Nexus Recovery Center announced a $50,000 grant from Wellpoint Foundation for its residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program. This generous gift will help Nexus continue to provide Pregnant & Parenting Women with Children (PPWC) clients with behavioral and mental health services, including one-on-one counseling, educational sessions, and group sessions. 

The grant will directly support Nexus’ mission to serve as a community of hope and recovery for all women and their families who strive to live healthy, resilient lives. Using an evidence-based, gender-specific, and trauma-informed continuum of care approach to treatment, Nexus’ PPWC program helps to bridge gender and racial equity gaps that limit access to needed behavioral and mental health services for women and families affected by substance use disorders, regardless of clients’ ability to pay.

Wellpoint helps improve health care access and quality for nearly 750,000 Texans who participate in the state’s Medicaid programs. Wellpoint Texas President, Greg Thompson, said supporting Nexus Recovery Center was a natural fit for the foundation. 

“We are proud to partner with Nexus Recovery Center because they, like Wellpoint, are taking an individualized approach to address multiple aspects of health and wellness for our most vulnerable populations,” Thompson said. “As one out of just seven treatment centers in Texas that allows women to admit with their children, Nexus is transforming the lives of families impacted by substance use disorders.”

Serving more than 200 pregnant and parenting women each year, the Pregnant & Parenting Women with Children program provides each client with an individualized and comprehensive treatment plan that includes a full range of parenting education classes, postpartum support, and family education sessions. Together with a team of licensed counselors, a child and family education specialist, a case manager, and recovery coaches, clients maintain a full schedule of activities designed to help them along their individualized pathways to recovery.

“While I worked with Nexus staff on reducing my cravings for alcohol, my son Zayden received play therapy at the Nexus Child Development Center,” says Mackenzie Blacketer, former PPWC client. “I received counseling for my past traumas as well as tools I could use to be a better mom to Zayden, strengthening our bond as mother and son.”

“Wellpoint Foundation’s support of Nexus will help us empower women like Mackenzie and preserve families throughout Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and across the state of Texas,” said Heather E. Ormand, Chief Executive Officer of Nexus Recovery Center. “We are thankful to have Wellpoint Foundation as a partner.”