Avalon Wellness & Recovery

05/26/2026

From all of us at Avalon Wellness & Recovery Center, we want to recognize the work of our Executive Director, Kenneth “Ken” Vick, for continuing to bring meaningful conversations around recovery, leadership, and behavioral health to our communities.
Ken recently authored an article titled “Why Good Tools Fail Without a Regulated Structure,” reflecting on Chapter 6 of Heal Your Nervous System by Linnea Passaler. The article explores the importance of structure, predictability, and environmental stability in recovery, leadership, and nervous system regulation.
At Avalon, we believe recovery is more than just providing tools. It is about creating environments that support healing, safety, connection, and long-term growth. Ken’s article highlights an important truth we see every day in behavioral health: people heal best when safety, support, and compassion work together.
We are proud to have leadership that continues to educate, advocate, and challenge the way we think about recovery-oriented care.

From all of us at Avalon Wellness & Recovery Center, we want to recognize the work of our Executive Director, Kenneth “Ken” Vick, for continuing to bring meaningful conversations around recovery, leadership, and behavioral health to our communities. Ken recently authored an article titled “Why...

05/24/2026

At Avalon Wellness & Recovery, we pause this Memorial Day weekend to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Memorial Day is more than a long weekend or the start of summer, it’s a time to reflect on sacrifice, courage, and the cost of the freedoms we experience every day.

Today, we remember those who never made it home to their families, friends, and communities. We also hold close the loved ones who continue to carry both pride and grief. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

As a recovery community, we understand the importance of service, connection, and standing beside one another through both pain and healing. We are grateful for all who served and especially honor those who gave everything.

This Memorial Day, may we take a moment to reflect, show gratitude, and remember the true meaning of this day.

05/22/2026

It was a pleasure to join Kim and engage in a meaningful conversation about the journey of recovery and the transformative experiences offered by Avalon.

05/19/2026

Rebuilding Lives, Right Here in Lawrence: A Story of Local Innovation & Lived Experience
What happens when a local entrepreneur uses his personal journey to solve one of our community’s most pressing challenges?
In the latest episode of the Lawrence Business Magazine podcast, host Steven Hertzog sat down with two incredible changemakers transforming the substance use and mental health landscape in Douglas County: David Hawley(Founder & CEO) and Ken Vick (Executive Director) of Avalon Wellness & Recovery.
If you look closely at the former Super 8 motel site at 801 Iowa Street, you won’t just see a beautifully renovated building, you'll see a blueprint for how purposeful local business can drive deep social impact.
Here are 3 key takeaways from their conversation that every local business leader, health advocate, and community member should hear:
1. From a Vision to 60 Beds of Hope: Before Avalon opened in April 2025, Lawrence lacked dedicated local, long-term inpatient residential care. David—a well-known local business owner (Papa Keno's Pizzeria) with 22+ years of personal recovery, saw the gap and took action. Today, Avalon offers a full spectrum of medically supervised detox, residential, and intensive outpatient (IOP) care.
2. Culture Driven by Lived Experience: Ken Vick emphasized a staggering statistic: Avalon’s clinical and support team shares over 100 years of combined personal recovery experience. This unique workplace culture removes stigma from day one, replacing judgment with immediate trust and empathy.
3. Breaking Financial Barriers: In an exciting operational update, the team shared that Avalon is moving closer to expanding funding sources to help cover services. This milestone will expand access dramatically, ensuring that high-level, whole-person care (combining clinical therapy with holistic tools like infrared saunas and cold plunges) is available to all of our neighbors, regardless of income.
The Bottom Line: Avalon is not operating in a vacuum. By partnering “upstream” with vital community organizations such as DCCCA, Mirror, Inc., Heartland RADAC, and Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Avalon is helping strengthen Lawrence’s entire behavioral health and recovery safety net. These partnerships improve coordination of care, expand access to treatment, and help prevent emergency rooms, law enforcement, shelters, and crisis services from becoming overwhelmed.
Kudos to David, Ken, and the entire Avalon team for showing us what it truly looks like to invest in the health and future of Lawrence.

Listen to 5-14-26 Lawrence Business Magazine - Avalon Wellness and Recovery - David Hawley and Kenneth Vick by KLWN on

05/13/2026

Taking a little lunch break for lunch. David Hawley and Ken Vick are out and about sharing about Avalon Wellness & Recovery.