Kimberly A. Jackson, Chair of the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP) Committee, received the Recovery Advocate of the Year Award. Jackson was honored for her dedication to JLAP and its mission to help lawyers and judges struggling with addiction and mental health, physical or age-related problems. The award was given by the Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition in connection with Mental Health America.
Jackson joined JLAP in 2003 as a volunteer and was appointed to the committee for 2004. She served as the committee’s Vice-Chair from 2008-2010. As a JLAP Monitor, Jackson works with lawyers on their individual recovery plan and helps them to retain or regain their license. She frequently speaks with groups of lawyers about addiction and recovery.
Jackson’s goal in volunteering is to make sure that everyone has a future to look forward to, despite their past experiences. She added that, “A person’s scars tell where they have been, not where they are going.”
Aside from Jackson’s dedicated work with JLAP, she is employed as a Clay County Deputy Prosecutor in the area of child support. She previously worked for Vigo County in Drug Court and DUI Court. In addition to her service with JLAP, Jackson serves on the Board of Directors for Terre Haute YMCA, the local Planned Parenthood and Henrietta’s House.