Friends of Recovery Association

FORA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been advocating for Oxford Houses, transitional housing for people in recovery from drugs and alcohol, in Kansas since 1991.

There are 218 houses in Kansas (as of April 2025).
FORA provides the start-up loan for all new houses in Kansas, and provide harm reduction supplies such as Narcan, Naloxone, Narcan training and fentanyl testing strips.
FORA provides mentoring, crisis intervention, conflict mediation, community liaison work, and landlord negotiations.
FORA has helped thousands of individuals in recovery break away from the destructive pattern of addiction and become productive members of their communities.
According to a DePaul study, people who stay in an Oxford House for 15 months have an 80% success rate of still being clean and sober in 5 years.
FORA helps families stay together by establishing houses for men with children and women with children.

Our Mission

Friends of Recovery Association's mission is to support and collaborate with Oxford Houses in Kansas, which are self-supporting, democratically-operated homes for recovering individuals. Friends of Recovery and Oxford Houses assist service participants to attain and sustain recovery from substance addiction.

Our Vision

Our vision is to have an Oxford House for every recovering individual in Kansas.

Our History

Friends of Recovery was started in 1991 by a task force formed at Asbury United Methodist Church, headed by Ed Stephenson and Harold and Ruth Keeling. Mr. Stephenson brought Oxford House founder Paul Molloy back to Kansas, where the first Oxford House was opened and is still open today, as Oxford House Santa Fe in Overland Park, Kansas.

The Oxford House Program

Oxford Houses are transitional living for people in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. The houses are not a boarding house or a halfway house, but a home run democratically by the service participants themselves. If everyone pays their own way, does not drink or use, and abides by the democratic process, they may stay in an Oxford House as long as they wish.

Friends of Recovery Programs

Friends of Recovery (FORA) is the outreach organization supporting the Oxford Houses in Kansas. FORA programs include opening new Oxford Houses with federal block grant money, mediating in houses, case management, and education.

Opening New Houses

Paul Molloy, using his influence with Capitol Hill, helped establish start-up loans for Oxford Houses worldwide. In 1988, Congress enacted P.L. 100-690, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act. This Act included a provision that required all states to establish a revolving loan fund to provide startup funds for groups wishing to open sober living environments based on the Oxford House model. The mandate was changed in 1990 to a permissive provision codified as 42 USC 300x-25.

Kansas has had a revolving loan fund for Kansas Oxford Houses since 1993. A new house applies for the loan through FORA, which works with the chapter to open the new Oxford House.

Case Management

Oxford Houses' case management includes attending house and chapter meetings, mediating disagreements between house members, landlords, or neighbors. Monthly New Member orientations help Oxford House service participants understand the principles and traditions of Oxford House. Alumni, Chapters, and Friends of Recovery offer workshops focusing on house officers, communications, and trauma-informed care.

Chairman of the Board of Directors
Lenny Lippert

Lenny's history of success is directly related to his ability to plan and execute various strong strategies to increase system optimization along with developing and ensuring maintenance of efficient track record of data to lead major increase in company outcomes. When he moved back to Kansas City, he wanted to be a part of an organization that served a larger purpose in the community and meant something to him personally. Lenny found F.O.R.A. and knew he could utilize his skill set to help the board ensure all members of the program were given the tools to succeed both professionally and financially during their recovery.

Staff Members

Stephanie Fillmore

Executive Director

Stephanie Fillmore is a person in long term recovery. She lived at Serenity Hills Oxford House in Overland Park, Kansas, where she served in all house positions, working her way up through the ranks. Seeking greater involvement, she became the revolving loan officer for the Kansas Oxford House State Association and, in the fall of 2016, was elected to the Oxford House World Council in Washington, D.C. During her five-year tenure on the World Council, she spent two years as the Chair and one year as Parliamentarian.
In 2017, Stephanie joined the board of directors of Friends of Recovery Association (FORA), serving as treasurer for several years and remaining an active board member until she was employed by FORA. From 2018 to 2022, she worked at Mirror Inc, holding roles as lead tech at the Kansas City, Kansas inpatient facility and Administrative Assistant at the Lenexa Outpatient facility.
Stephanie returned to school to pursue her Addiction Counselor degree and is currently working towards a bachelor's degree in psychology. She served as interim Executive Director for Friends of Recovery Association before being offered the full-time position in October 2023. Her passion is helping individuals struggling with substance abuse, aiming to save one life at a time.

Erica Hasler

Corporate Office Manager

Erica is deeply committed to supporting individuals with substance use disorder in their journey toward lasting recovery. She believes that with the right programs, such as Oxford House, long-term recovery is not just possible but achievable.
Since becoming involved in the recovery community in 2014, Erica was introduced to the Oxford House model of sober living and has been an enthusiastic advocate ever since.
In 2016, Erica joined the Friends of Recovery Board of Directors, and in 2019, she became an Outreach Coordinator in the KC metro area for FORA. Her dedication and hard work led to her promotion to Corporate Office Manager in late 2019 at the organization's headquarters in Overland Park. With her wealth of experience in the recovery community, knowledge of local resources, and exceptional organizational skills, Erica is a vital asset to the team.
Outside of work, Erica is a proud mother to two wonderful daughters. She enjoys watching her children play sports and spending quality time outdoors with her partner and children.

