Blueprints For Addiction Recovery

04/22/2026

Most of us didn’t start recovery feeling ready. We started scared, unsure, sometimes even resistant — and that makes sense.

At Blueprints, we honor that reality. Through teaching and support, we emphasize practice — trying new skills, sitting with discomfort, and showing up even when it’s hard. Not alone, but together.

Readiness doesn’t always come first. Practice does — and change grows from there. 🩵

04/17/2026

Eric wears many hats at Blueprints—and he wears them with humility, generosity, and a constant curiosity about how he can better serve others.

His work is guided by lived experience, a deep sense of compassion, and an ongoing commitment to growth so he can support our clients in meaningful ways.

Since starting at Blueprints, Eric has continued to invest in himself and our mission. He earned his CRS and CPS certifications, strengthening his ability to navigate local resources and provide one-on-one support to clients. He is also actively expanding his knowledge around mental health, motivated by a desire to better assist individuals whose challenges extend beyond addiction alone.

As part of the Blueprints team, Eric has learned the value of patience and presence, discovering new ways to feel useful and connected in his work. Through this journey, he has also gained a deeper understanding of himself and found greater meaning and purpose within his own recovery.

What grounds Eric most? Compassion. Purpose. Community.

And outside of work, he’s known for his impressive shoe collection, dedication at the gym, and a growing love for travel and hitting the open road.

We’re grateful for Eric’s heart, his authenticity, and the care he brings to our clients and our community every single day. 💙

04/15/2026

We are so grateful for the breadth, care, and nurturance Lizvette brings to our clients at Blueprints and to every group she leads.

Through music, presence, and deep attunement, she creates spaces where people feel safe enough to soften, express, and grow.

Lizvette is a board-certified music therapist with a gift for meeting people exactly where they are. Her background spans working with individuals across the lifespan and with diverse needs—including mental health, substance use disorders, memory impairment, and brain injury. She’s also bilingual, which allows her to connect with even more members of our community in meaningful ways.

Fun facts we love: Lizvette enjoys hiking and capturing sunset photographs—and she’s also a second-degree black belt in taekwondo, which feels like the perfect metaphor for her work: grounded, disciplined, compassionate, and strong.

Thank you, Lizvette, for the heart you bring, the calm you cultivate, and the healing you help make possible—one note, rhythm, and relationship at a time. We’re better because you’re here. 💙🎶

04/13/2026

We’re so proud to highlight Taylor Hood, MT‑BC, founder of Notes of Healing Music Therapy, LLC and the meaningful work she brings to our clients here at Blueprints.

Taylor is a board‑certified music therapist whose approach is grounded in compassion, professionalism, and genuine care for the people she serves. Her work is trauma‑informed, deeply humanistic, and centered on meeting each person exactly where they are—using music as a powerful tool for connection, expression, and healing.

Through individual and group music therapy services at, Taylor supports individuals navigating mental health and substance use challenges by helping them build coping skills, explore identity, process emotions, and reconnect with their sense of self. No musical experience is ever required—just openness and curiosity.

Her sessions may include songwriting, lyric exploration, active music‑making, and mindfulness‑based interventions, all designed to support recovery and whole‑person care.

Taylor’s passion, creativity, and authenticity show up in every session. We’re grateful for her partnership and the sense of community, safety, and possibility she helps create through music.

🎵 Healing looks different for everyone—and sometimes, it sounds like hope.

04/10/2026

For decades, Rick Kastner was the driving force and true visionary behind innovative programs and initiatives across Lancaster County—work that strengthened our county’s response to substance use, reshaped systems of care, and expanded access to help for people who needed it most.

His leadership played a critical role in making Lancaster County safer and more recovery‑oriented, with a clear focus on reducing overdoses and enhancing recovery supports across the community.

Rick’s vision raised the standard for what compassionate, effective, community‑based services must entail, leaving a lasting impact on providers, systems, and countless lives across the county.

We honor his legacy and remain deeply indebted to his service. 🙏🏻

In his 44 years with the Lancaster County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Rick Kastner took an active role in shaping the delivery of services to people in need of addiction

04/09/2026

Stress doesn’t always show up the same way — sometimes it builds over time and sometimes it arrives suddenly, and it can shape our responses without us even realizing it.

Over time, we may notice that the ways we’ve been handling stress don’t feel as helpful anymore, or aren’t leading to the outcomes we want.

Awareness comes first. It’s often the moment we recognize, “Something here isn’t working the way it used to,” that change becomes possible.

