Raquel Tatum – Alumni Care Coordinator
Raquel has served as a 12-Step Recovery Advocate at Hannah’s House since March 2022. She is in the process of completing her Bachelor’s in Social Work degree at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. With January 20, 2017, being her sobriety date and entering the program in Kerrville, TX, Raquel offers her patients first-hand experience and valuable personal insight into battling addiction and alcoholism. Before joining Hannah’s House team, she was an immigration assistant for a law firm and a program coordinator for another recovery community in Dallas, Texas.
What brought you to the field of addiction treatment? What brought you to Origins?
My first position working in treatment was back in 2018. What initially brought me into the field of treatment was the sheer desire to be of maximum service to others. Being in recovery myself and having been to treatment before, I wanted to give back and give hope to others that recovery is possible. When I applied at Origins, I had heard very good things about their program, and I wanted to be a part of an organization that taught the 12-Steps and had the Big Book as their primary curriculum.
If there was only one thing you could tell us about working within your specialty area, what would it be?
Being a part of the Alumni department, I want to continue providing support and hope even after a patient completes the program. In my experience, I had no hope when I got to treatment. However, I found hope through the Steps and continued to have hope after leaving treatment with the support of the staff from my treatment center.
What have you learned through your experience working in treatment?
From my three different positions in the treatment industry since 2018, two being residential treatment and one residential detox, I have learned that being spiritually fit is crucial when working with patients. Working in the treatment industry has really motivated me to work a strong program myself, so I can fit myself to be of maximum service to others and show by example. As the Big Book states: “You cannot transmit something you haven’t got” (Big Book, pg. 164).
Do you hold any credentials or certifications? Do you participate in any professional activities outside of work?
I am currently obtaining my Bachelor of Social Work degree, intending to graduate next year in 2023. Although my educational journey has been very long, starting college at 17, dropping out due to my addiction, getting sober, and returning in the Fall of 2018, obtaining this degree has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I am very excited to graduate. I also want to spread hope that we can achieve our goals, goals we once thought we were never going to be able to achieve.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I moved from my hometown of McAllen, TX, in 2017, and I hadn’t been home in five years until I moved back to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) in 2022. I now have the great opportunity to visit my family every week, and I love playing with my two labradors, Boomer and Beau, and two cats, Kylo and Zuko. My hobbies include reading romance novels on the beach and fishing with my husband, family, and friends.
Hannah’s House is a well-known care provider offering a range of treatment programs targeting the recovery from substance use, mental health issues, and beyond. Our primary mission is to provide a clear path to a life of healing and restoration. We offer renowned clinical care for addiction and have the compassion and professional expertise to guide you toward lasting sobriety.
For more information about the stages of alcoholism in women or to learn about our programs, call us today: 561.841.1272.
