Heather Ballinger - Administrative Coordinator

Heather was born in Phoenix Arizona.  At a young age her parents divorced and her alcoholic father left home.  She moved to Winslow with her mom and began using Crystal Meth and drinking with her brother and friends.  By the age of 14 Heather was a full blown addict and was unable and unwilling to admit it.  At the age of 15 she had her first son and tried to get sober unsuccessfully.  The next year she entered her first treatment center after losing her job, her son, her family, and her home.  When she arrived home from treatment she didn’t attend any support groups and was back using again.  Finally at age 18 she entered another treatment facility and this time was willing and ready to take suggestions in order to find a new way of living.  Since then, Heather has continued to attend meetings and talk to her sponsor.  On June 22, 2007 she celebrated her third year of sobriety.  Heather states “I came to work at Gatehouse because I was ready to have a Job that I could use my experiences to help others in the

same disease that I have.”