Impact

• More than 150 families have participated in the program since 1996.
• On average, 58% of the mothers stay clean for at least 6 months (more than three times the national average for cocaine addiction treatment programs).
• Of the mothers who did not complete the program, 92% maintained or gained physical or legal custody of their children while at Renewal House.
• Since 2004, 31 healthy babies have been born to mothers in recovery at Renewal House. 

The Financial Impact

Since Renewal House has been treating women and children, the results to taxpayers has been:

• At least $2.5 million saved by keeping kids with their mothers and out of foster care.
• At least $2 million saved by keeping addicted mothers out of jail.
• The cost to serve one family in a year at Renewal House is $38,000.

Awards and Recognition

	1998 Association of Junior Leagues International/BMW Merit Award
	1999 Frist Foundation/Center for Nonprofit Management "Making a Difference" Award
	2001 Nashville Business Journal's "Excellence in Communications" Award
	2002 Nashville Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals "Best Fundraising Special Event" Award
	2002 Nashville Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Youth Volunteer of the Year Award (Emily Simon) and Fundraising Volunteer of the Year (Debi Tate)
	2002 United Way of Metropolitan Nashville Advocate Award
	2003 United Way Circle of Honor Award

The Disease of Addiction

Did You Know?

• 8.3 million children in the United States live with at least one parent who is alcoholic or abuses illegal drugs.
• 76% of clients in treatment programs for women with children report a personal history of abuse, neglect or trauma.
• In Tennessee, 77% of counties ranked alcohol and other drug abuse as a prioritized health problem.
• In Tennessee, there is a sizable gap between treatment needed and treatment provided. At least 80% of people who need treatment won't receive it.

Myths and Facts About Addiction and Treatment

Myth:	Addiction is a bad habit; the result of moral weakness and overindulgence.
Fact:	Addiction can be a chronic, life-threatening condition, like hypertension or adult diabetes. Addiction has roots in genetic susceptibility, social circumstance, and personal behavior.
Myth:	If an addicted person has enough willpower, he or she can stop abusing alcohol or other drugs.
Fact:	Most people addicted to alcohol and other drugs cannot simply stop using them, no matter how strong their inner resolve. Most need one or more courses of structured substance abuse treatment to reduce or end their dependence on alcohol and/or other drugs.
Myth:	Many people relapse, so treatment obviously doesn't work.
Fact:	Like virtually any other medical treatment, addiction treatment cannot guarantee lifelong health, although nearly one-third of clients achieve abstinence from their first treatment attempt. Relapse, often a part of the recovery process, is always possible and treatable. Even if a person never achieves perfect abstinence, addiction treatment can reduce the number and duration of relapses and strengthen the individual's ability to cope with the next temptation or craving. (from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' report, Blending Perspectives and Building Common Ground: A Report to Congress on Substance Abuse and Child Protection, 1999)

Freda's Story
"I am a licensed nurse and have been for just about three years now. I am on my way to becoming a registered nurse, I have maybe a year left in school, and I am proud to say I have just closed on my first brand new four bedroom home. Now I don't want to downplay the fact that these are not great blessings from God, because they are, but they are the material things, and they just don't come near the blessings from God that I feel in here (my heart); the inner peace, the joy, the love, the confidence, and the greatest of all the feeling of true motherhood, are all such indescribable feelings God has given me!" Click on the News to read more of Freda's story.
---Freda, Renewal House graduate