Our Mission
We provide resources, connection, and support to those recently released from incarceration, new to recovery, or facing life's hardest moments.
Our team of licensed professionals brings lived experience to every interaction. We guide each person we serve toward the resources they need while strengthening their goals through the 8 Dimensions of Wellness.
To meet people where they are and help them build a life they're proud of, one step at a time.
Gold Standard Denver — Mission Statement
2024
Founded in Denver
How Gold Standard Denver Began
Gold Standard Denver didn't start in a boardroom. It started with a simple belief: recovery works better when your coach truly understands your journey.
Our founder, Alec Hackney, knew firsthand that the path to recovery isn't straight. It's full of setbacks, hard days, and moments when giving up feels easier than pushing forward. But he also knew something else: with the right support, lasting change is possible.
That's why Gold Standard Denver was built from the ground up by people in recovery, for people in recovery.
We started small, working with individuals in the Denver metro area who needed more than a program. They needed someone who got it. Someone who wouldn't judge. Someone who could help them navigate the real-world challenges of rebuilding a life.
Today, we serve individuals across Denver, Arapahoe County, and Adams County. Our team has grown, but our mission hasn't changed: meet people where they are and help them move forward.
We're proof that recovery works. And we're here to help you prove it too.
Recovery That Addresses Your Whole Life
Most programs focus on one thing: staying sober. But we know recovery is bigger than that. At Gold Standard Denver, we use the 8 Dimensions of Wellness as our guiding framework — helping you build strength in every area of your life, not just one.
The 8 Dimensions of Wellness
Physical
Your body's health matters. We help you build habits around sleep, nutrition, movement, and self-care.
Emotional
Understanding and managing your feelings is essential. We provide tools to process emotions in healthy ways.
Social
Healthy relationships are the foundation of lasting recovery. We help you rebuild connections and set boundaries.
Intellectual
Growth keeps you engaged. We encourage learning, curiosity, and mental stimulation.
Occupational
Purpose through work builds stability. We connect you to employment resources and career support.
Financial
Money stress derails recovery. We help you access benefits, build budgets, and create stability.
Environmental
Your surroundings affect your mindset. We help you create safe, supportive spaces.
Spiritual
Connection to meaning and values matters. We help you explore purpose on your own terms.
This isn't a one-size-fits-all checklist. Your coach works with you to identify which dimensions need attention and builds your plan around your life.
Who We Work With
Gold Standard Denver serves anyone ready to take the next step in their recovery journey. You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to try.
People New to Recovery
Just getting started? We'll help you build a foundation. No judgment about where you've been. Just support for where you're going.
Individuals Reentering Society
Coming out of incarceration is overwhelming. We help you access IDs, benefits, housing, and employment so you can focus on your future.
Anyone Facing Hardship
Life happens. Whether you're navigating a setback or starting over, we provide the resources and support to help you move forward.
We proudly serve individuals throughout the Denver metro area , including Denver, Arapahoe County, and Adams County . We're also expanding to serve more communities along the Front Range.
What We Believe
The values that guide every conversation, every session, and every decision we make.
Lived Experience Matters
Our coaches have walked this road. That's not a weakness. It's our greatest strength. We understand because we've been there.
Your Journey, Your Pace
Recovery isn't a race. We meet you where you are and move at a pace that works for you. No pressure. No timelines.
Dignity Above All
You deserve respect, period. We treat every person we serve with compassion, honesty, and without judgment.
Real Support, Real Results
We don't just talk about change. We help you build the skills, access the resources, and take the steps to make it happen.
What Sets Gold Standard Denver Apart
The values that guide every conversation, every session, and every decision we make.
01
Coaches With Lived Experience
Every member of our team has personal experience with recovery. We don't just read about challenges in a textbook. We've faced them ourselves. That means real understanding, not surface-level sympathy.
02
Whole-Person, Personalized Care
We don't hand you a packet and send you on your way. We build your recovery plan from the ground up based on your goals, your challenges, and your life. Every session is about you.
03
Practical Resources, Not Just Talk
We help you access what you actually need: IDs, Medicaid, transportation, housing, employment. Recovery requires a foundation. We help you build it.
What We Believe
Our team is made up of certified recovery coaches, licensed clinicians, and dedicated support staff. Every person on our team brings professional training and lived experience to their work.
Alec Hackney
Owner & CEO
"I built Gold Standard Denver because I know what it's like to need support and not find it. Now I get to be that support for others."
Jesus Ojeda
Executive Director
"Recovery gave me my life back. Helping others find their path is the most meaningful work I've ever done."
Read Bio
Hello, my name is Jesus Ojeda. I serve as a peer support specialist, helping individuals reentering society after incarceration and those navigating addiction. I have faced legal trouble since I was 11 and became addicted in my teens until I was an adult. The life I chose led me into crime and a cycle of incarceration, culminating in a prison sentence and placement in a halfway house. Facing sobriety forced me to confront my past with honesty. I stopped viewing my time in confinement as punishment and started seeing it as an opportunity to redirect my life. Since my release, I’ve built stability and commit every day to becoming the best version of myself. My mission is to support others from my community to grow, heal, and thrive—walking beside them as they transition to the next chapter of their lives.
Deborah Morrison
Lead Clinician
"Behavioral health and recovery go hand in hand. I'm honored to walk alongside people on their journey."
Velvet Chavez
Administrative Assistant
"I've been through the hard part. Now every day I get to be a small piece of someone else's fresh start, and that means everything to me.
Makayla Houston-Chambers
Administrative Manager
"II know how overwhelming those first steps can feel. My job is to make sure the door is always open and everything is ready to meet people right where they are."
Justin Edwards
Operations and Development Director
"Recovery gave me my life back. Helping others find their path is the most meaningful work I've ever done."
Deziree Fisher
Peer Recovery Support Specialist
"I walked this road before I helped anyone else walk it. I make that the foundation of every connection I make with the people I support."
Don Stookey
Peer Recovery Support Specialist
"Recovery is possible. I'm living proof. Showing up for someone on their hardest day and watching them find their strength, there is nothing like it."
Ready to Learn More?
Whether you're ready to start today or just exploring your options, we're here to answer your questions. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a conversation. Reach out and let's talk about how Gold Standard Denver can support your journey.