Gina Ross

Corporate Finance Manager

Gina has been with Friends of Recovery since August 2019, first as part-time bookkeeper and now as the Corporate Finance Manager as of January 2024. Ms. Ross brings over 35 years of experience in bookkeeping, accounting, and management leadership to FORA with a passion and an emphasis on the nonprofit industry.
Gina's family and friends have a history of addiction and alcoholism, so FORA's mission is close to her heart. She believes in the Oxford House model as one way to a successful and long-term path to sober living.
Ms. Ross enjoys the challenges of accounting and reporting on how grant funds are allocated and applied to FORA's activities and providing direct support to the current and future service participants of Oxford Houses in Kansas.

Ashlie Dryden

Corporate Grant Writer

Ashlie is a highly skilled grant writer and licensed therapist with dual licensure as a Licensed Masters Level Social Worker (LMSW) and a Licensed Masters Level Addictions Counselor (LMAC).
With a deep passion for supporting individuals in recovery and underserved communities, she has dedicated her career to advocating for equitable access to essential resources and services.
As the grant writer for Friends of Recovery Association (FORA), Ashlie leverages her extensive clinical expertise and knowledge of substance use disorder treatment to secure critical funding. Her efforts empower recovery housing and harm reduction initiatives across Kansas.
Ashlie's professional background and unwavering commitment to improving lives make her an integral part of FORA's mission to foster lasting recovery and community resilience.

Nathan Hughes

IT Administrator

Driven by curiosity and a knack for solving complex problems, Nathan Hughes finds joy in working with technology, whether it's building networks, repairing hardware, or creating programs. His passion for learning and improvement extends beyond the office—Nathan is an avid Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach at KCBJJ in Mission, where he encourages others to challenge themselves on the mat.
When he's not immersed in tech or BJJ, Nathan enjoys fitness training, spending time with his young son, and caring for his beloved pets—a dog and three cats. An animal lover at heart, Nathan values both his time with family and his connection to his community.

Outreach Coordinators

Tom Wanko

Thomas Wanko is an Alumni member of Oxford House Chautauqua in Wichita. He resided in Oxford House for 4 years. His recovery date is February 2nd 1999. He has been an Outreach Coordinator with Friends of Recovery since 2013.

Travis Cox

Coming Soon!

Brian Holmes

Brian Holmes has been involved with Oxford House since 2011, remaining active from day one. With over 15 years of continuous sobriety, he considers himself a person in long-term recovery. Brian is highly engaged with Oxford Houses in Sedgwick and Harvey Counties, where he has dedicated nearly two years to his role with Friends of Recovery Association (FORA).
Having lived in the Braeburn Oxford House for 10 years, Brian brings a wealth of experience and a passion for helping others navigate the replication process and uphold the values of the Oxford House Manual.

Kady Stevens

Coming Soon!

Mathew Caraway

Coming Soon!

Jose Para-Padilla

Jose has been an Outreach Coordinator for FORA for a year Since last February! Jose has successfully helped open 3 Oxford Houses 2 for men and 1 for women with children. Jose has also taken on various roles within the organization, such as Chapter Chair, and all other chapter positions! Additionally, Jose is an active member of the Alumni Association as well in his Area! Since August 21, 2020, Jose has remained sober working an active program of Recovery and being of service anyway he can! Jose is an alumni for 3 houses in Dodge City. Joses love and dedication and commitment to sobriety gives him Ambition and purpose to help those in Recovery and being a voice for those in active addiction and those Lost to addiction!

Nick Ard

Coming Soon!

Kasia Hoover

Kasia, a woman in long-term recovery, resided at the Oxford House Monarch in Pittsburgh for three years. She remains an engaged alumna. Kasia emphasizes that Oxford House not only provided her with housing but also served as the foundation for reclaiming her life. Her commitment aligns with that of her colleagues: to expand services to meet demand, offer support where necessary, and consistently go above and beyond. Kasia commenced her role as the Southeast Kansas Outreach Coordinator in September 2022. She was also one of the two team members to receive the Extra Mile Award in 2024 from the Friends of Recovery Association.

Laura Miller

Laura is passionate about helping individuals find their way within the recovery community and the Oxford House model. She believes in the power of recovery and is committed to supporting others on their journey.
Since entering recovery on June 8, 2020, Laura has dedicated herself to making a difference. She spent three years living in Oxford, where she opened a recovery house and became deeply involved in fostering sober living opportunities.
Currently, Laura works as a peer support specialist at a women's and children's treatment facility in Lawrence while pursuing a bachelor's degree in social work, with the goal of becoming an addiction counselor. Her dedication to her education and her work reflects her unwavering commitment to the recovery community.
Originally from Phoenix, Laura is a proud mother of two adult children, aged 21 and 19. In her free time, she enjoys fishing, traveling, spending time with her family, and appreciating life's simple gifts.

Chasity Shaffer

Chasity Shaffer has been in recovery since August 8, 2014, and brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to her role. She lived in an Oxford House for 18 months from 2014 to 2016, where she successfully alumnied and has remained an active alumni member for the past three years.
A dedicated advocate in the recovery community of Lawrence, Chasity has worked for the past six years as a Certified Peer Mentor and Case Manager at a treatment facility. Her commitment to supporting others in recovery is matched by her passion for fostering connections within the Oxford and recovery communities.
Chasity is a proud mother of three adult children and grandmother to three beautiful grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her family, her recovery and Oxford family, and cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs. For self-care, she likes to stay active by going to the gym.