livia perkins

Rebuilding Lives, Starting with Her Own

Having overcome the challenges of substance use disorder, Livia Perkins wants to use her lived experience to help others.

Perkins, 43, who lives with her young daughter in Graham, Washington, is pursuing a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) certificate through Highline College’s online Human Services program.

“This field allows me to turn my lived experiences into something meaningful while being of service to individuals and families in their recovery,” Perkins said.

Perkins noted she’s especially interested in supporting pregnant and parenting individuals in recovery by “building experiences and connecting them to resources and support systems.”

“During my own pregnancy, access to supportive, nonjudgmental, and gender-responsive care made a significant difference in my ability to have a healthy pregnancy and transition into parenthood,” she said.

After losing close loved ones and experiencing a period of instability, Perkins found herself at a crossroads where she had to decide what kind of life she wanted to build. Through treatment, recovery, and a strong support system, she began rebuilding her life with intention and purpose.

Perkins noted that because of her experience, she is passionate about helping others. Her goal is to offer compassionate, stigma-free support to parents who are navigating their healing journeys. She said, for her, becoming a mother at 41 was a turning point that gave her a renewed sense of purpose and reminded her of what she was capable of building.

Choosing to study at Highline was an intentional decision for Perkins on several levels. She knew of Highline’s strong reputation, and the well-respected SUDP program perfectly aligned with her goals in substance use counseling. As a parent, she also appreciated the flexible learning options, which included online and Zoom-based classes.

In addition to rebuilding her own life, Perkins—who expects to graduate in spring 2027—said she’s building lifelong connections with classmates who come from wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences.

“I’m a firm believer that it is never too late to start over or pursue a new path. My journey to this point has not been traditional, but it has given me perspective, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose,” Perkins said.

LEARN MORE ABOut highline's Substance Use Disorder Professional programs