On November 1, 2022, Dove Recovery House for Women opened the doors to its first satellite location in Dubois County. Four years later, those doors have been an entryway to countless opportunities, second chances, and transformed lives.
And the impact extends far beyond the women who walk through them. It’s not just the clients who benefit from the work of Dove House in Dubois County. It’s their children, families, peers, employers, and entire communities who experience the positive ripple effect of long-term, client-centered, trauma-informed recovery treatment. Treatment that comes at no cost to the women we serve, but whose value is immeasurable.
Over the last four years, we’ve watched women accomplish things that may have once felt impossible. Women have secured safe and stable housing, reunited with their children, obtained driver’s licenses, rebuilt relationships with loved ones, secured meaningful employment, and found freedom from the cycle of justice involvement that had followed them through much of their adult lives. These milestones might look different from one woman to the next, but each represents something bigger: the opportunity to build a life that feels worth living, a life they no longer feel the need to escape from.
It’s paramount to note that none of this happens in isolation. A huge part of what makes the Dubois County house so special is the people who show up every day to make this work possible. Dubois County Director of Operations Megan Durlauf, is an incredible example of the kind of leadership that makes a lasting difference. In fact, 100% of the full-time staff currently working at this location were hired within the first three months of operation. That’s a pretty remarkable testament to Megan’s servant leadership. She models the values she hopes to see in the people she leads.
The team in Dubois County is made up of therapists, peer recovery specialists, and resident advocates who are willing to do what it takes to make sure the needs of the women we serve are met. They show up, cheer the women on, build them up, and walk alongside the Doves as they work to create lives they once thought were unobtainable. Working in a 24-hour facility means flexibility, teamwork, and a willingness to step in wherever needed. No one is too good for any job, and every member of the team does their part with so much grace, compassion, and love. That kind of culture doesn’t happen by accident. The clinical leadership team in Dubois County, made up of Megan, Therapist and Clinical Manager Kate Letterman Conway, and Peer Recovery Specialist Priscilla Rickelman strive to build, model, and nurture this kind of culture every single day.
A Community-wide Partnership
Building community is the cornerstone of recovery and Duboisin Dubois County it’s well known that community can serve as one of the most effective interventions.
Inside the house, you’ll find our Doves building one another up, offering encouragement, and showing up for each other in the hard moments. That sense of belonging doesn’t end when someone graduates from the program. We say, and truly believe, “Once a Dove, always a Dove.” Our doors remain open, and it’s not uncommon to see alumnae return to visit, reconnect, and spend time in the place that once was home to them. They’ve built sober support systems here, and they often become some of the best role models for women who are still earlier in their recovery journeys.
If you stop by around the holidays, there’s a good chance you’ll find the house packed full of current and former Doves, staff, and volunteers. It’s a beautiful reminder that recovery isn’t just about completing a program. It’s about finding your people, building relationships, and knowing you have somewhere to belong.
That same spirit of community extends well beyond the walls of the house. The local peer recovery community has been an incredible source of support and referrals for the program. We’ve received countless contributions from the wider Dubois County community, too. Sometimes that looks like a generous donation from a local company. Sometimes it’s a family dropping off leftover food from a family event. Sometimes it’s someone stopping by with a one-time donation because they believe in what we’re doing.
A Dove favorite and perfect examples of this community support comes from the Sisters of St. Benedict, who generously provide a meal for the house every single week. Monday afternoons are something of a special occasion at the house, with residents looking forward to the weekly delivery and ready to help the sister who brings it unload that week’s meal and load up the dishes and containers from the previous week. It’s a small but meaningful ritual and one that speaks to something bigger than a donated meal. It’s the consistency of showing up, the relationships that form along the way, and the reminder that there are people in this community who think about these women, care about them, and want to be part of their lives. That kind of connection matters.
For four years, faith-based groups, local businesses, families, and individuals have given their time and energy in ways both big and small. They’ve organized supplies and donations, pulled weeds, cleaned baseboards, sanded and painted picnic tables, prepared meals, and spent time getting to know the women who call Dove House home. Some have come with a specific project in mind, while others have simply asked, “What do you need?” and stepped up to deliver.
This community’s willingness to show up means more than can be put into words. This life-changing, community-transforming work would not be possible without the generosity, compassion, and investment of the wider Dubois County community. Four years ago, Dove House opened the doors to a new location. What has grown since then is so much more than a recovery program. It’s a network of people who believe in second chances, recognize the value of every human life, and understand that when women have the opportunity to heal and thrive, entire families and communities benefit.
Thank You
As Dove House celebrates four years in Dubois County, we’re celebrating the women who have walked through our doors, the staff who pour themselves into this work, the families whose lives have changed, and the community that continues to show up.
Thank you for being part of our story, however big or small. We can’t wait to see what the next four years bring!
Join Us
Want to be a part of what’s next in DuCo? There is a place for everyone in this work. Whether you’re part of a local business, church, community organization, or simply an individual who wants to make a difference, we’d love to connect with you. From volunteering your time and preparing a meal to organizing donations or making a financial contribution, every act of generosity helps us continue this work!
To learn more about getting involved at Dove House in Dubois County, contact Megan Durlauf at mdurlauf@doverecoveryhouse.org.
