For as long as she could remember, Wendy Siefert has always had a deep desire to help people.
Years into recovery from heroin, Frankie Ward’s life had fallen back into place.
It was all behind her. She graduated from Recovery Court, a program that offers individuals facing drug-related charges a chance to complete treatment and rehabilitation instead of serving traditional jail time. She had overcome many obstacles and there were a lot of reasons to be grateful.
“But there was something missing,” said Ward. With a record of felonies, Ward accepted that a career would not be possible.
Doula Specialist, Poppy Ferrer, met a client in treatment who was determined to turn her life around. She just needed a little help.
Ferrer was honored to accompany her through her recovery journey. Through teaching, advocacy, and physical and emotional support, doulas have been shown to improve outcomes before and after the birth of a child.
Twenty-four tenants call the Mainstay Center home who may otherwise be unhoused. A dedicated team of clinicians look after the facility, which is one of a handful of supported housing facilities run by Chestnut Health Systems™.
As January temperatures plummet, every table is occupied at a Bloomington community center.