Sherri Layton, LCDC, CCS, La Hacienda’s Outpatient Services Administrator, was inducted into to the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals (TAAP) Hall of Fame on Friday, August 17.
The honor came during the association’s 44th Annual State Conference on Addiction Studies in San Antonio.
“Sherri has taught us many lessons on how to step up and be good advocates,” said TAAP Board Member Frank Davis. “To me, that’s one of the most important things we can do. It’s how we get more services for our clients.”
In her remarks, Sherri thanked La Hacienda, her family and her professional community for their support in her career.
“I had no idea 41 years ago when I took my first job in addiction treatment that I would have the career I have.”
“An old friend and colleague used to say, ‘God writes straight with crooked lines,’ and that has certainly been my experience. Many of those crooked lines took me into new territory and places I never thought that I would go, but I’m glad that I did.”
“Working in treatment programs, I see the miracle of recovery every day. We know that people do get well, that lives are recovered. We need to tell that story.”
Noting that she has received strong support along the way, Sherri asked her counseling peers to continue to take on new tasks and provide assistance to others.
“I challenge you to say ‘yes’ when it’s a whole lot easier to say ‘no,’ to do something that might be uncomfortable, and to support someone who might need an extra hand.”
Very Active in Her Profession
Sherri is President-Elect of the TAAP Board of Directors and was named it’s Addiction Professional of the Year in 2016, and National Association for Addiction Professionals’ (NAADAC) Legislative Advocate of the Year for 2014.
In his introduction, Frank Davis also noted her leadership in advocacy for the NAADAC as well as her involvement with the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP).
He added that she is active in the Hogg Foundation’s Recovery to Practice initiative, helped organize the first ABCs of Advocacy event in Austin, and helped facilitate the Letter to My Mother photographic exhibit and book, which has been a national and international success.
Sherri started working in addiction treatment in 1977 and became part of the La Hacienda staff in 1992. She joined TAAP’s predecessor organization, the Texas Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (TAADAC), in 1983.
She is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, an Advanced Addiction Counselor and a Certified Clinical Supervisor, and holds a master’s degree in business administration, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
TAAP adds persons to its Hall of Fame when suitable candidates are nominated. Inclusion is awarded based on the facets of the nominee’s contributions, the varied scope of the services provided, and the population reached by their service.
TAAP is the state affiliate of NAADAC. Through legislative initiatives, promotional campaigns, and professional networking, TAAP promotes awareness of chemical dependency issues in the state.
It also advocates for standards for licensure and certification of qualified counselors to ensure the competency basis of addiction professionals who provide chemical dependency counseling in Texas.
