Impact Life Inc. will host a Ribbon Cutting for their newest addiction recovery program, The Sanctuary, at Impact Life Farm in Seaford, Delaware. The event is free and open to the public.
• WHEN: Thursday, October 27, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• WHERE: The Sanctuary at Impact Life Farm | 4973 Boyce Road, Seaford, Delaware 19973
The Sanctuary will begin as a ten-bed transitional residential treatment program that will serve pregnant and parenting women in substance use recovery, including those re-entering society post-incarceration and those who are justice-involved and provide support services to their children.
Though Delaware is the second smallest state in the U.S. with the 6th lowest state population in the nation (according to the U.S. Census Bureau), the state ranks 2nd highest in the nation in per capita overdose deaths, as per the Centers for Disease Control, particularly in rural areas like Seaford.
The Sanctuary, which sits on 17 acres of land, will offer animal-assisted therapy, therapeutic culinary arts, and a whole-person holistic approach to programming. In addition to the recovery residence, the farm will offer a workforce development program. The goal is to create career development and training programs that will strengthen and increase opportunities for recovery and re-entering society.
"Structured, supportive recovery residences are an integral part of a successful aftercare plan. We must prepare individuals for the next level of care, no matter what that is. We are creating something long-term and sustainable in an attempt to break the cycles of addiction and justice involvement", says Nikole Papas, Board President of Impact Life. "In these programs, they will be surrounded by successful people in recovery, engaged in service work, and will be able to share their victories, triumphs, and setbacks while navigating the alwaysrocky road to recovery."
"The first four steps of recovery are directly connected to farming," says Domenica Personti, CEO of Impact Life. "Accepting what you cannot change, like weather challenges, animal illness, crop failures; believing in a higher power, like nature, community; changing the things you can, like learning to pivot, focusing on gratitude; and taking inventory to identify the part you play in all of it, good and bad."
By providing a safe space operated under the pillars of Compassion, Connection, and Kinship, these programs promise to create an environment of holistic healing for anyone looking to enhance their skill set and strengthen their recovery process. The Sanctuary at Impact Life Farm was funded through a generous grant made available through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).
"DSHA has administered the CDBG to strengthen and build communities for many years. We appreciate this funding and are glad to see it used in new, impactful ways," said Eugene Young, Jr., Director of DSHA. "I'm confident that this investment, brought to life by our fantastic state and nonprofit partners, will ensure those in need can find a place to heal."
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About Impact Life
Impact Life currently offers peer-led recovery support services Statewide. In addition, we operate recovery residences independently as well as in partnership with atTAcK addiction for those re-entering society postresidential treatment. We offer a Workforce Development program featuring comprehensive recovery services, career development, expungement and pardon programs, and peer support. Our Workforce development initiatives include job fairs and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns Statewide. In November 2022, we are launching Delaware's first Recovery Farm, The Sanctuary at Impact Life Farm, which will offer housing, case management, peer support, and animal-assisted therapy, coupled with a therapeutic agricultural workforce development program. For more information, please visit http://impactlifetoday.com/.
About Delaware State Housing Authority.
The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State's Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it serves as a Public Housing Authority and a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware's three counties. For more information about DSHA, please call (302) 739-4263 or visit destatehousing.com.
