Logan County, WV
Logan County Commission
west virginia
Rural | Population: 30,827
In the heart of Logan County, West Virginia, where the opioid crisis has left deep scars across communities, a remarkable transformation is taking place. Logan County’s 2021 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use (COSSUP) initiative enhances the Southwestern Regional Day Report Center (SRDRC) Fresh Start program, integrating recovery with agriculture-based training. Key components include peer recovery support, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), community-based treatment services, agricultural-specific training and certification, and education and workforce development. These provide individuals with the skills and support needed for long-term recovery and employment.
The Journey from Addiction to Purpose
83
program graduates
"Everybody is seeking purpose, including people in recovery. It's what we yearn for," explains Elly Donahue, Fresh Start Coordinator and peer recovery support specialist. This profound understanding forms the foundation of a program that has become a beacon of hope in Logan and Lincoln counties.
209
individuals served overall
When participants first enter the Fresh Start program, many arrive directly from incarceration, carrying the weight of substance use disorders, lost family connections, and the stigma that follows. But what makes Fresh Start unique is its approach to recovery, understanding that healing comes not just from receiving help, but from giving it.
A Garden of Second Chances
Nothing symbolizes the Fresh Start philosophy better than its community gardening initiative. Entirely supported and operated by people in recovery, the program has produced and donated over 5,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to food pantries and senior citizen programs across Lincoln and Logan counties.
"This is the missing piece," Donahue explains, describing the transformation she witnesses when participants realize "somebody truly counts on me." This sense of being needed—of contributing value to the same community where many once felt like outcasts—creates a powerful catalyst for sustained recovery.
Comprehensive Support Through Structured Phases
Operating out of the Southwestern Regional Day Report Center (SRDRC), Fresh Start takes a structured approach to rebuilding lives through three distinct phases:
Phase I: Healing Foundations
Participants begin with intensive individual and group therapy, addressing the root causes of substance use while building essential recovery skills.
Phase II: Community Connection
Recovery mentoring becomes central as participants engage in community-centered programming, including the agricultural initiatives that have become the program's hallmark.
Phase III: Future Building
In the final phase, participants enroll in college or vocational courses, serve as team leaders for Fresh Start trade programs, and continue strengthening their recovery foundation.
"If it wasn't for the resources and unconditional love and kindness the Fresh Start Program presented to me, I would honestly be in flight mode. I came in an addict without a purpose, homeless, no education, lost custody of my daughter, and no driver's license. In only a year, I have all six, and it has been an absolute necessity and pleasurable program for me to be in. Thanks to them, I have hope for my future."
—recent fresh start graduate
Breaking Barriers and Building Careers
85+
participants earned professional certifications
The program's impact extends far beyond emotional transformation. Over 85 Fresh Start participants have earned an impressive array of professional certifications, including Renewable Energy/Solar Panel certification, GED completion, Construction/Heavy Equipment/OSHA 10 certification, Mental Health First Aid, Peer Recovery Support Specialist certification, and community health worker certification (CHAMPS).
These aren't just certificates—they're pathways to sustainable careers. One graduate now works as a Fresh Start site manager, while three others have been hired by the local Quick Response Team, using their lived experience to help others facing similar challenges.
From Stigma to Celebration
For people with substance use disorders, community reintegration after incarceration presents enormous challenges. Stigma initially posed a significant barrier for Fresh Start, but through consistent community service and visible impact, perceptions have dramatically shifted.
"The community's finally getting it," says Project Director Michelle Akers with pride, noting that community organizations now actively seek out Fresh Start participants to collaborate on projects—a remarkable reversal that demonstrates the program's success in challenging deeply entrenched stigma.
A Holistic Approach to Recovery and Reentry
Fresh Start's comprehensive model addresses multiple dimensions of recovery:
100+
individuals received peer support services
Partnerships with Lincoln and Logan County Probation Departments identify candidates exiting jails and under community supervision.
Participants receive outpatient treatment programming, including intensive therapy.
Those prescribed medication-assisted treatment (MAT) maintain access to MAT.
Peer-led recovery groups provide weekly support and mentorship.
Family outreach through "Families Strong,” an 8-week support group for loved ones affected by substance use disorder
Community integration through agricultural programming and regional overdose prevention events.
Key Program Elements
Community Integration
Fresh Start breaks down stigma through service-oriented gardening and agricultural programming
Comprehensive Support
Outpatient treatment, peer recovery support, and medication-assisted treatment continuation
Career Development
Vocational training and certification in diverse fields
Family Healing
Support groups for loved ones affected by substance use disorder
Peer Leadership
Recovery groups facilitated by Fresh Start peers
Community Education
Participation in regional overdose prevention events
The Ripple Effect
The Fresh Start program isn't just changing individual lives, it's healing an entire community through the power of purpose, connection, and service. Each graduate becomes an ambassador of possibility—living proof that transformation is achievable even in the darkest circumstances.
As one participant to another often says in the garden while tending to growing vegetables: "If these seeds can transform and nourish an entire community, imagine what we can do."
Collaborative Partners
Logan County Commission
Logan County Probation Department
Southwestern Regional Day ReportingCenter
Lincoln County Opportunity Company
Lincoln County Probation Department
Patriot Guardens — WV National Guard
The Center for Rural Health Development (Wild, Wonderful, and Healthy Logan County)
The Local Exchange
WVU Extension Service
Project Director
Michelle Akers, Executive Director
Southwestern Regional Day Report Center
makers@lccwv.us
304-792-8648
This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA23GK02258COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.