About Us.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide comprehensive, peer-led substance use recovery support and guidance at no cost to individuals, families and communities.
Our Vision
Our vision is for every person in our community to have access to peer-led substance use recovery support services in order to create a community-centered recovery network.
Feel free to contact us!
Email: a.brinkley@paulsplanministries.com
Phone: 765-413-0283
Meet our Founders and Board
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Our entire team from our Board of Directors to our staff encompasses unique backgrounds and expertise. More than 51% of our Board of Director's have direct lived experience of substance use recovery. We are enriched by our lived experiences, ministry volunteers and collaboration with local behavioral health and criminal justice partners. Together, we aim to make a positive impact in our community through outreach and shared efforts.
Chief Executive Officer (non-voting Board Member) Amy A. Brinkley is a nationally recognized leader in peer recovery and reentry support services, with over a decade of experience advancing recovery-oriented systems of care. She is the Executive Director and Founder of Paul’s Plan Ministries, a Certified Recovery Community Organization (RCO) in Indiana that provides peer-led, faith-inclusive support to individuals reentering the community from carceral settings. Under her leadership, Paul’s Plan Ministries is spearheading a comprehensive peer support wraparound program across the sequential intercepts within the Tippecanoe County Jail in Indiana. Amy continues to serve as a recovery consultant to NASMHPD, providing technical assistance to state mental health authorities and supporting the development of statewide peer recovery infrastructure across the country. Previously, she served as the Director of Recovery Support Services for the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction, where she led the expansion of peer support funding, infrastructure, and innovations including Recovery Cafés, Regional Recovery Hubs, and forensic peer initiatives. Amy is a person with lived experience in both mental health and substance use recovery, as well as the criminal justice system. Her work is deeply informed by personal loss—having lost three brothers to suicide and her mother to an overdose—and by her own long-term recovery. Her voice remains grounded in the values of wellness, healing, and the transformative power of lived experience.
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Alyssa Waters Board President Initiated jail ministry in 2015 and, as an essential part of her recovery journey, co-founded Paul's Plan Ministry.
Felisha Thise Board Secretary As a Community Resource Specialist and Certified Addictions Peer Recovery Coach, I am passionate about supporting multiple pathways to recovery and helping individuals build meaningful, lasting lives in recovery. My personal journey has given me a deep understanding of the challenges people face and the hope that is possible through perseverance, support, and faith. After experiencing prescription opioid dependence that progressed to heroin addiction, I faced treatment, overdose, incarceration, and the loss of custody of my children before finding lasting recovery. Today, I am grateful to have my family back together and have dedicated my life to walking alongside others as they navigate their own recovery journeys. In addition to my peer recovery certification, I have experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Home Health Aide, and Psychiatric Technician, bringing both professional knowledge and lived experience to the people I serve. I believe everyone deserves compassion, hope, and the opportunity to succeed—regardless of their past or the challenges they face. Favorite Quote: "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." — Helen Keller
Lori Hawk Board Treasurer I was born and raised in Anderson, Indiana. I graduated from Central Bible College in Springfield Missouri. I worked in inner city ministry in Detroit, Michigan and later moved to New Jersey and worked in inner city Newark as a book keeper in a preschool. I later got my first job in a CPA firm in New York City and since then I worked in three other CPA firms in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I went back to school and received a Masters Degree in forensic accounting. I moved to West Lafayette to be with family where I met Amy Brinkley. I now work the financial end of Paul’s Plan ministries. I love what Amy is attempting to do and happy to serve in this capacity.
Heather Richards Board Member Bio coming soon!
New board member added soon
PPM Board Member Applications
Pauls Plan Ministries is looking for new Board Members!! If you are interested please fill out the application that can be found here. PPM Board Member Application
Board Membership Backgrounds Desired Are:
* Direct lived/living experience with Substance Use
* Direct lived experience with the criminal justice system
* Professional experience with the criminal justice system
* Attorney background
* Accounting background
* Fundraising background
* Behavioral Health Policy background
* Recovery and/or Behavioral Health Fundraising background
* Mental Health Lived/living experience
Meet Our Team
Every person on our team has direct and/or indirect lived experience of mental health/substance use recovery and criminal justice backgrounds.
