This week, we heard a dynamic presentation by DuWayne Sipper, Executive Director of the PATH of Citrus County, a social service agency with a broad, sweeping mission.

PATH of Citrus County, Florida, centers on connecting clients to work and to chemical recovery by pairing employment supports with integrated recovery services. Through job readiness coaching, resume development, local work placements, and partnerships with small businesses, PATH helps individuals transition into sustainable employment while addressing barriers such as transportation, childcare, and stigma. Simultaneously, the program coordinates evidence-based chemical recovery services—assessment, counseling, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) options where appropriate, peer recovery coaching, and relapse prevention—so clients can stabilize their recovery as they pursue career goals.

Over the past few years, client demographics have shifted: the program now serves a broader age range, with more women, families, veterans, and immigrant communities seeking help; there is greater racial and linguistic diversity, and clients increasingly arrive with complex needs such as housing insecurities and children in tow. These demographic changes have prompted PATH Citrus County to adapt outreach, staffing, and wraparound supports—expanding interpreters, culturally responsive counseling, and transportation options—to sustain employment, improve recovery outcomes, and support long-term community reintegration.

We wish DuWayne the best of luck. He and his customers are indispensable in helping us during our annual Stone Crab Jam Music Festival each Fall. We were pleased to present DuWayne with a check from the Kings Bay Rotary Foundation as a part of our charitable mission.