‘Hope’ seeks $ for Roku show

A local addiction recovery support group has made it onto the screen.

It may receive funding from the county to help further the effort.

Jay County Commissioners approved contributing $25,000 in opioid settlement funds to A Better Life – Brianna’s Hope for its plans to begin a show on The Roku Channel.

The nonprofit organization announced the news earlier this month. 

“It’s an opportunity we didn’t see coming, but the privilege is there,” founder Randy Davis said.

Brianna’s Hope will have one-hour time slots twice a week on the streaming service platform. “The Truth Behind Hope” will feature a series of stories about Brianna’s Hope, testimonies, devotionals, recovery maintenance and sobriety tips, information about recovery centers and naloxone and interviews with local organizations. Plans include offering sponsorships for the show.

According to an email from the organization, the program “will be a family friendly, uplifting, faith-based and positive approach to all things.”

Davis pointed to involvement from different recovery groups, including IU Health Jay’s addiction and recovery team.

“It’s bigger than who we are, not bigger than what we can handle,” said Davis, who served as a pastor for 35 years. “It’s an incredible privilege to be able to get the word of God out that way as well as the word for recovery, and all those goes with that.”

Davis founded nonprofit A Better Life – Brianna’s Hope in 2014. The organization started as a faith-based addiction support group and has grown in the last decade to encompass 44 chapters, with groups in 28 Indiana counties and three Ohio counties.

Approximately four years ago, Davis launched “Faith In Your Recovery,” a podcast focused on “all things recovery.” The show has totaled more than 200 episodes since then and continues to produce a 45-minute show weekly.

“We have been able to interview individuals that I never dreamed of being a part of their life for just a matter of moments even, but authors, singers, therapists, Christian hip hop artists … throughout Indiana, Mississippi, Florida and other places,” he said.

Davis noted the podcast has reached an international audience. As of Monday, he said, “Faith In Your Recovery” is fifth in the rankings for nonprofit organization podcasts in Macedonia. The show has also been ranked in the top 10 in Germany, Spain, Singapore and Australia, he added, and it’s made it as high as ranking second in Canada and Mexico. For the United States, it’s made the rankings 35 times in the last year, with its highest ranking coming in at 11th.

Davis explained the $25,000 request to commissioners Monday would help in efforts with the new show. The overall cost is projected to be around $57,900, with the nonprofit filling in the remaining amount. Davis pointed to Jay County High School graduate Aric Hartvig, who has a longtime background in broadcasting. He noted Hartvig will work with the group to help film episodes.

Commissioners president Chad Aker voiced support for Brianna’s Hope efforts, pointing to its impact across the region.

Aker explained the county has already budgeted economic development income tax (EDIT) funds for local organizations in 2026. He suggested using a portion of Jay County’s allocation of National Opioid Settlement dollars for the program instead.

Commissioner Duane Monroe questioned whether there are available funds. (Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition is in the midst of creating The Vision on Votaw recovery home. Plans are to draw from the fund for construction and other costs.) 

County auditor Emily Franks said the settlement dollars are distributed in restricted and unrestricted amounts. She suggested touching base with Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition director Kimbra Reynolds on the matter.

Commissioners then agreed to allocate the funds subject to their availability.