Each person is also a State Certified Peer Support Provider.
Alvina LaForge - Jail & Community Based Resource Coordinator Drawing from my own lived experience and long-term recovery, I am passionate about helping others navigate their recovery journeys. I remain committed to maintaining my recovery while empowering others to do the same.
Jake Mahlke - Jail Based Project Coordinator I've been working in the community for a little over two years helping people further their goals on their Recovery journey. I've grown up around addiction and dysfunction my whole life as well as finding my own path to recovery.
Trish Coons - Jail Supervisor
Tara Stovall - Program Admin After overcoming a personal battle with substance use disorder that led to the loss of everything, including custody of my child, I found recovery, healing, and purpose. Today, I’m dedicated to helping others facing similar struggles. My journey fuels my passion to serve, support, and uplift those seeking a second chance at life.
Tina Runyan - Recovery Residence Coordinator
Nic Thomas - Community Based Program Coordinator After spending nearly 20 years in and out of jail, I finally found my path to recovery. Through my experiences with substance use disorder, the criminal justice system, and mental health challenges, I have learned the importance of hope, perseverance, and support. Today, I walk alongside others facing similar struggles, offering guidance, understanding, and encouragement as they pursue their own healing and transformation. I chose to work with Paul's Plan because their Christ-centered recovery philosophy aligns with the values and purpose that guide my work.
More to come...
Mike Rice - Jail Based Program Coordinator After my release from jail, I was fortunate to find a community that accepted me and supported me, helping me to avoid re-offending. I want to extend that same support and sense of community to others.
Chris Sholty - Community Program Coordinator I have been in the recovery community as a recovering alcoholic for several years and saw firsthand the difficulties that people face entering and exiting the criminal justice system. I have witnessed the transformative power of Jesus Christ through building a community for those without friends/family. I am very excited to start leading MATRIX and WRAP groups to the women of Tippecanoe County to build community within the prison walls.
Core Recovery Principles
PPM is committed to upholding our organizations core recovery principles which are:
1) Recovery Vision: PPM is dedicated to fostering long-term recovery from substance use disorders and enhancing the quality and quantity of recovery support services within the community we serve.
2) Authenticity of Voice: We prioritize and support self-directed recovery pathways, ensuring that individuals with real-life experience are elevated and heard at all levels of the community, state, and national levels.
3) Accountability to the Recovery Community: PPM maintains accountability and responsiveness to the recovery community that we serve. We do this by ensuring that over 51% of our board is always represented by people in recovery. Additionally, PPM is committed to participating in or leading a community needs assessment (listening session/feedback survey) once per year minimum to identify the needs of peers we serve.
Recovery Community Organization and Recoveree Rights and Responsibilities
PPM (Recovery Community Organization) Responsibilities to the Recoveree
1. Inclusivity: PPM recognizes that recovery is a deeply rooted personal journey for each person, with diverse pathways to recovery that each person has a right to choose from.
2. Empowerment: We believe in empowering recoverees to make informed decisions about their recovery journey and encourage active participation in their own treatment plans.
3. Non-Discrimination: PPM operates on the principle of non-discrimination and ensures equal access to services for all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic status.
4. Communication: Maintain open and respectful communication with staff, fellow volunteers, and participants, seeking guidance and support as needed.
5. Stigma Free Company: PPM supports positive messaging and the use of non-stigmatizing language between all program participants, staff, and volunteers at all times.
6. Social Media Privacy: Refrain from posting photos, names, titles, or other personal information of program participants without prior approval from staff and a verified/signed release of information on file signed by the program participant. (Full social media P&P found in employee/volunteer manual on page 7-8.)
