
Frequently asked questions
Our Founder, Rachel, grew up in a generationally unstable environment that put her as an at-risk youth for many years. Her ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) score at the age of 12 was 10/10. (0.3% of the population have a score of 8 or more.) This made her a much higher risk for substance abuse, risky behaviors, mental illness, homelessness, psychological and medical complications – all of which she experienced. She left home at 15 and through a series of formative experiences, made critical decisions that set her on a path to a successful life. She was able to get an education, become financially independent, and has spent hundreds of hours training in the field of mental health and 16 years working as an emotional support counselor in homes and hospitals. In 2017, she founded Opal Hope and Healing because she knows first-hand what it is like to struggle and wants to provide resources and a supportive hand-up to at-risk young women and give back to her community.