TiNHiH Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the devastation addiction and mental health conditions causes families. We envision a world where fewer lives are lost and help exists for the millions of Americans affected by addiction and mental health.
Born from profound loss, There is No Hero in Heroin (TiNHiH) Foundation’s Las Vegas chapter emerged as a beacon of hope in the fight against substance use disorder. After losing his son Reese to heroin addiction in July 2011, founder Joseph Engle channeled his grief into action, partnering with TiNHiH’s Tucson founder Jan Nargi to establish the Las Vegas chapter in June 2013. What began as a small group of grieving parents meeting in Engle’s kitchen has grown into one of Nevada’s most comprehensive addiction recovery organizations.
TiNHiH made history in 2016 by conducting Nevada’s first layperson’s Narcan training, going on to train over 1,000 community members in this life-saving intervention. The foundation’s commitment to youth recovery led to co-founding Mission High School in 2017, Nevada’s only recovery high school serving students struggling with substance use. That same year, TiNHiH launched its Alternative Peer Group, a pioneering drop-in center that has served over 2,000 adolescents from across the Las Vegas Valley.
Today, TiNHiH operates five sober living homes supporting 55 active clients in their recovery journey, with hundreds more having passed through their doors since July 2023. The foundation holds State of Nevada SAPTA licenses to provide ASAM 1.0, 2.1, and co-occurring mental health outpatient treatment for both adolescents and adults. As a certified primary prevention facility, TiNHiH continues to expand its services while staying true to its founding principle: that recovery is possible, and no one should face addiction alone.
From conducting the state’s first community Narcan training to establishing innovative youth programs and comprehensive adult services, TiNHiH has transformed personal tragedy into community triumph, becoming a crucial pillar of hope and healing in Southern Nevada’s recovery community.
Katie has been a licensed marriage and family therapist as well as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor for over 14 years. She is a mother of two boys and married to a firefighter. Her values are family, community, health and fitness. In her free time, Katie enjoys reading books and weightlifting
Due to my immigrant background, I have been naturally drawn to a career that focuses on assisting individuals from low-socioeconomic and racially diverse backgrounds. Throughout my undergraduate studies, my interest in psychological research and clinical psychology solidified into my primary field of study. I developed a deep passion for helping individuals with mental health and co-occurring disorders, particularly within cultures that often overlook the significant impacts of mental health issues. In the near future, I plan to obtain credentials as a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor and apply to graduate programs in Clinical Psychology. Beyond my academic and professional interests, I enjoy spending quality time with friends at music events, coffee shops, and church activities. I have a keen interest in books and enjoy listening to public speakers. Engaging in philosophical discussions with like-minded individuals is one of the simple joys in my life. In the evenings, you can find me at a local Las Vegas gym with friends, or playing 7v7 competitive soccer. I have begun to prioritize my health and physical activity as effective methods for managing daily stress. I feel immensely fortunate to have the opportunity to be a part of many individuals’ journeys toward recovery.
Desiree is a person in recovery with a deep passion for working with youth. She currently holds a CADC-I certification and serves as a peer support specialist at TiNHiH. Desiree is actively pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) to further her ability to help others. Her commitment to supporting those in need is driven by both her personal experience and professional training. In her downtime, Desiree enjoys practicing self-care with her two beloved kittens. She believes in the importance of balance and healing in her own life, which helps her better serve those she works with.
Rhonda Fairchild first became a member of the Las Vegas recovery community 31 years ago after being introduced to a12 step program during her stay at a local rehabilitation facility. In 2009 she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Upon graduation, she turned her attention to substitute teaching. She recently served as a life skills instructor at the Clark County School District’s four-year-old Mission High School, the nation’s first all public school for young people with substance use disorders. She was also the Executive Director of the APG (Alternative Peer Group) a recovery community center for teens and young adults. Recently she was the Director of Housing at TINHIH. Fairchild has lived in Las Vegas since 1974. She is the mother of six adult children and grandmother of twelve. She and her life partner, Paul, enjoy travelling to ghost towns and small communities near Las Vegas.
