Writer / Renée Larr
For women battling substance use disorder, recovery is about far more than simply stopping the use of drugs or alcohol. It means understanding what brought them to that point, rebuilding trust, learning to live independently and discovering they are worthy of a different future.
That work is at the heart of Dove Recovery House for Women, a residential treatment program that provides holistic and clinical services to women at no charge.
Founded in 2000 by a woman in recovery who recognized the need for a safe, sober living environment, Dove Recovery House began with a model similar to a halfway house. Under the leadership of CEO Wendy Noe, who has been with the organization for nearly 12 years, Dove has evolved into a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment program serving 85 women each night across locations in Indianapolis, Jasper and Columbus.
“We have really honed in on evidence-based practices, bringing clinical services on site,” Noe says. “It’s really about how we see the women and serve them more holistically.”
Women receive individualized treatment plans that may include individual and group counseling, peer recovery support, life-skills training, financial literacy, job readiness, conflict resolution and healthy relationship education. The program asks women to commit to a 90-day stay, but they can remain for up to two years. The average stay is six to eight months.
That time is intentional.
Dove’s trauma-informed approach recognizes that substance use disorder rarely exists in isolation. Approximately 90% of the women served report experiencing childhood sexual abuse, while 95% report trauma or abuse as adults.
“Women don’t wake up one day and decide they were going to get addicted,” Noe says. “Something comes before that.”
Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all path to recovery, Dove works collaboratively with each woman to identify her goals, whether that means finding employment, returning to school, rebuilding relationships with her children or simply learning how to live a healthy, independent life.
The organization’s commitment continues after a woman leaves residential treatment. Through its Steps to Success program, eligible graduates can receive up to eight months of rental assistance while continuing to participate in sober-living groups and receive support from therapists and peer recovery specialists.
The need remains enormous. Dove currently has approximately 600 women on its waiting list, underscoring both the demand for quality treatment and the importance of keeping the program free.
Recent growth has helped. A two-year expansion project added 8,000 square feet to the Indianapolis location, increasing capacity by 15 beds, from 40 to 55, and creating additional living, dining and office space.
For Noe, however, the ultimate goal extends beyond expanding buildings or programs. It is changing how society views addiction. She challenges the community to consider whether someone receiving treatment for substance use disorder would receive the same compassion as someone undergoing cancer treatment.
“People showed up for my family and me,” Noe says, reflecting on her own experience with breast cancer. “But if I was publicly posting that I was diagnosed with substance use disorder, would that same person have meals delivered? Would they send me cards and letters saying, ‘I’m so proud of you’?” She hopes that one day the answer will be yes.
Until then, Dove Recovery House continues to provide women with something every person deserves: the opportunity to heal, rebuild and discover what is possible when a community chooses to stand beside them.
For more information, visit doverecoveryhouse.org.
