The Heart Behind it All
Despite the accolades and achievements, Jen’s most meaningful roles are MOM and NANA. She finds joy in cooking, spending time with her children and granddaughter, hosting family meals, attending concerts, lounging on the beach, and riding roller coasters.
And perhaps the greatest joy of all—Jake has remained in recovery since May 2017. He earned his undergraduate degree from WVU in 2021, graduated from WVU College of Law in 2024, and is now a licensed attorney living in Indiana.
Lived it.
Learned it.
Leading others forward.
Rooted in Indiana, Anchored by Family
Jennifer Hope was born in Wabash, IN, and has called Fort Wayne home since 1997 (with the exception of a two-year assignment in Morgantown, WV). After earning a journalism degree from Ball State University, Jen spent time in the workforce before taking on her most important role—being a full-time mom. In 2005, she launched a small graphic design business, balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood.
Jen and her husband Ian’s family has grown far beyond their three children to include a former exchange student-turned-son, a daughter-in-love, a few beloved significant others, and a cherished granddaughter. And yes—she has a soft spot for black Labs.
A Personal Journey into Addiction and Recovery
Jen’s understanding of substance use disorder is deeply personal. She experienced it first through her father’s long battle with alcohol, and later through her son Jake’s struggle with drug and alcohol use from 2010 to 2017.
During Jake’s time at Jacob’s Ladder at Brookside Farm, Jen realized just how many families were affected by addiction—and how few had support. Being open about her son’s recovery led to connection after connection. That’s when Jen knew: she was called to let others know they were not alone.
I didn't want people to think I was a bad mom. I didn't want others to keep their children away from my younger children. But the big thing was I didn't want people to judge my son Jake.
So, I suffered alone in silence.
A Community of H.O.P.E.
In 2019, Jen founded H.O.P.E. for The Family of an Addict, a nonprofit offering education and support for anyone impacted by a loved one’s substance use. What began with one powerful support group meeting grew into five in-person groups across Northeast Indiana and two online groups serving people around the world.
From 2020 to 2024, Jen took one of her big ideas and put it into action by developing and coordinating Recovery Rocks, the largest recovery event of its kind in Indiana—with 60+ vendors and thousands of attendees connecting over shared stories and support.
As the needs of families and the community continued to evolve, so did the mission. H.O.P.E. for the Family of an Addict will formerly dissolve at the end of 2025. This change is not an ending but a new chapter. A chapter that opens the door for Jen to take her message of healing, education, and H.O.P.E. to a national audience.
Taking the Message Nationwide
To expand this mission beyond Indiana, Jen launched The Mom of an Addict—an organization providing structured, faith-inclusive curriculum for families impacted by substance use.
The H.O.P.E. Family Recovery Program and H.O.P.E. Family Grief Series are now used by treatment centers, churches, and community organizations across the country to guide families on their healing journeys. It’s the kind of support Jen wishes she had in her hardest seasons.
A Voice for Change
Jen is a tireless advocate for ending the stigma around addiction and mental health. She participates in the DAC Local Coordinating Council, serves on the Allen County Overdose Fatality Review Team, and volunteers with the Allen County Sheriff’s Department JCAP program.
She is a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC) and holds a CFRM designation from the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. In 2023, she was named the Community Partner of the Year by the Indiana Chapter of the NASW.
There is always hope. While we don't have control of someone else's outcome, we can have control of the conversations and the relationships we have with them.
Always Hope
Jen's story is proof that even in the hardest moments, healing is possible. Her mission is simple: to remind families everywhere they are not alone—and that there is always hope.