Many people cope with stress using what they know, what’s familiar, or what brings short term relief, often referred to as survival skills. This is also where new skills can begin to fill in the gaps.

Learning different ways to respond to stress takes time and a supportive environment, person, or group. It’s a process of learning skills, noticing patterns, re orienting back to skills when things feel overwhelming, and recognizing progress.

This kind of growth isn’t one and done. It’s ongoing, often rewarding, and made possible with support along the way. No one is meant to navigate stress perfectly — or alone. 🫂

04/06/2026

Voting link below!

We’re incredibly proud to share that our very own, Leanna Ballester, has been nominated for Peer Advocate of the Year by the Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition (PAPSC)! 💙

🗳️ Help us celebrate Leanna and the vital role of peer advocacy—cast your vote today!
👉 Vote here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NX2VFHZ

This nomination reflects the very best of peer advocacy and community collaboration. Through Leanna’s leadership, the Co‑Responder Program has grown into a compassionate, on‑scene response for individuals facing substance use and mental health challenges—meeting people with care, respect, and real options for support when it matters most.

Under Leanna’s guidance, more than 100 individuals across Lancaster County have been diverted from arrest and connected to community‑based services instead of incarceration. These outcomes represent more than system change—they represent dignity, trust, and opportunity.

Leanna brings humility, curiosity, and unwavering commitment to her work every day. Her leadership continues to shape how co‑response is understood and practiced across our community—and we’re so grateful for the impact she makes. 🙏🏻

04/06/2026

Join us for Night of Recovery on Friday, April 24th at 6 PM live from Dauphin County Technical School in Harrisbug, PA.

This event will be hosted by Chris Dreisbach, founder of Blueprints for Addiction Recovery, and will feature distinguished panel of speakers including Alumni Zach Gowen, Jesus Rodriguez and Blueprints Primary Counselor Amber O'Kane!

This is a free to attend event with Premium seating made available on a first come first served basis. Visit resource tables from local treatment and recovery providers throughout the evening. Stay after the program to meet our panelists and so much more. Doors open at 5 PM, we can't wait to see you all there!

04/02/2026

The best team there is, doing incredible work 🙏🏻

Every person carries dignity and potential — a criminal record should not become a life sentence that closes doors to opportunity.

Blueprints Specialty Programs believes strongly in second chances, and through our initiatives, we work together with reentrants to address barriers to reduce recidivism, ensure successful reintegration into society, and provide individualized, ongoing support throughout the reentry process.

In , we recognize the millions of Americans working diligently to rebuild their lives after incarceration.

04/01/2026

For many people, alcohol wasn’t the problem—it was the answer.

An answer to suffering.� An answer to longing.� An answer to emotions that felt overwhelming, unmanageable, and intolerable.

We start by understanding that if alcohol helped you cope, that made sense at the time. It met a real internal condition—some call it pain, some call it emptiness, some call it a deep longing for relief or connection.

Alcohol Awareness Month isn’t about judgment, labels, or shame. It’s about awareness.

What is alcohol helping me survive?
What need is it meeting?
And today—does it still align with the life I want to live?

Two things can be true at once: something may have helped you get through hard moments and may no longer serve who you’re becoming. Awareness doesn’t demand immediate change—it simply creates choice.

03/31/2026

At Blueprints, we focus on reducing the suffering that often accompanies addiction: intolerable emotions, and from being misunderstood, unseen, and historically invalidated.

Healing begins when people are met with respect, steadiness, and room to fully exist—without judgment or conditions. We remain committed to helping individuals build lives rooted in authenticity, connection, and hope. No exceptions.

03/27/2026

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Nikki 🌟
3rd Shift Lead Residential Technician | Chapter 2 Lead

Nikki brings a calm, steady presence to everything she does. With an infectious spirit and a naturally warm, comforting approach, she creates an environment where both teammates and those we serve feel supported, safe, and understood.

In her role as 3rd Shift Lead Residential Technician and Chapter 2 Lead, Nikki’s consistency and care help anchor the team—especially during moments that require patience, trust, and reliability.

Focused on growing as a leader, Nikki continues to strengthen her communication skills and deepen her understanding of different perspectives. She is also expanding her knowledge of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), allowing her to show up more effectively for our community while fostering growth within her team.

What truly sets Nikki apart is her ability to be present during vulnerable moments. She offers stability when things feel uncertain and reminds people—through steady support and quiet encouragement—that they are not alone. Her belief in compassion without compromise guides her work every day.

We are grateful for Nikki’s leadership, her consistent presence, and the sense of hope and reassurance she brings to our community. 💙