The Board of Directors for Reflection House had cause for celebration last Thursday after they signed the lease to open the first recovery residence for Garrett County.
When Reflection House opens, it will mark a milestone for Western Maryland in that it will be the first facility of its kind west of Hagerstown caring for women with alcohol and substance use issues.
The site, owned by Highland Park Dairy, LLC, is located at 40 Dennett Road in Oakland. When open, it will house up to eight women who will live there for six to 12 months.
During their stay, they will maintain sobriety, develop life skills, obtain employment, and build the critical component of sustained recovery, which is a return to a family that is able to support and participate in their recovery. Reflection House will operate using a social model encouraging community living.
House operations will be structured with a “phase” approach, which allows the residents the ability to match the level of intervention according to their individual needs. Subsequent phases will reflect ongoing program participation and abstinence.
The program is financed in part by a $200,000 grant from the Rural Maryland Council, a state agency supporting rural recovery programs with administrative and rehabilitation costs. Reflection House also received a one-time-only contribution of $120,000 from the Board of Garrett County Commissioners, as well as over $90,000 that the Reflection House Board raised with help and support from the Garrett County community.
On January 3, 2024, the Town of Oakland unanimously approved of the use of the property for a recovery residence for women under a Special Exception hearing. Reflection House will be operating as a certified recovery residence through the Maryland Certification of Recovery Residence (MCORR).
During the last two months, the Board has been worked with locals, collecting bids from them for renovation work to be done as well as preparing furnishing lists of items needed to operate the house that the community will be welcome to donate to.
The Board hopes to open this fall in time for Recovery Month.
Article courtesy of The Garrett County Republican. Photo submitted by Reflection House.
