Kelly Forward is originally from Asheville, North Carolina, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the College of Charleston. She spent more than a decade in organizational development and relationship-building across the finance and technology sectors before transitioning to the substance use treatment field after moving to Palm Springs in 2018.

A CADC III and current Master of Social Work (MSW) student, Kelly now works in clinical outreach, where she is passionate about building community partnerships and helping connect individuals to recovery resources. Drawing from both her professional experience and her own recovery journey, she is committed to expanding access to compassionate, person-centered care.