Terry is a US Navy disabled veteran. Component level electronic technician with 40 years’ experience. As a person in long term recovery from many traumas including abuse and PTSD and trying to cope by using substances. He has learned healthier methods to not just survive but thrive. He started his recovery through church counseling and Celebrate Recovery and their 12-stepstudy.Although he was sober for7years, he realized he hadn’t delt with the underlying reasons for the felt the need to escape reality. With the help of counselors at the VA and various therapy’s such as EMDR and Alfa-Stim he now has joy in his life and wishes now to help others by walking along side them as a Peer Support Specialist
Peter has faced the struggles of addiction and is now living and loving life in recovery. His journey has fueled his passion for helping others who are navigating similar challenges. As a peer support with TiNHiH, Peter offers guidance and encouragement to those in need, using his personal experiences to connect and inspire. He believes that working with others in recovery makes every step of his own journey worthwhile. Peter is dedicated to giving back to his community and being a source of hope for those seeking change. His commitment to recovery and helping others is at the heart of everything he does.
As a person in long-term recovery since 2007, Vickie has discovered the transformative power of service and connection in maintaining her recovery journey. Her path led her to Las Vegas over three and a half decades ago, where she ultimately found sobriety and built a new life. Vickie is blessed with a large family, including five adult children and nine grandchildren who have witnessed her recovery journey. Throughout her 17 years of recovery, Vickie has learned that giving back to others is not just rewarding-it’s essential to sustaining her own recovery. This belief in service has become the cornerstone of her approach as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist. By sharing her lived experience and supporting other son their recovery paths, Vickie strengthens her own recovery while helping build a stronger recovery community.
Mirella is a Las Vegas native with a diverse background, including extensive experience in the fitnessindustry as an operations manager and as an administrative assistant in mental health. She is currently a program manager with TiNHiH , where she combines her skills in operations and her passion for helping others. Mirella is working toward earning her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) to expand her ability to make a difference in the community. She balances her professional life with a love for self-care and staying active. Mirella enjoys using her Peloton and taking walks with her fur baby, Charlie, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Her dedication to both personal and professional growth fuels her commitment to supporting others on their journeys.
Jeanette , a California native who spent her early years in Texas before making Las Vegas her home, pivoted her career path during the pandemic. After leaving the HOA industry, she entered the substance use treatment field at an agency that provided an initial exposure to the field. Now at TINHIH, Jeanette serves as Utilization Review, where she has found meaningful opportunities to deepen her understanding of substance use treatment while working closely with our billing company and Nevada Medicaid insurance providers to ensure optimal client care.
Edie Gracia has over 20 years of experience in behavioral health and substance use treatment, with a strong focus on improving outcomes for individuals and communities. Her extensive background in business development has allowed her to create and lead innovative programs that address critical needs in mental health and addiction services. Edie is deeply passionate about serving her community, always striving to make a positive impact through her work. Outside of her professional life, she is a proud grandmother of 12, cherishing time spent with her family. An avid marathon runner, Edie has a personal commitment to health and perseverance. Her dedication to both her career and personal passions reflects her drive to continuously better herself and the lives of those around her.
I work at TINHIH as their Harbor Liaison. I’m from Las Vegas, Nevada. I have played volleyball since I was10 on club teams and in my senior year of high school, I was first in state as a libero. Then I was drafted with a book scholarship to the College of Southern Nevada to play for their women’s volleyball team as a libero in 2018. In 2019 I got drafted to play for the women’s volleyball team at Georgian Court in New Jersey. I got my associate’s degree in criminal justice and now I am currently enrolled at CSN for my psychology degree.
Christina moved to las Vegas when she was 10 years old from Brooklyn New York, she graduated from Clark high school in 2003 she loves helping people especially in recovery. She also is very passionate about things she does and would love to one day be a drug and alcohol counselor. She worked for MGM Corporate for 18 years as a limo dispatcher. Christina’s hobbies are cooking, journaling, painting and concerts. Music is a huge part of my life.
Scott Allen Frost is an executive, entrepreneur, father, and author. Scott is a native Nevadan who was raised and educated in Reno. He’s the co-founder and President of Titan Brands based in Las Vegas. Scott has directed the design, development and operation of restaurant and nightlife venues in Nevada, Arizona and New York. Titan was recognized as Las Vegas’ “Restaurateur of the Year” by the Nevada Restaurant Association.
Scott Frost is a co-founder and SVP of Your Fare, a restaurant technology company based in Austin, Texas and is an expert on organizational behavior and team building.
He wrote his autobiography “Livin’ on a Chair, Lessons of Love and Faith After Breaking my Neck” and has become a nationally recognized inspirational speaker. He enjoys sharing his experience in business leadership after becoming a quadriplegic ten years ago.
He has remained active in the Las Vegas community co-founding and chairing several trade organizations and nonprofits including the Technology Business Alliance of Nevada, the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, the Vegas Valley Angels, and the Spinal Injury Recovery Foundation. He has served as the council president of Community Lutheran Church.
