Kentucky Association of Independent Recovery Organizations

02/27/2026

KAIROS Member Spotlight: Beacons of Hope
We asked Beacons of Hope what people should know about what they do.

Their answer:

“Recovery is not just about stopping substance use — it’s about rebuilding a life worth living.

At Beacons of Hope, we believe in healing the whole person. That means addressing substance use and mental health, but also restoring dignity, purpose, family connection, education, and meaningful employment. We meet people where they are — but we don’t leave them there."

02/09/2026

A huge thank you to Michael Burba of Recovery Now! testifying on behalf of KAIROS alongside Alaina Sweasy, and Chairman Moser in support of HB470. Additionally, thanks to countless others who have collaborated to develop a responsible solution to the challenges facing peer support specialists in Kentucky.

02/05/2026

Please join us in congratulating Barry Martin in this impressive award! Barry is an early membeof KAIROS and is doing remarkable things in Eastern Kentucky. Congrats, again, to SOAR Business Person of the Year, Barry Martin!

https://www.wymt.com/2026/01/29/primary-care-centers-eastern-kentucky-founder-named-soars-business-person-year/?outputType=ampr n

Martin founded Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky in 2003. The company now employs more than 400 people throughout the region.

01/22/2026

KAIROS Member Spotlight: ARIA Kentucky

We asked ARIA what people should know about what we do. Their answer: "We want everyone to know that treatment does work, and recovery is possible no matter how impossible it looks or feels. We meet people where they are and support them through every step of their recovery. We recognize that everyone is different and provide individualized treatment plans reflecting each person's unique needs, strengths and goals. Our mission is to provide a safe environment, ensuring that we exceed compliance standards of care, and deliver effective treatment for the best possible outcomes."

Take a moment to share with ARIA your experiences in recovery and the quality of care they provide to Kentuckians!

01/13/2026

KAIROS Member Spotlight: ARIA

Aria Kentucky provides a full continuum of addiction treatment care; residential in-patient, step-down partial hospitalization, intensive out-patient, out-patient and community reintegration supports. The program specializes in individualized care and supports people with co-occurring mental health conditions. Evidence-based therapies and holistic wellness practices are used to produce positive results and give clients life skills, stability, and community connectedness.

11/09/2025

Kentucky state officials are finalizing regulations to make it a crime to sell, possess or distribute a “dangerous” derivative of kratom.

10/27/2025

Here is the streamed video of the IJC Judiciary Committee meeting with KAIROS member Joyce discussing MOUD in detention centers. Comment below with your thoughts! Scroll to the 1:25:38 mark!

Meeting Start: 00:00:00Roll Call: 00:00:0525 RS HB 534 - AN ACT relating to actions for forcible entry and detainer: 00:01:4525 RS SB 111 - AN ACT relating t...

10/15/2025

KAIROS Education Committee Chair Joyce Johnson will be testifying to the Interim Joint Committee on the Judiciary tomorrow at 11:00am. She will be discussing the role of MOUD in local detention centers and the model that stepworks, a KAIROS founding member, has developed to provide this vital service to underserved Kentuckians who are incarcerated. You can watch the committee hearing here:

This channel is to provide live streams and archived recordings for various committee meetings of the Kentucky Legislature. While staff strive to live stream all official meetings, there is no guarantee that all meetings conducted by the Kentucky Legislature and/or Legislative Research Commission wi...

09/22/2025

Even while we see a decline in fatal overdoses, 17 counties in Kentucky had 67 nonfatal overdoses in 6 days - a stark reminder that this disease is still very prevalent and very dangerous. KAIROS is committed to fighting addiction on every front.

08/25/2025

Recent changes to utilization limits and reimbursement structures impacting addiction treatment providers throughout the state may result in reduced staffing, worsened patient outcomes, and diminished access to life-saving care - as we see with the unfortunate recent layoffs and closures within many treatment providers. KAIROS is committed to working with all stakeholders to maintain access across Kentucky.

The Isaiah House has laid off nearly 10% of their staff this year.

08/12/2025

It's wonderful to see KAIROS members be recognized for the impactful, life-changing work we do. Stable Recovery is a vital program and a valued member of KAIROS. Congratulations, Stable Recovery! Keep up the important work!

The track is teaming up with Stable Recovery to launch a dedicated maintenance cohort that focuses on skill building and job readiness.

06/24/2025

📢 Kentucky has taken a meaningful step forward in behavioral health policy with the formation of the Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board, established by the Kentucky Legislature. The Board’s first meeting will take place Wednesday, June 25.

KAIROS looks forward to this first meeting and the opportunity to work alongside the Board to improve Medicaid coverage for substance use treatment and recovery services. Strengthening access to care, closing coverage gaps, and identifying system efficiencies are critical to building a healthier Kentucky.

This Board has the potential to help ensure that more Kentuckians can get the support they need—when and where they need it.

🗓️ For more info:
https://legislature.ky.gov/Committees/Pages/Committee-Details.aspx?CommitteeRSN=437&CommitteeType=Statutory%20Committee