A Dubuque nonprofit, Fountain of Youth, has announced an expansion of its programming to include a dedicated recovery community center aimed at supporting individuals recovering from addiction. This initiative was revealed during a soft launch of the enhanced Partners in Change curriculum, which has been in place since 2019 and will now feature two distinct tracks: Partners in Change: Renewed and Partners in Change: Restored.
The new Partners in Change: Restored pathway will specifically address the needs of those dealing with addiction, while Partners in Change: Renewed will continue to support personal and professional development goals. Participants in both programs will engage in weekly one-on-one meetings with program coordinators, focusing on vital topics such as financial literacy, health, and wellness.
Fountain of Youth will operate as a Recovery Community Center from its facility located at 220 W. Seventh St.. According to senior donor development coordinator Justina Bisinger, the center’s designation will not only enhance the scope of services offered but also help secure additional funding and grant opportunities.
“The needs are greater than ever, and this expansion is our way of being able to help with that,” Bisinger stated. Executive Director Caprice Jones noted that the transition to a recovery community center was prompted by feedback from officials within the state’s Health and Human Services department. “They advised us that our model aligns well with recovery work, suggesting we consider becoming a recovery community center,” Jones explained. “We decided to put both feet in.”
The Partners in Change program has had a significant impact, serving 113 individuals last year, with 21 active participants currently enrolled and an additional 17 on the waitlist. Under the new framework, the program will place a priority on addressing opioid addiction, alongside other substance abuse issues and gambling addictions.
Jones highlighted the importance of creating a supportive environment for participants, emphasizing the value of conversations facilitated by programming coordinators, allowing individuals to articulate their recovery journeys and challenges. As Fountain of Youth rolls out the Partners in Change: Restored pathway, plans are underway to hire an additional program coordinator to accommodate the anticipated increase in participants.
In addition to its new recovery initiative, Fountain of Youth serves as a state-designated center where residents can access Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication. The nonprofit aims to leverage its new status to enhance grant funding opportunities, particularly through settlements from opioid-related lawsuits.
Fountain of Youth will continue to offer existing programs, such as the weekly support group RealTalk and a housing program designed for individuals re-entering society after incarceration. This transitional housing initiative, developed in collaboration with Hillcrest Family Services, operates under the framework of Iowa Creating a Real Equitable Ex-offender Re-entry (ICARE).
A newly opened home on Asbury Road is currently accommodating one woman, while additional participants are residing in other locations as part of the transitional housing program. Although the pilot program with various state agencies is set to conclude on December 1, 2023, Jones expressed a commitment to securing new funding avenues to maintain these essential services.
“We want to work with different resources to make this programming really successful,” Jones affirmed. “Our goal is to be very collaborative.”
