September is a month of new beginnings—school starts, the seasons turn, and it’s a time when we honor the strength and resilience of women in our Addiction Recovery program. At YWCA Northeast Indiana, we are proud to celebrate September as National Recovery Month.
I’m often asked why we added an addiction recovery program to our domestic violence services. The answer is simple: trauma and addiction are often two sides of the same coin. Our work has shown us just how deeply intertwined these issues are. People who have endured domestic violence or sexual assault often turn to substances to cope, using them to numb the emotional and physical pain. Likewise, as people begin their journey toward sobriety, the healing process often uncovers past traumas, including sexual violence or a household with domestic abuse.
At our core, we believe that recovery is possible for everyone. We are committed to providing a holistic approach to healing—one that addresses both the addiction and the underlying trauma. Our goal is to offer a safe haven where individuals can find not just sobriety, but also true peace and freedom.
This month, let’s celebrate all forms of recovery—from substance use, from trauma, and from the cycles of violence. Thank you for your continued support. Together, we can help people reclaim their lives and build a future free from violence and addiction.
-Paula Hughes-Schuh (CEO, YWCA Northeast Indiana)
National Recovery Month
National Recovery Month, which started in 1989, is observed every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery possible. The 2025 theme is: Recovery is REAL (Restoring Every Aspect of Life). Learn more on SAMHSA’s website and follow our social media for posts throughout the month on all things recovery!
City of Fort Wayne Selects YWCA for Day of Caring 2025
Thank you to The City of Fort Wayne for selecting us for their 2025 Day of Caring project! On August 22nd, almost 70 individuals from the city came and did landscaping and cleanup work in our courtyard and around our building.
Our outside area is looking fantastic thanks to the generous and hardworking volunteers that spent the day serving us and our clients. We are so grateful for their commitment to making Allen County a better place! Check out our website for before and after pictures!
Fort4Fitness Charity Partner
YWCA is a proud Charity Partner with Fort4Fitness! Select YWCA when you register for the Fall Festival (September 27th) or Winter Wonder Dash (November 14th and 15th) for part of your registration fee to benefit our clients. Register here!
Recovery Services
Our Addiction Recovery program is an intensive, residential treatment program in a sub-acute medical facility tailored to treat adult women living with substance use disorder. Our diverse treatment options include multiple levels of customized programming, including weekly group sessions, personalized individual sessions, daily in-house Narcotics Anonymous meetings, therapy, and connection to a variety of community resources. Women living at YWCA have the opportunity to learn valuable skills, mend relationships, and begin setting personal and financial goals for their lives based on integrity, dignity, and self-respect.
YWCA offers one of only six programs in Indiana that allow women to have their children live with them in recovery. Out of those six programs, we allow the most children, accept the widest age range of children, and offer space to women and their children for the longest amount of time. The core of our program is tailored treatment that recognizes each woman’s unique circumstances.
In 2024, 76 adults and 17 kids lived with us while receiving recovery services. We had an additional 19 women who received outpatient support last year. Learn more about our Addiction Recovery program by visiting our website.
Success Story
We recently celebrated 17 women who successfully completed our Recovery program! Congratulations to the graduates who have worked so hard to change their lives for the better. We are so proud of them and the strength and resilience they’ve shown throughout this journey!
While working with YWCA’s Music Therapist, one of our graduates wrote and recorded a song that talks about her recovery journey.
We would like to give a special thank you to John Buteyn at Purdue Fort Wayne’s School of Music for volunteering his time, expertise, and studio space.
Our Growing Team
Nicole Johnson-Smith, LMHC, CCTP recently joined YWCA’s team as the Director of Clinical & Recovery Services. She has over a decade of experience in outpatient mental health, substance use recovery, and community-based care. She leads with a focus on building high-performing teams and advancing strategic growth through integrated, evidence-based practices. Guided by the belief in being the person she once needed, Nicole brings empathy, strength, and purpose to her work every day. We are lucky to have her!Addiction & Recovery 101
Our education team offers a free Addiction & Recovery 101 adult training session, which aims to educate and empower community members who want to learn more or may be impacted by this chronic illness. Visit our website to learn more or inquire directly here.
Coffee & Conversations
September 18th from 8-9:30am at Ash Brokerage.
Empower to Change: Breaking Patterns & Building New Habits. Join us for a conversation on identifying and dismantling limiting patterns, fostering self-awareness, and developing strategies for building new habits. Learn more and register for free.
Triumph Studio Charity Event
October 11th at 10:15am and 11:30am at Triumph Studios
Triumph Studios is partnering with us to raise funds for our domestic violence shelter. There is a boxing class at 10:15am and a cycle class at 11:30am. The cost is $25 per class or $40 for both. Purchase your tickets here.
Flowers on the River
October 16th from 6-7pm at the Wells Street Bridge.
Join us and community partners as we honor those whose lives have been affected by domestic violence. RSVP to our Facebook event.
Circle Luncheon
October 30th from 11am-1pm at the Parkview Mirro Center.
Save the date for our 29th annual event raising life saving dollars for our domestic violence services. This year we are focusing on the children effected by domestic violence. Find more details and a link to register on our website.
Chelsea Devantez
Filmmaker, TV Writer, Host of the podcast Glamorous Trash
Harini Bonam
Community Volunteer
Eric Manor
Associate Chief for Campus and Community Wellbeing, Purdue University Fort Wayne
Jess Hopkins
FVP, Regional Sales Manager, First Merchants Bank
Save 25% at Papa Johns
Support YWCA’s services and enjoy delicious pizza! Use coupon code YWCA25 to receive the discount.
Goldstein Family Scholarship Program
Our scholarship helps female survivors of domestic violence improve their self-sufficiency and quality of life by completing higher education. Learn more here.
Follow us on Social Media
Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, to stay in the know of everything that’s going on at YWCA Northeast Indiana. We hope to connect with you soon!
Volunteer Opportunities
We have a variety of volunteer positions, as well as group service opportunities. Find info here.
In-Kind Donations
Check out our website to see a list of items we currently need or visit our Amazon Wish List for easy gift options that can be shipped directly to us!
Donate
If you would like to make a difference at YWCA Northeast Indiana through a financial contribution, there are many ways to do so. Learn more here or go directly to our online donation portal.
