September is National Recovery Month, a time to celebrate the power of recovery and the people who make it possible. At The Up Center, recovery takes many forms: overcoming trauma, healing from substance use, rebuilding trust, finding purpose, and creating healthier futures.
Recovery in Action: New Visions Success Stories
For teens struggling with substance use, recovery often begins in the places they already are—at school, at home, or in the community. That’s what makes New Visions, our free youth substance use treatment program, so unique.
New Visions provides evidence-based counseling, family support, and case management for youth 18 and under. Services are flexible, community-based, and trauma-informed. The stories below show just how far these young people can go when given the right support.
Graduating Against the Odds
After completing the New Visions program in March 2025, a former youth participant proudly reconnected with her clinician to share that she graduated from high school in June. Seven months earlier, academic success felt impossible due to emotional and behavioral challenges. Her graduation is more than a diploma—it is a reflection of her resilience, growth, and the lasting impact of compassionate support.
Finding Purpose in a Trade
In March, another teen was accepted into trade school, a milestone that strengthens his sobriety and gives him a clear sense of purpose. The skills, confidence, and decision-making abilities he gained in the program were key to his success and will help him move toward a healthier, more stable future.
Art as a Path to Healing
Last December, a New Visions client earned acceptance into a specialized high school for the arts. This accomplishment gives her a positive and structured outlet for creativity while reducing the need to rely on substances as a coping mechanism. Guided by her clinician, she built her portfolio, developed her talents, and began planning for her future.
More Stories of Recovery and Resilience
While New Visions supports youth in recovery, other programs at The Up Center help people of all ages heal from trauma, rebuild their lives, and move forward. Here are a few of those journeys—each one made possible with your support.
Chelsea: From Hurting to Healing
When 14-year-old Chelsea came to the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at The Up Center, she was in a dark place, coping with emotional pain by harming herself. Through counseling with our expert clinicians, she learned healthy ways to manage her emotions and gained practical tools for challenging moments.
Her turning point came when she joined her school’s basketball team. Today, she channels her emotions into the game she loves, finding strength and joy on the court instead of hurting herself.
Ava: Finding Family and Trust Again
At just 14, Ava entered foster care carrying deep trauma and anger. Through the steady support of her Up Center case manager, she began to trust again. Two years later, she was adopted into a loving home.
Nearly 30 now, Ava recently returned to Virginia to thank the case manager who stood by her side. “She met me as a broken, angry little girl and never left my side,” Ava says. “I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without her.”
Kaelyn: Turning a Setback Into a New Path
After a DUI arrest and brief incarceration, Kaelyn came to The Up Center for substance use counseling. Although she had already stopped drinking, she was using marijuana daily to cope with stress.
In just a few months, she stopped all substance use, completed her court requirements, developed healthy coping skills, and made the bold choice to enlist in the military. What began as a setback became her turning point toward a better life.
Trey: Finding Guidance in Uncertain Times
During a session in our Team Up Leadership Institute for fourth-graders, Trey broke down in tears. He shared that he lives with his father and older sister, who has severe mental health challenges, while his mother struggles with unstable housing and substance use.
With your support, Trey was matched with a mentor who provides the guidance and encouragement he needs to succeed in school and in life.
Why These Stories Matter
When someone like Chelsea, Ava, Kaelyn, Trey, or a youth in our New Visions program finds stability and resilience, their success ripples outward to strengthen families, schools, and neighborhoods.
This National Recovery Month, we celebrate every step forward, every milestone reached, and every life reclaimed. We also thank you—our community—for making recovery possible through your support.
Your gift changes lives. Together, we can continue building a community where recovery is possible and every person has the opportunity to thrive.
