People with addiction are often blamed for their condition, and society may view them as weak, immoral, or lacking willpower. This stigma can prevent individuals from seeking treatment, as they may fear being judged, ostracized, or discriminated against. Overcoming the stigma related to addiction care is crucial to creating a more compassionate and effective approach to addiction treatment and supporting individuals in their recovery journeys.
Nicole Odom-Hardnett is the founder of Focus Point Behavioral Health, a company that provides a wide range of behavioral health services to all age groups. Starting with a transitional home care company, she followed a natural path to launching her present chain of Behavioral Health Centers. Throughout her career, she faced numerous challenges that tested her resilience, but she remained steadfastly focused, recognizing the importance of doing so in her line of work.
As the visionary behind the business, Nicole is responsible for instilling a culture of service and dedication throughout the company. With a background in business, she ensures that Focus Point operates effectively and efficiently. Nicole is particularly passionate about reducing the stigma associated with addiction therapy and mental health treatment, and she strives to create welcoming environments for clients in every center. She places great emphasis on ensuring that each center is aesthetically pleasing and comfortable for clients to use.
The Leap of Faith
Despite logging in over 60 hours a week and driving countless miles in pursuit of someone else’s vision and dream, Nicole eventually realized the true cost of her sacrifices. It was then that she made the decision to take a leap of faith and build her own vision and dream: Focus Point Behavioral Health. Pouring all of her resources, ideas, and faith into her new endeavor, Nicole never looked back. Taking that leap of faith was undoubtedly one of the best personal and business decisions she ever made.
The moment that sparked Nicole’s passion for her business was when a client left her speechless. Nicole was thrilled to have placed this client in a job at one of the city’s largest hospitals, knowing it would be a significant turning point for the client and her family. The client was intelligent, engaging, and completed tasks assigned to her with impressive efficiency. However, Nicole was shocked when the client’s drug screening returned positive for cocaine. She was heartbroken when she had to inform the client that the opportunity had been lost, and the client admitted to struggling with cocaine addiction.
As an addiction treatment center, Focus Point Behavioral Health aims to address one of the biggest challenges that Nicole observed in her professional career prior to starting the business. She noticed that addiction was a significant obstacle for many of her welfare-to-work clients.
Nicole believes that it is fair to conclude that addiction was the common factor that hindered many of her welfare-to-work clients from achieving their job placement goals. Her experience with these clients led her to become a change-maker in the way addiction is treated, supported, and the stigma around it removed.
The Journey to Achieving Dreams
Nicole’s overall value system was molded by her upbringing in a career military family, where “service and dedication” were key principles. She began her professional career by directing and managing welfare-to-work programs, in which she excelled. The lessons she learned from this experience became the foundation for her later success as an entrepreneur.
Nicole’s desire to help others naturally led her to the behavioral health sector. She began in healthcare by establishing her first transitional home, then went on to own various assisted living facilities. Eventually, she established a clinic for substance abuse and mental health, using her knowledge, skills, and business experience effectively. In addition, Nicole established “Talk to Nicole,” a counseling firm specializing in fostering harmonious relationships, especially in mixed families. Through her business and advocacy work, Nicole has devoted her life to improving society and raising awareness of important issues.
Comprehensive Behavioral Health Services
Focus Point Behavioral Health is a comprehensive behavioral health services organization that is accredited and provides services for people of all ages. Their services include intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment, outpatient services, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), a psychiatric rehabilitation program (PRP) for both adults and adolescents, mental health therapy, supportive employment services, and DUI/DWI education. Furthermore, the organization offers counseling, therapy, and mental health services to individuals, children, adolescents, and families.
Focus Point Behavioral Health prides itself on providing customized services that cater to the unique needs of each client. The company is committed to meeting clients where they are and offering the support they require for their recovery. Their slogan, “Our Focus is Your Recovery,” is a testament to their dedication to their clients’ well-being. Communication is highly valued at Focus Point, and the team encourages feedback to continuously improve their services. The staff is extensively trained and equipped with the latest tools and technology to help clients succeed. For those who cannot visit the centers, the company offers telehealth services to ensure they receive the help they need.
Talk to Nicole
Nicole’s passion for coaching and counseling stems from her personal experience navigating the complexities of blended families. She believes that stepmoms need a special support system that offers firsthand understanding of the unique dynamics that come with blended families. Through her business, “Talk to Nicole,” she aims to provide thought-provoking stories, interactive inspiration, and practical experience to help with spousal priority, preventive parenting, and blended family dynamics. Nicole believes that there is always hope for families and situations, and she strives to be a source of support for those who need it.
“We all need support, we all need that listening ear, and we need the proper tools to help us succeed.”
One of Nicole’s favorite sayings is, “Hang on; hold on tight,” meaning, when blended moms and families hang on for what is almost always an interesting ride, they also need to hold on tight; the reward, though, is always worth it.
Ensuring the Quality of Care
Nicole places a strong emphasis on maintaining a positive work environment and ensuring that her employees are well-supported. To achieve this, she has implemented a thorough employee vetting system to ensure that new hires are a good fit for the company and the culture she has built. She also places a high value on ongoing training to ensure that her staff is equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide exceptional care to clients. The culture at Focus Point Behavioral Health is centered around respect, integrity, and providing high-quality care, and Nicole is dedicated to upholding these values as the CEO and visionary of the company. This commitment to excellence has resulted in effective teamwork, good service, and a positive work environment for all employees.
Nicole’s ultimate vision is to help individuals achieve their recovery goals by providing personalized, wraparound support services that meet them where they are in their journey. She aims to replicate this successful approach through her franchise centers for Focus Point Behavioral Health.
Changing the Stigma of Addiction
Nicole ensures that the treatment and recovery journey of the clients at Focus Point Behavioral Health are the top priorities. The organization offers a comprehensive range of addiction treatment and behavioral health services, and the staff helps clients organize their payment information so they can concentrate on their recovery. Furthermore, the organization provides a loan forgiveness program through HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) to qualified staff, which allows them to pursue meaningful careers without being burdened with the financial stress of student loan repayment.
Nicole is dedicated to changing the stigma attached to addiction and raising awareness about it as a disability. This perspective is important in reducing the stigma associated with addiction and creating a more supportive environment for individuals who are struggling with addiction. It is vital to emphasize that addiction is not a choice and that it can happen to anyone. By promoting the idea that addiction is a disability and encouraging constructive conversations, Nicole is playing a critical role in helping to break down barriers and build support systems for those in need of addiction counseling and treatment.
The Big Risk
During the pandemic, Nicole’s business applied for a line of credit and successfully thrived, despite the uncertain times, thanks to their organized approach to conducting business. In contrast, other businesses in the same industry struggled to survive. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted service delivery, leading to the adoption of remote work and the discovery of the potential of telehealth services. Consequently, underserved populations can now be reached more effectively than ever before. Additionally, the business model now features open remote positions that facilitate the seamless delivery of quality services and outcomes to clients.
Building Treatment Centers Across America
Focus Point Behavioral Health Franchise centers are available now. Nicole is currently vetting investors who have the vision to help create change, treat, and remove stigmas associated with the disability called addiction. For more information go to www.Focuspointfranchising.com
Reach out for its behavioral health opportunity and learn how one can become a change-maker with its successful Focus Point Behavioral Health Franchise opportunity today!
Quote: “Don’t give up on your dreams.”
“Keep moving forward, and if you can see it” in your mind’s eye, “you can achieve it!”
Written by Steve Sanchez.
