About Avalon

Recovery, Rooted in Dignity

We built Avalon to be the kind of place we wished existed — warm, honest, and grounded in the belief that everyone deserves the chance to heal and grow.

Our Mission

We Believe in You

At Avalon Wellness & Recovery, we believe in you and your ability to heal and grow. Located in Lawrence, Kansas — and proudly serving the Topeka and greater Kansas City area — our program offers a safe, supportive place to begin again, treating the whole person, not just the addiction.

Our trauma-informed team helps you address the real issues beneath substance use, so recovery becomes something you can sustain — not just survive.

“We don't treat symptoms — we help you address the real issues, and we walk with you every step of the way.

Avalon Wellness & Recovery · our promise

What Guides Us

Our Core Values

Safety First

Healing only happens where people feel safe. We create calm, judgment-free space from day one.

Whole-Person Care

Mind, body, and spirit. We treat the causes of addiction, not only its symptoms.

Room to Grow

Recovery is a beginning. We help you build skills and hope for the life ahead.

Meet the Team

The People Beside You

Many of our team live in recovery themselves. They lead with lived experience, clinical expertise, and a shared belief that everyone deserves the chance to heal.

Founder

David Hawley

A person in long-term recovery celebrating over 21 years of sobriety. David founded Avalon from a desire to build something different — a recovery center grounded in compassion, community, and person-centered values, offering evidence-based care in an environment of hope. With deep roots in Lawrence, he remains actively involved in shaping Avalon's growth and culture, reminding every client that recovery is possible and they are never alone.

Executive Director

Kenneth A. Vick

MA, CRPR, CPS, CRADC, LAC, HRS

A behavioral-health leader and certified peer with more than a decade of experience training and mentoring Peer Specialists. Kenneth oversees Avalon's trauma-informed residential and outpatient programs and is the founder of Recovery Consulting LLC. With a master's in organizational leadership, he is dedicated to strengthening recovery systems, reducing stigma, and expanding meaningful peer support.

Medical Director

Anthony J. Strickland

MD, FASAM

A board-certified Addiction Medicine specialist and Family Medicine physician with extensive experience treating substance use disorders. Dr. Strickland has worked across agencies and systems to build cohesive, evidence-based models of care, helping ensure access to quality treatment for people affected by substance use. He earned his medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed his Family Medicine residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Director of Nursing

Haley Anderson

Haley holds degrees in business, leadership, and nursing, including a BSN from UMKC and a master's in management and leadership. After 17 years in supply chain management, she moved into healthcare in 2017, working across home care, hospice, detox and residential treatment, and corrections. She has given 20+ years to community boards and volunteer work in Franklin County, and lives near Ottawa, Kansas with her wife, Sarah.

Clinical Supervisor

Sandi Brooks

LMAC · In recovery since 2012

A Licensed Master Addiction Counselor with over a decade of compassionate, person-centered substance use treatment. Sandi began as a peer mentor in Wichita — an experience that still shapes her empathetic approach — and holds a BSW from Pittsburg State and a master's in addiction counseling from Washburn. She proudly celebrates 13 years of continuous sobriety and is a passionate advocate for Oxford House sober living.

Partner · Chief Financial Officer

Kevin Bruce

With nearly two decades in financial services, Kevin oversees the financial vision and strategic planning that sustain Avalon as a locally owned and funded startup. He believes in building systems that support both operational success and human impact, and is proud to be part of a team that helps people reclaim their lives. Kevin lives in rural Douglas County with his wife, Katie, and their three children.

And a Whole Team Behind Them

Nurses, counselors, peer specialists, and support staff — together bringing 100+ years of combined recovery experience to your care.

Get in Touch

Accredited Care

Held to the Highest Standard

Avalon is accredited by The Joint Commission — recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality and safety in health care. It's our commitment, in writing, to care for you well.

100+

years of combined experience

24/7

admissions support

Joint Commission Accredited

Lawrence, Kansas