Dove Recovery House for Women

Dove Recovery House for Women provides residential treatment designed specifically around the recovery needs of women. Located on North Meridian Street in Indianapolis, the facility holds a Level IV Recovery Residence certification from the Indiana Alliance for Recovery Residences — a distinction that reflects both the quality of its clinical programming and the integrity of its sober living environment. For women evaluating long-term recovery options in Indiana, that certification is a meaningful marker of structured, accountable care.

The residential program addresses not just substance use disorder but the co-occurring conditions that frequently accompany it, including trauma, PTSD, and dual diagnosis. Women who have experienced trauma as part of their history with addiction will find the Seeking Safety model and trauma-informed CBT woven directly into the residential curriculum, rather than treated as an afterthought. Peer recovery support and case management run alongside clinical services, reinforcing the community bonds that research consistently links to sustained recovery.

Dove's outpatient program extends the recovery community beyond the residential setting, giving women a pathway to continue structured addiction treatment as they rebuild daily life. Rather than stepping away from support at discharge, women can transition into outpatient programming that maintains the therapeutic relationships, relapse prevention work, and NA/AA/HA meeting connection established during residential care. This continuum matters — the period immediately following residential treatment is when recovery is most vulnerable, and Dove's outpatient option is designed to bridge that gap.

Employment and work development services, family reunification support, and case management are available across programming, helping women address the practical realities of life in recovery alongside their clinical work. These wraparound services reflect Dove's understanding that long-term sobriety depends on more than abstinence — it requires housing stability, family repair, and economic footing. For women in Indianapolis navigating that broader recovery journey, Dove's continuum of care offers a consistent community to return to at each stage.

One of the most distinctive features of Dove Recovery House is its funding model. Programming is offered entirely free of charge to clients. The full operating cost — averaging approximately $300 per week per woman — is covered through a combination of grants, corporate partners, and individual donors. A $340,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. in 2023 and a $2.5 million capital campaign launched in 2022 reflect the level of institutional investment behind Dove's mission to remove financial barriers from women's access to residential treatment and outpatient care.

Financial assistance of this kind is rare in addiction treatment. For women who might otherwise be unable to afford a residential recovery program, Dove's model means that cost is not the factor that determines whether they get help. The center accepts financial assistance and is structured so that a woman's ability to pay does not define the quality or duration of care she receives — a commitment that shapes the culture of the entire recovery community.

Dove Recovery House serves a wide range of women within its residential and outpatient programs: veterans, pregnant women, young adults between 18 and 25, older adults, women managing HIV/AIDS-related health concerns, and those entering treatment through court-ordered referrals. This range is not incidental — the center has built programming that recognizes the different pressures and histories these populations bring into recovery, and the therapeutic methods in place reflect that complexity.

Treatment at Dove draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the Seeking Safety curriculum, Stages of Change and relational needs frameworks, and individual therapy, all paired with active participation in NA, AA, and HA meetings. Relapse prevention is a formal component of the program rather than an exit checklist. Together, these methods give women a recovery foundation that extends well beyond their time in residential treatment — equipping them for the longer-term work that defines sustained recovery in the real world.