Welcome, Sean Fusco
Please join us in welcoming Sean Fusco to the Healthy Acadia team!
Sean joins us as a Maine Recovery Core Intern. Maine Recovery Core Interns offer direct peer support with the aim of improving recovery success among individuals facing substance use disorders.
Sean is a full-time student at the University of Maine at Augusta, working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Mental Health and Human Services with a minor in Community Case Management (2024). He is a CPRC, SMART Recovery, Family and Friends facilitator, and certified CCAR Recovery Coach, and provides recovery coaching and recovery supports in Washington County through AMHC’s Downeast Recovery Support Center in Machias.
Sean, what prompted you to join the Healthy Acadia team?
Gretchen Harrington, Denise Black, and Terri Woodruff [with Healthy Acadia’s Recovery Team] all changed my life and there are no words to explain my gratitude. They made me realize that I was deserving of a better life. At the same time, I admired their careers and chose to follow in their footsteps. I know what it’s like to walk the road to recovery alone. It’s a scary place. If I can prevent another person from walking that road alone, I will be proud to say that I may have just saved a life.
What most inspires you about Healthy Acadia's work?
I just finished my Community Mental Health course and Healthy Acadia fits the description of an organization that devotes time to strengthening the community. Change comes at a community level with organizations like Healthy Acadia working tirelessly on programming, resource brokering, guidance, and companionship. Virkam Patel made a TedTalk about the notion of "including all." His vision was to train community members in basic psychiatric skills to prevent untreated mental illness from spiraling out of control. I want to add substance use disorders to his vision. I think Healthy Acadia will help me find ways to strengthen my community so that all members will play a role. I dream of days when stigma and discrimination play no role in asking for help. Reducing stigma relies on education, an open mind, empathy, and belief.
What most inspires you on a personal level?
I want to use my personal experiences to change lives and reduce recidivism. My passion will always be speaking to those incarcerated and telling them where I was and where I am now. I want to brighten someone’s day. Being in prison is defeating and I remember when the SMART Recovery facilitators and Recovery Coaches came to see us. I left those meetings believing in my ability to change. I started to create my own vision for a better life. Eventually, my determination and motivation paid off. I'm here now because of those facilitators and coaches. It would be cool to visit the jails and prisons and speak about my journey. I think it would generate hope. That's my inspiration.
What is your favorite thing to do, or place to be, in Maine, and why?
Bailey's Island. The small gift shop on the point has the best fudge that I've ever had.
Sean currently resides in Machias. “I knew this was where I needed to be. I cannot explain why, I just knew that Healthy Acadia was where I wanted to work and Machias was where I wanted to live. I didn't stop working until it materialized. I'm here now and the sky's the limit. My darker days are over now. It’s time to radiate light and give hope to someone suffering from SUD or AUD.”