Recognizing the opioid crisis and the impact it has on the Las Vegas community, he enthusiastically serves on the board of TINHIH.
Alyson moved to Las Vegas when she was 12 years old. She fell in love with the different communities and culture here in fabulous Las Vegas. She completed both her undergrad and Masters programing at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She has worked in Human Services since 2005 and started her journey working in the Recovery world in 2007. She is currently the Clinical Director at The Las Vegas Rescue Mission. She oversees the Low Intensity Residential Treatment, Intact Families Housing, and Emergency Shelter programming. Alyson has two clinical licenses in the state of Nevada, License Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) and License Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She is also a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor Supervisor. She enjoys supervising clinical interns and staff; providing guidance, training, and development. Alyson continues to also provide direct services, which she values as it keeps her growing and knowledgeable on today’s needs. She loves building programs and ensuring quality services are being delivered.
Christy moved to Las Vegas when she was 11 years old. She was actively involved in her community early on participating in service projects with her church. After starting her family Christy went on to complete both her undergrad and Masters programming at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker she has dedicated the last 20 years to working with individuals with substance use and mental health conditions. She has been part of several pilot programs bringing therapeutic services and resources into detention centers and homeless shelters giving these individuals a second chance. Christy was on the front lines providing crisis counseling to survivors and first responders immediately following the Route 91 Tragedy.
In 2014, Christy was awarded the Light of Hope award for her warm spirit, dedication and passion all the while improving the lives of her clients and co-workers.
In 2019, she was one of only a half dozen Nevadans asked to participate in the first ever Mobilize Recovery, an event that brought together recovery advocates, nonprofit organizations, and allies with an interest in creating sustainable change and community solutions.
Christy’s passion and enthusiasm for recovery is contagious. She loves bringing people together and believes in empowering those she works with. Her philosophy is an admirable one as she believes “there are no off days in this work, when someone is ready and asking for help you have to be ready.”
Lisa Hoover is a native of Las Vegas, Nevada, and a bereaved parent who lost her son, Cody, in October 2019. Lisa and her entire family were born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lisa, her sisters, and her mother all graduated from Western High School between the years of 1965 and 1996. Lisa worked for over 18 years in customer service at a uniform rental business owned by her aunt in Henderson, NV, before acquiring her real estate license in 2004. Today, she is actively practicing real estate as a full-time realtor serving all of Las Vegas and surrounding areas. Lisa’s son, Cody, is a victim of the opioid crisis that has crippled the United States. Cody was ordered to a youth “YO” court program in 2015; this is when Lisa learned of “There Is No Hero in Heroin.” She is passionate about TINHIH’s involvement with the youth in our city and the dire need for on-demand treatment. Lisa fully supports Joe’s vision for a “recovery district.” Lisa created “The Cody Hat Project” to honor her son and bring awareness to the disease of addiction. All donations from “The Cody Hat” go directly to TINHIH. To date, the Cody Hat is in all 50 states and four countries. Lisa’s goal is to get a Cody Hat into the hands and on the heads of rock stars and musicians who support recovery. When asked to be on the board for TINHIH, she didn’t hesitate. Lisa’s hobbies include traveling and spending time with her grandbabies, two of whom are Cody’s children, Sabrina and Andrew.
Maurice Cloutier brings both professional expertise and personal lived experience to his role on the Board of There Is No Hero In Heroin. His journey through recovery fuels his passion for supporting individuals facing the challenges of substance use and mental health. Maurice is committed to creating innovative programs and policies that inspire hope and foster resilience in those seeking a path to healing.
Currently, Maurice represents Nevada Behavioral Health, where he leads transformative housing initiatives addressing social determinants of health. These include rapid re-engagement housing models, intensive case management, harm reduction strategies, and long-term transition planning. His work is informed by years of experience in behavioral health and his prior role as Community Resources Manager for Homelessness Initiatives with the City of Las Vegas, where he launched programs that bridged resources and improved community stability.
Maurice resides in Las Vegas, NV, with his wife, three adult children, and 5-year-old son, and is proud to bring his strategic insight and lived experience to the TINHIH mission of empowering individuals and families affected by substance use.
Adrian Lobo is a Las Vegas Criminal Defense attorney that runs her own law firm, Lobo Law. She has dedicated her practice criminal defense for the past 18 years in both state and federal court. During her career she has become intimately familiar with drug addiction as most individuals in active addiction suffer the collateral consequences of a conviction in the criminal legal system. She considers herself a holistic attorney in getting her clients into recovery programs while simultaneously defending their legal rights and protecting their record.
