History
HistoryOur growth is fueled by need. Our success is fueled by people who care. Amethyst was founded in 1984 by a group of recovering women, including our CEO, Ginny O’Keeffe, to provide long-term support and safe, affordable housing to women recovering from addiction. The agency ran on a volunteer basis for five years, beginning with three clients and a donated house. In response to the program’s success, Amethyst applied for and received certification by the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS) to be a treatment provider. We also became a contract addiction treatment provider for the ADAMH Board of Franklin County. In 1989, Amethyst increased public funding and expanded services to include trauma therapy, as the majority of women in treatment had issues with abuse that threatened the success of their recovery. As services grew, so did Amethyst’s revenue. By 1992, the agency had secured six primary, renewable grants. HUD Shelter Plus Care funding was also secured, moving Amethyst from a grassroots treatment program to a Central Ohio leader in providing permanent housing combined with long-term alcohol and drug treatment. Amethyst’s growth attracted private support, and in 1998 foundations and corporations began contributing to the agency. The same year, we added a transitional housing and recovery stabilization program to serve those women and children most at risk for relapse. Additionally, we enhanced our children’s programming by opening SummerQuest, a therapeutic summer camp for school-aged children living in Amethyst housing. Today, Amethyst is nationally-recognized as an outstanding gender-specific recovery program, seeking to further enhance and make accessible treatment and services to area women. Once such endeavor, STAR, our new outpatient program, is open to all women in need of recovery support. Through our excellence in service, Amethyst has received awards for evidence-based practices, and has been certified by CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Our recognition has created a demand for Amethyst’s expertise in recovery and housing services, allowing us to forge relationships with legislators and political leaders on Capitol Hill that will influence social policy surrounding families and recovery. All that Amethyst has accomplished since 1984 has been to support our mission to nurture and sustain healthy women and families. We are proud of our program and the women who have changed their lives and ours through recovery. Amethyst will continue to partner and create services to make wellness and recovery available to even more women and families. |
| Fri, Apr 20th, @11:30am - 01:00PM Portraits of Recovery Luncheon |