7. Ethics: PPM is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in all aspects of our work, particularly when providing direct services/support to our community participants. Therefore, all staff/volunteers who provide direct peer support in any capacity for PPM are required to adhere to ethics identified by Indiana’s two recognized peer certifications (signed copies by staff/employees must be kept on file): a. https://peernetworkindiana.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CHW-CRS-Code-ofEthics.pdf b. https://icaada.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-ICAADA-CAPRC-Code-ofEthics.pdf
8. Grievance Procedure: Program participants (as well as staff and volunteers) are encouraged to bring forward any concerns or grievances through the organizations’ grievance procedure. This may involve discussing the issue with the staff/volunteer coordinator and/or seeking resolution through mediation or other appropriate channels. Grievance forms are available upon request and printable from the PPM website https://www.paulsplanministries.com/ .
9. Peer Services: All Peer services shall be offered for free independent of the above programming rules.
10. Organization Access: PPM serves as a no barrier access point to recovery support services. Recoveree Responsibilities to PPM (Financial Reentry/Housing Program)
1. Attendance Expectation at Recovery/Religious Meetings: Recoveree’s enrolled in the PPM Financial Reentry/Housing program are expected to attend at least one recovery/religious meeting of their choice per week. The burden of proof for meeting attendance rests solely on the recoveree, who must provide verification of participation in one meeting a week once a month while enrolled in the program.
2. Participation in PPM Events: Recoverees are expected to actively engage with the PPM community by attending at least one PPM event per month of their choice. These events provide opportunities for peer support, skill-building, and community connections, which are essential components of the recovery process. PPM will be responsible for tracking attendance at these events though at times participants may be asked to sign in.
3. Completion of Recovery Capital Scale: Recoverees are required to complete one Recovery Capital Scale assessment per month minimum. Failure to complete this survey may result in consequences, including potential discharge from the program. Recoverees are required to complete these three activities once per month while in the PPM Financial Reentry/Housing program minimum.
Failure to comply with all these activities may result in corrective action up to and including discharge from PPM Financial/Reentry/Housing programming and support. Participation in these activities shows the recoverees commitment to their recovery and engagement with the recovery community and resources offered to support them. If a recoveree is discharged unsuccessfully from the PPM program, they will immediately be disqualified from receiving financial assistance and formal supports from PPM for a minimum of 12 months and up to 3 years depending on the circumstances of their discharge from the program upon discharge. Program participants may also opt out of the program at any time during their program participation at which time all expectations will end, and the participant will immediately be removed from eligibility for any program services by PPM for 1 year.
About You.
Paul's Plan Ministries is genuinely interested in your thoughts on how we can improve services in Tippecanoe County. Please take a moment to fill out this questionnaire which will be used anonymously to improve services in our community.
We are committed to serving you with the upmost respect and dignity. If you feel there is something that our team is lacking or not providing for you adequately, please utilize this grievance form.
Paul's Plan Ministries nonprofit holds its staff and board to high service standards. If you would like more information about our nonprofit values which guide our practice, please use this link.
We are committed to listening to you, assisting you and aim to provide you with valuable information.
My story is a story of man who against all odds found recovery not just from severe addiction and serious mental illness, but I'm recovering from not having purpose. I was completely lost but through compassion and love from others and lots of changes I have been recovering for 5 years now. I am incredibly grateful to Amy Brinkley and Paul's Plan Ministries for their support of me and my community.
Nick Cunningham
Paul's Plan Ministries brought me into the community through connection and development of Gods purpose over my life, For this I am forever grateful as I journey to give back with time.
David Scott
When I left the military behind me due to my trauma, I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and to help others heal. When I found out about Paul's Plan, I knew this was the place for me to make an impact on my community while still serving Veterans.
Sheady Kyle
Pauls Plan Ministries is located in the SURF Center Basement at 307 N 10th Street, Lafayette Indiana. PPM phone number is 765-413-0283.