Staff Spotlight – Tara Paparo, CAC, ICADC

Tara Paparo, CAC, ICADC – Director of Alumni at Headwaters 

What brought you to the field of addiction treatment? What brought you to Headwaters?  

I have been surrounded by the disease of addiction my whole life; it has affected me in so many ways. I had both the desire to understand it and the compassion to help others suffering from it, so I started volunteering at the Hanley Center in 2008. Doing so has changed my life. I am honored and proud to be employed by Headwaters, a company with such an incredible reputation.

What is your favorite part about working with alumni?

I have so many favorites it is hard to say just one. I love that I am present to witness the change from the time a client walks through our doors to going home. I enjoy receiving updates on the good days and the not-so-good days. My goal is to always work hard at keeping relationships strong so the alumni know I am here to support them. I want the Headwaters alumni to feel valued and welcomed to all groups and events and to know they are not alone. Another favorite is introducing our alumni to each other and seeing them bond during our in-person and Zoom support groups that I run weekly. Watching the alumni support and appreciate each other is inspiring.

What have you learned through your experience working in treatment?

I have learned that people can and do change even when they feel broken and hopeless. I believe in miracles. They happen at Headwaters daily.

Do you hold any credentials or certifications? Do you participate in any professional activities outside of work? 

I am a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) and an ICADC International Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor (ICADC).

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

I love being with my family and friends. I enjoy entertaining, music, traveling, and going to the beach on my pink and black scooter. I also love a good Netflix binge with candy. I have been married to the love of my life for 29 years, and we have two sons, a beautiful daughter-in-law, two gorgeous grandchildren, a grandbaby girl due in November, and a wonderful fur baby named Juno that we adopted. Every day, I try and learn something new and have a good laugh. I am deeply grateful for everything that God has gifted me.

Hanley Foundation’s Headwaters is a non-profit addiction treatment program for executives, public figures, other affluent individuals, and their loved ones. Headwaters offers leading-edge, personalized clinical care for mental health and substance use disorders, and our professional and compassionate staff can help you achieve holistic wellness. To start your healing journey, call 561-270-1753 today.