In a conversation several months ago, one of our referring county partners exclaimed, “Where have all these women been!” as she referred yet another eager woman to Tule House and talked about the overwhelming number of women who have inquired about getting into treatment since Tule’s inception. We had been concerned prior to opening that we wouldn’t have the clientele to keep the house open. Now we know after building this strong program for recovery, that because we took the risk of building it, the clients came. They came to Tule House, they are building their recovery for their family, and they are guiding others into treatment as well.
Tule House (Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Mothers with their Children) opened in October of 2018. Few know that immense amount of work that has gone into Tule House opening.
Years of many intense applications, blood, sweat, and tears! At least five years in the making, we had a long-awaited open house. The house was packed. Packed before the scheduled time for the open house to begin. Many walks of life; doctors, interested community members, county partners, and RCS leadership, milled about under twinkling lights, amidst beautiful donated toys, and revealed in the inspiration that the house provides.
Among the many people at the open house, there were two women with their small children in tow. These women impressed all by boldly asking how to get into Tule. Like the strong reeds the Tule House is named for, these two women stood out, ready to rise and thrive. During the open house these two women stated that they would be the first to graduate from Tule House. Fast forward to today, one of those women has, in fact, graduated from Tule House, is employed, and is paying rent on her new apartment for her and her young children. The second mom at Tule’s open house that day set to graduate this month.
Though these two women stand out, there have already been several graduations and Mamas staying in recovery with their kiddos. The community has taken notice. In Drug Dependency Court the judge and social workers have publicly recognized the good work and benefit Tule is to the community. The number of women attempting to get treatment at Tule just from Lake County has been overwhelming. This fact is bittersweet. The women coming forward were in our communities before Tule House opened. They were in our communities, with their children suffering from a disease that continues to be largely shamed by our culture, a disease that people can recover from, but most need help to do so. Tule has become a pathway toward recovery for these beautiful families to learn a new way of life, substance free. Because RCS was bold enough to build it, they came. Because they came, our community is getting stronger. Because our community feels Tule’s support, the community in turn is supporting Tule House. Together we are recovering.
