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Restore Recovery highlights women's transitional homes, shares participant testimony
Summary
Restore Recovery staff told the county they now serve 15 women and their children in Crow Wing County through transitional homes and peer support; a former resident testified she rebuilt her life and now works for the program.
Mindy Mueller, representing Restore Recovery, described the group's mission to provide transitional housing and peer support for women in recovery and said opioid grant funding has helped the organization expand into Crow Wing County. "Since September 2024, we've opened 3 homes in Brainerd," Mueller said, and she told commissioners Restore Recovery currently serves 15 women and their children in the county and provides weekly community meetings and peer-led support.
Andrea, introduced by Mueller and identified as a certified peer recovery support specialist with a forensics endorsement, gave a personal testimony about her year with Restore Recovery and the program’s outcomes: she completed alternatives-to-incarceration programming, reconnected with family, earned a GED and a driver's license, found employment and now works for Restore Recovery. "I am living proof that recovery is possible," Andrea said.
Presenters asked the board for continued support and said an additional Brainerd home may open in September to serve more families. Staff credited opioid-grant dollars for enabling the expansion and offered to provide more program details if commissioners requested them.
Commissioners thanked presenters and commissioners and staff praised the program’s community impact and its role in filling gaps for women who often face housing barriers tied to childcare responsibilities.
