Recovery living the focus of newly opened Rosecrance Lakeview

Rosecrance Lakeview, a unique combination of counseling center and living space that specializes in helping young adults in recovery for substance abuse, is open for business and now accepting referrals.

The new site is located at 3701 N. Ashland Ave., on the corner of Waveland Avenue in the heart of Chicago’s north-side Lakeview neighborhood. Rosecrance Lakeview provides treatment services that allow adults ages 18 and older struggling with substance abuse the opportunity to heal and become grounded in recovery as they progress toward a successful and drug-free future.

While this is an exciting new venture, Chicago is familiar territory for Rosecrance, which celebrates 100 years of changing and saving lives this year. Rosecrance runs six offices in the Chicago region and has decades of experience in addiction treatment and operating successful recovery homes.

“Rosecrance has a long history of providing the best opportunity for lasting recovery for people and their families. Rosecrance Lakeview is now a critical step in that process,” President/CEO Philip W. Eaton said. “We recognized an urgent need for more services during this epidemic of substance abuse that continues to claim so many lives in Chicago. Lakeview is a structured, supportive place that will promote accountability and guidance in helping people get back on their feet.”

Lakeview’s outpatient counseling center is housed on the first floor; the center started its first intensive outpatient evening group last week and started the morning IOP this week. Additional services include the partial hospitalization program offering 25 hours of treatment per week, and individual and family counseling with licensed providers.

The second through fourth floors offer a mix of short-term and long-term recovery housing for adults of all ages, as well as the Launch to Life Program. Launch to Life is a longer-term housing option for young adults striving to make it through the college years and gain traction toward a successful future. This program offers structured services including counseling, weekly in-house peer groups, 12-step support and participation, academic coaching and career counseling, community service opportunities, and planned sober recreation activities.

Merry Beth Sheets and Elizabeth Ellison share the management responsibilities at Rosecrance Lakeview, Sheets as the executive director and Ellison as the clinical coordinator.

“We are very excited to introduce the community to Rosecrance Lakeview,” Sheets said. “Lakeview has a phenomenal team of talented folks who are ready to start supporting clients in the recovery home and through the outpatient clinic. Our team brings diverse talents to the program and a wonderful depth of service to the treatment experience.”

Staff members have been busy giving tours of the facility and fielding inquiries for services. Sheets said the overwhelming response from the community and other providers is “we’re glad Rosecrance is here.”

“That’s exciting for me personally, and the professional team feels the same way: to be part of Rosecrance Lakeview on the ground floor as the entire program launches,” Sheets said. “We’ll be able to say enthusiastically that we were there at the beginning.”