Rodney Blevins, Engagement Specialist at Wayspring, has been named to the Frontline Honors Awards Class of 2025 by Behavioral Health Business.
To become a Frontline honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be:
A dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes
A passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into for the good of their respective industry, the patients and residents they serve, and their families
An advocate for their industry and their fellow colleagues
Behavioral Health Business recently caught up with Blevins to discuss his time in the behavioral health industry.
BHB: What drew you to this industry?
Blevins: I was in active addiction for several years. I wanted to be part of the solution instead of the problem. I know how hard it is to get your life back on track, and I wanted to help others in active addiction see that the work is worth it.
BHB: What’s a misconception you had about this work before you started – and how has reality differed?
Blevins: One misconception that I had always heard is that this was an easy job. In reality, this is one of the hardest jobs I have ever done. I want to help everyone because I didn’t always have help, but I can’t always find the resources people need and it is frustrating.
BHB: Was there a moment in your career when you realized, “This work really matters”? What happened?
Blevins: I realized this work really matters when I first started doing peer support – building connections with the clients I was serving. Just to be able to offer nothing but love and support. I didn’t always have that in my recovery journey.
BHB: What’s the most valuable skill you’ve developed on the front lines that people often overlook?
Blevins: Honesty. Sharing my truth and being open with the people that we serve. Never thinking someone is too far gone. Being there when someone is having a rough day, and not rushing them in the conversation. Never make promises because anything can happen. It is extremely hard to build someone’s trust in early recovery because they are still living in survival mode and feel like no one is on their side.
BHB: What’s one decision leaders make that has a bigger impact on frontline workers than they might realize?
Blevins: Putting administrative barriers between frontline workers and access to resources that our clients need. When you put a bunch of admin requirements on people, or make restrictions based on geography, it really makes our jobs more stressful than they need to be, and really limits what we are able to do for our clients.
BHB: What’s a simple change – policy, tool, or mindset – that would make frontline work more effective?
Blevins: I think it’s important for people to understand that, especially in frontline work, a degree doesn’t always mean you’re more qualified or suited for the job. My lived experience has helped me build rapport and trust with clients in ways that just having a degree wouldn’t. I think it also helps me bring an inside perspective to the table that isn’t always considered in policy-making.
BHB: What gives you optimism about the future of this industry, despite its challenges?
Blevins: I feel optimistic about the efforts to decrease stigma by understanding addiction as a disease, instead of a moral failing or a series of bad choices. Addiction can affect any person, and looking at it through the disease model helps to take away the negativity associated with it. It helps people have empathy instead of judgment.