"Know Your Org" is an informational series designed to spotlight some of the wonderful organizations in our community. This month, we are highlighting Dawn Farm.
Dawn Farm is an addiction treatment center located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. We had the pleasure of interviewing Courtney Treder, the clinical team leader at Dawn Farm, to learn more about their work.
With almost five years of hands-on experience at Dawn Farm as a residential therapist, Courtney's walked alongside hundreds of people as they navigate early recovery at the Dawn Farm long-term residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program in Ypsilanti.
Originally from Canton, she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and Master of Social Work from Wayne State University. Courtney is also a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) and a person in long-term recovery from SUD.
"For me," she says, "Dawn Farm isn’t just a place to work. It’s an organization that truly cares about the people they serve.”
What is Dawn Farm’s mission?
The goal of Dawn Farm is to assist addicts and alcoholics in achieving long-term recovery. Dawn Farm will identify and remove barriers that prevent addicts and alcoholics from joining the recovering community.
What is the demographic target for the organization's offerings?
Dawn Farm programs are inclusive and designed to help adults as young as 17 to 70+, regardless of their drug of choice. A unique feature of their mission has been offering care to people who lack financial resources. No individual will be denied services for lack of insurance or funds.
What is the history of Dawn Farm? How did it come about?'
Dawn Farm was founded in 1973 by three people in recovery. What started in an old farmhouse over 50 years ago has expanded into a continuum of care, providing an array of services and programs to help people with SUDs achieve long-term recovery.
How do Dawn Farm programs work?
Any person can recover from addiction, especially when they have access to robust treatment and ongoing recovery support.
The center of the diagram below represents Dawn Farm's core treatment programs. Outside the rings, you can see some other ways to remove barriers to recovery. From community education to employment support to peer support and case management, Dawn Farm provides as many wrap-around services as possible to help fill the gaps and meet a person's needs in early recovery.
Courtney tells us that the most important layer of this diagram is the outermost layer, which represents the recovering community. The community is the most important source of healing in recovery.
While a person may be engaged in Dawn Farm services as a client for multiple years, community members continue to support one another in recovery for life. "This is why we work so hard to help you connect with the recovering community from the first day you begin treatment at Dawn Farm," she says.
Addiction is a chronic disease, and recovery is not always linear. The continuum of care is designed to keep the door to recovery open to anyone, no matter where they are in their addiction.
What services does Dawn Farm provide for those struggling with addiction?
Dawn Farm offers a continuum of long-term treatment services to help people achieve long-term recovery. This includes:
- Residential treatment
- Transitional housing (a.k.a. "Recovery Residences")
- Outpatient treatment
- Withdrawal management
- Peer support
- Case management
- Family therapy
- Community education
- Recovery support services
Most importantly, Dawn Farm helps people with SUDs build a recovery support system that will last long after they have completed treatment.
What is the best way for someone to contact Dawn Farm for either themselves or a loved one seeking help?
"If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use, we want to help!" Courtney says. "Our Intake Team can help talk through options. Give us a call at 734-669-8265 or email intake@dawnfarm.org."
What would you like people to know about Dawn Farm that some may not already know? Are there any common misconceptions?
"People sometimes know about the actual farm, but might not know that we have a whole continuum of care to help people find long-term recovery from Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)," she says. "Another misperception is that recovery is not just possible, but it's both possible and probable when people have access to treatment of adequate intensity and duration."
How can one get involved?
If you are interested in volunteering or donating, email donation@dawnfarm.org or visit their website.
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