a quick fix. Two full years of structure, accountability, work, and rebuilding.

Let’s be honest. There’s a difference between going into recovery because you’re desperate to change and going because it’s the better option than prison.

A lot of the men who walk through Harvest’s doors are facing sentences. They’re in the same boat Troy was in. Sometimes that motivation works. Sometimes it doesn’t.

In his case, it did.

It worked in the ordinary ways first.

Showing up on time.

Holding a job.

Taking correction.

Sitting with grief instead of numbing it.

Being accountable when no one was watching.

He did his two years and when they were up, he decided to stay, in part because he was scared of what would happen if he left. He stayed because he knew he still needed the structure but the biggest reason he stayed was because he wanted to give back to the program that had taken a chance on him. That program became something he felt responsible for protecting and pouring into.

Today, Troy is a program manager at Harvest. He goes back into jails and talks to inmates. He talks to lawyers and others in the system because he understands the reality: when someone is facing decades behind bars, recovery can feel like the only door cracked open.

He doesn’t sugarcoat it. He tells them the truth.

Recovery isn’t a loophole.

It’s work.

It’s discipline.

It’s deciding every day that you’re not going back.

His story could have ended in a cell.

Instead, it became a bridge, from a cell to purpose, from anger to accountability, from surviving to leading.

His mother’s life ended in tragedy.

His didn’t have to.

And now he stands in rooms full of men who think they’re out of options and says, without drama, without hype:

“I was you.”

Thank you Troy for sharing your story with us.

Troy’s journey is a reminder that no one is beyond hope, and no story is finished until it’s finished.

We will keep sharing these stories. Because someone out there needs to hear that change is still possible.

02/23/2026

Today and every day, we honor the strength it takes to keep going after su***de loss. You don’t have to carry your grief alone — community, connection, and support are here for you.✨ 💙

Join fellow long-term survivors of su***de loss for a weekend of connection, understanding and empowerment. Register at afsp.org/survivorsummit

02/23/2026

02/21/2026

✨ NAMI Peer-to-Peer is back! ✨

Looking for a space where you’re truly understood? NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a free, 8-session recovery-focused course for adults living with mental health conditions—taught by peers who get it, because they’ve been there too. 💙

🧠 What to expect:
- Free & confidential
- Meets weekly for 2 hours
- Led by trained peers with lived experience
- Learn about mental health, recovery, and self-advocacy
- Built on respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope

📅 March 18 – May 6, 2026
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM | Wednesdays
💻 On Zoom
💸 Free class (materials provided!)
📌 Registration REQUIRED

🗣️ “Life-saving and eye-opening.”
🗣️ “I became my own advocate—and a better friend.”
🗣️ “Seeing my peers’ strength in recovery was so meaningful.”

👉 Sign up now!
📲 Scan the QR code
📧 Or email: mary.issah@namijc.org

Hosted by NAMI Johnson County in partnership with R Place Peer Recovery Center 💛
📍 702 S. Gilbert St. Suite 111, Iowa City
📞 319-354-3455
📩 rplace@namijc.org

💙

02/20/2026

02/20/2026

The Iowa Office of Recovery Services wants you to know that when things feel urgent, you don’t have to handle it alone.

If someone is struggling and you’re unsure what to do next, reach out to the Iowa Office of Recovery Services.

We can help connect you quickly to crisis services, stabilization options, and local supports.

Asking for help is a strong first step.

02/20/2026

In honor of Nonprofit Appreciation Week, we'd like to take a moment to thank our nonprofit community partners who make it possible for the residents of Johnson County to have access to the resources they need. Whether they are a victim of crime, families of victims navigating the criminal justice system, or residents in need of basic support, these agencies are there to provide assistance.

We are grateful to work alongside passionate agencies who help us thoroughly address the needs of the people behind each case that gets referred to our office. Please take a moment to show your appreciation for all that they do!

02/19/2026

Last Saturday, our Executive Director, Ryan Crane was in attendance at the Kendra Scott Gives Back event at Kendra Scott - Jordan Creek Town Center, where a portion of the proceeds supported NAMI Iowa.

We love when supporting mental health is as simple as showing up (and maybe grabbing something shiney).

Thanks to everyone who came out and made it a great day
and to Kendra Scott for partnering with us.

We’re grateful for businesses that give back in such meaningful ways.

02/19/2026

Recently, the Iowa Office of Recovery Services Manager and the Executive Director of NAMI Iowa toured
Pasadena Villa Outpatient in West Des Moines.

Pasadena Villa is an outpatient mental health treatment center serving adults (18+) who are experiencing a range of psychiatric and emotional challenges, offering structured support while individuals continue living at home.

Visits like this are important. They strengthen partnerships, deepen our understanding of available services, and help ensure Iowans are connected to the right care at the right time.

Pictured: Alli Allen, Alicia Klein (ORS), CEO Dawn Mabe, and Ryan Crane, Executive Director-NAMI Iowa.