Life Connections Peer Recovery Services

The wellness center is a place individuals struggling with emotional distress, psychiatric diagnosis, substance abuse, trauma, and/or a variety of other life-interrupting challenges can receive Peer delivered wellness and Recovery services. The wellness center initially opened and operated at the dewitt united methodist church. Life Connections moved the wellness center on june 21, 2023 to a larger, more accessible location at 1663 lincoln way. Clinton, ia 52732. The wellness center operates 7 days a week, monday thru friday 4pm to 10pm and saturday and sunday 12pm to 6pm. Life Connections has served a total of over 1500 people in Recovery from mental health and substance issues in the wellness center during 2023. Core funding was secured from the eastern Iowa mental health/disability services region for both the wellness center and rhonda's house and from the state mhds office as well as a 200,000 contract with the state of Iowa. A 3 year contract was secured with one of Iowa's managed care organizations. In addition, a contract with Iowa Peer workforce collaborative training Peer specialists in Iowa as well as supporting the agencies that employ them was sustained. Over 700,000 was received from government grants;foundation grants; contributions from businesses, congregations, and individuals; and grassroots fundraising activities. Individuals receive one-to-one and group based Peer support sessions. Recreational and socialization activities are offered to counter the self-isolation that can contribute to depression. Formal programs addressing anger management, how to build self-esteem and practical plans for community engagement are avaialable. Certified Peer facilitatiors trained by the copeland center for wellness and Recovery conduct wellness Recovery and action plan(wrap)conduct groups at the wellness center. The center enhanced Iowa by training 218 wrap evidenced based service in 2023. A licensed mental health professional, contracted by Life Connections and credentialed by the state of Iowa, provides clinical consultation and supervision to the Peer Recovery specialists employed at the wellness center. The wellness center serves a small-town rural community and is the only place in the dewitt region where individuals struggling with emotional distress, psychiatric diagnosis, substance abuse, trauma, and/or other life-interrupting challenges can receive peer-delivered wellness and Recovery services. Life Connections received extensive media coverage from local, regional, and statewide print, radio and television outlets about the organization's unique Recovery services as well as the first national commercial for Peer run organizations.

On september 22, 2018, Life Connections opened the doors to rhonda's house, the first and only peer-run respite center operating in Iowa. Rhonda's house provides a meaningful alternative to locked, in-patient hospitalization for the residents of rural eastern Iowa who are experiencing a mental health crisis. During 2022 a new facility of 5 bedrooms and 2 baths was purchased to serve as rhonda's house. The peer-run respite center provides a safe and welcoming environment for individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis and who voluntarily choose temporary respite services to restore their wellbeing. Rhonda's house serves individuals living throughout the five- county catchment region of eastern Iowa. At rhonda's house, residents receive Recovery support services from well-trained Peer Recovery specialists. Rhonda's house is open and operates seven days per week, 24 hours per day. During 2024, 149 individuals were served at the respite house. Service participants are permitted to stay at rhonda's house until they decide they are ready to return home or for a maximum of seven days. A stay at rhonda's house includes assignment to a private bedroom and the right to reside at the facility for 24 hours per day.

Since 2018 lcprs has accomplished so much, from utilizing a house genesis hospital owned and running a Recovery center in a church. We now own our own property of a five bedroom house, our own office, and leasing our two suite property to run the Recovery center. We have served over 677 individuals in the respite house since october 2018, 149 of those being in 2024. Over 8,000 peope served unduplicated at the Recovery center since 2018 and over 1500 in 2024. We developed and sustain Iowa's largest Peer run organization, started and sustaining an annual fundraising event since 2024, secured a reliable an well versed fundraising chair, nomination chair, and active board president. We sustained extensive media and social media coverage, sustained approaches with our state senators, representatives, and a four hour long meeting with our governor.