In addition to managing her law practice, she also serves on the Board of Directors for Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice and has served as a guest speaker at Boyd School of Law lectures. She has argued before the Nevada Supreme Court and has published case law in the state of Nevada.
Joe’s family moved to Las Vegas in 1978 when he was 11 years old. He graduated from Western High School in 1985 and has worked for Safe Electronics since 2002 as an IBEW Low Voltage Senior Technician. Joe’s 19-year-old son Reese died in 2011 due to an overdose of heroin. The unbearable loss and profound pain that Joe experienced tormented him for a year. Upon the first “Angel Anniversary” of Reese’s death, a group of grieving parents with similar stories decided that they needed to help other families impacted by the opioid crisis. In June 2013, the nonprofit TiNHiH Foundation formed to provide support and financial assistance for those seeking long term sobriety from opioid addiction. In the last five years, TINHIH Las Vegas has become a leader in the recovery community as well as a vocal advocate for sustainable recovery programs at the local, state and federal level. Along with Board Members Donn Jersey and Jeffery Horn, Joe advocated for the creation of the Clark County School District’s Mission High School in downtown Las Vegas which opened in the Fall of 2017.
Judge Cedric A. Kerns was elected to Las Vegas Municipal Court, Department 5 in June of 1997.
Judge Kerns came to Las Vegas in 1985 to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was a member of the nationally ranked debate team before graduating in 1989. He received his J.D. in 1992 from the University of San Diego.
Prior to being elected, Judge Kerns was a partner and co-founder of the Law Office of Kerns and Lybarger, where he focused on criminal defense and domestic law. While in private practice, Judge Kerns was an appointed member of the Nevada Supreme Court Task Force for the Study of Economic Bias in the justice system.
Judge Kerns is an active member of the American Bar Association, Judicial Division Delegate to the National Conference of Specialized Court Judges; Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Agency (SAPTA), and Multidisciplinary Prevention Advisory Committee (MPAC); American Judges Association, where he has served as delegate and governor representing the State of Nevada; Nevada Judges Association, where he served as a member of the Board of Directors as well as the president for the year 2005. Judge Kerns was chosen as Outstanding Judge of the Year for 2006 by the Nevada Judges Association and served on the Supreme Court 2012 Judicial Leadership Planning Committee.
Judge Kerns is the presiding judge over Las Vegas Municipal Courts Youth Offender (YO) Court. This is a specialized court that focuses on young offenders with drug offenses. Judge Kerns was also the creator of the specialized court H.O.P.E. that focuses on habitual offenders.
Kaitlyn is the treasurer and blog author for There is No Hero in Heroin. She is also a full time teacher and a full time graduate school student studying administrative leadership. Her goal is to one day help open more recovery high schools, as well as create more exercise oriented programs to support people in their addiction recovery. In her free time she currently competes on the pro level of obstacle course races. She proudly wears her There is No Hero in Heroin gear at each event, and her sport has helped her network with countless athletes in recovery.
Krista Hales, LADC is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, both from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She is a doctoral candidate at Arizona State University in the Behavioral Health program, completing her culminating project on alcohol use amongst those at risk for HIV contraction or are HIV positive. Krista has been working in addiction treatment since 2008 and is currently the IOTRC Director for Center for Behavioral Health, overseeing program expansion to address the opioid epidemic through implementation of integration between numerous fields including law enforcement, primary care, and social services. Krista is an active member of the recovery community in Las Vegas by serving with multiple organizations such as the TiNHiH Foundation (TINHIH) Board of Directors, Nevada Opioid Treatment Association (NOTA) President, Southern Nevada Opioid Advisory Council (SNOAC) Executive Committee, Southern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance (SNHRA) Leadership Committee, and First Responders Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA) Advisory Council.
Cheryl Wright earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a focus on Chemical Dependency from Pitzer College and later obtained her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Throughout her career, she dedicated herself to supporting underserved youth and families at the Clark County Department of Juvenile Justice Services, where she held various roles, including the oversight of mental health and medical services. In the latter part of her tenure, Cheryl served as Deputy Director, managing diversion, prevention, and early intervention programs. She is a licensed social worker in the state and a board-approved supervisor. Cheryl has contributed to numerous initiatives, including the Clark County Children’s Behavioral Health Consortium, the Clark County School Justice Partnership, and the National Assessment Center Associated Board. Currently, she serves as an Advisory Board Member for TINHIH, maintains a limited therapy practice, provides consulting services, and collaborates on special projects with colleagues.