Melissa Sandel

OSCEOLA COUNTY PROGRAMS MANAGER

Melissa Sandel is the newly appointed Osceola County Program Manager at Recovery Connections, bringing twenty years of lived experience in recovery and two decades of nonprofit leadership to her role. Her career has been rooted in grassroots advocacy, where she’s worked side-by-side with individuals facing substance use challenges and homelessness to build trust, offer support, and connect them with vital resources.

Throughout her twenty-year tenure in the nonprofit world, Melissa has designed and managed a broad spectrum of harm-reduction and outreach initiatives—coordinating mobile response teams that deliver life-saving supplies, operating drop-in support hubs and peer-mentoring programs, and directing multiple homeless service centers in partnership with shelters, faith-based organizations, and local agencies. Her hands-on approach ensures every program reflects her unwavering commitment to dignity, accessibility, and person-centered care.
Melissa often sums up her philosophy in one guiding principle:
“Recovery is a journey built on compassion, community, and courage.”

In her new role, she’s focused on building a seamless continuum of care across Osceola County. Melissa is committed to deepening partnerships with healthcare providers, law enforcement, schools, and peer-led groups, and integrating data-driven evaluation to continually refine services. By uniting cross-sector stakeholders and championing policies that honor the expertise of people in recovery, she aims to create integrated pathways from crisis to stability—ensuring every individual has the support they need at every step of their healing journey.