New recovery center opens for pregnant women and mothers

Pregnant women and mothers with substance use disorders have a new recovery option in Indianapolis. 

The Heart Rock Justus Family Recovery Center, run by Overdose Lifeline, is located in the heart of the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood. It will serve about 125 women per year, providing individualized treatment plans and other support including financial coaching, childcare and job training. 

Overdose Lifeline Executive Director Justin Phillips said her nonprofit aims to fill gaps in addiction care.

“Opening this house for women and specifically women who are pregnant and parenting young children while gaining a foundation for their recovery has been a goal for our organization since 2017,” Phillips said.

The city of Indianapolis helped the new center with more than $1.3 million in development and federal funding. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said commitment to the addiction epidemic is vital. 

“It has hit every demographic in our city, the pandemic has only increased its urgency,” Hogsett said.

Overdose Lifeline has helped the state provide more than 135,000 doses of naloxone across the state since 2018. 

Indiana Executive Director for Drug Prevention, Treatment and Enforcement Douglas Huntsinger said the center helps move the state towards a goal to have an opioid treatment center within an hour of every Hoosier. 

“We know that access to safe and supportive housing remains a critical need in our state,” Huntsinger said.

About 34,000 Hoosiers have received treatment through state support.

Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @JillASheridan.