Facility offers enhanced programs to meet unique needs of women and rising demand

Center City, Minn. (September 15, 2006) - Faced with a four-fold increase in demand for women's treatment services, the Hazelden Foundation is opening a new Women's Recovery Center this month in Center City, Minn., that introduces a new concept of care for women addicted to alcohol and drugs. The signature facility will ultimately increase Hazelden's capacity to treat women by more than 37 percent (from 64 to 88 beds), and provide enhanced programs and services to address the unique recovery challenges women face.  Hazelden will begin treating women in the new facility on September 20. The nonprofit Hazelden Foundation is a national leader in drug and alcohol addiction treatment and prevention programs.

"Fifty years ago we admitted our first female patient and since that time we have given hope and healing to more than 40,000 women," said Ellen Breyer, president and CEO of Hazelden. "Now, thanks to the foresight of our Board of Trustees and the phenomenal generosity of so many wonderful donors, we look forward to greatly expanding the capacity and quality of care for women for the next 50 years. We're proud to build on our leadership by providing an environment of care that is second to none and making innovative programs that better address the special needs of female alcoholics and addicts."

Statistics have shown that many women who may need treatment and recovery services are not receiving help. Nationally, an estimated 7.4 million females in the U.S., ages 12 and older, were classified as substance dependent or substance abusers and in need of care. Of those, only about 10 percent received treatment, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Compounding the difficulty of treatment for women is the fact that women seeking treatment often struggle with co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and trauma.  Some women also have unique caretaking roles within their families, relationships and communities, all of which need to be addressed in an addiction recovery program.

"We are committed to serving more women and to helping women overcome barriers to care, such as stigma and shame," Breyer added. "Our new center signals an understanding that women need more opportunities for effective addiction services. It's equally important to note that our successful fundraising for this building is a testimony to the many, many caring and generous individuals, families and foundations that recognized this important need and responded with unprecedented support." 

To date, Hazelden has raised over $6 million toward its overall goal for the women's center of $9 million. This includes funding for the building as well as patient aid and programming.

The opening of the new 41,000-square foot building represents the completion of the first phase of the Women's Recovery Center development. Renovations to Hazelden's existing women-only care units will occur over the next year with completion scheduled for fall 2007. The result will be a comprehensive, cohesive offering that will have three 22-bed primary care units and a 22-bed extended care unit for women in Center City, as well as a 22-bed unit and a 10-bed extended care unit at Hazelden's Springbrook location in Newberg, Oregon. 

Enhancements Designed for Environment of Care
In addition to the new physical space, Hazelden has redesigned its clinical services to provide women the most effective care possible. Hazelden staff and consultants conducted a thorough year-long inventory of the women's program and integrated its core Twelve Step philosophy with enhancements such as:

• A new women-only afternoon lecture series focusing on gender-specific topics
• Enhanced education for women patients on special issues such as eating disorders and trauma
• More integrated family services and activities
• A specially-created women's Recovery Resource Binder with individualized educational assignments on recovery and related issues
• An early recovery parenting skills curriculum
• Increased focus on planning for ongoing recovery needs when women leave treatment
• A weekly women's health clinic
• Wellness services specific to women
• Structured creative arts activities for mothers and their children on visiting day

This enhanced programming is not limited to the Center City location, but will also be available at all Hazelden sites that treat women.

The Building's Unique Design
The Women's Recovery Center in Center City is intended to enhance the therapeutic experience.  Exterior features include decks or patios facing South Center Lake for nearly all the units and exterior courtyards for all the units. The interior features a circular design with high-set windows that let in natural light but also ensure privacy. The bedrooms are more spacious and configured into seven, three-bed clusters with the rooms departing from the traditional dorm-like setting of current units. The design allows patients more privacy and space, with half-walls separating the sleeping area. 

"We are proud to have created a facility specifically for women," said Brenda Iliff, clinical director of the Women's Recovery Center. "This is a safe, healing, respectful and inviting venue of care and we believe it will help remove some of the barriers to care that women have long faced."

The Women's Recovery Center was designed by St. Paul-based architectural firm BWBR Architects.

Hazelden has long been a pioneer in treating women with addiction.  Since it first opened a women's treatment facility in 1956, Hazelden nationally has treated more than 40,000 women.  It also touches the lives of women every year at Women Healing conferences, two-day events designed to inspire, support, motivate and encourage women affected by and in recovery from addiction.