Lionheart Wellness and Recovery, an outpatient treatment center for those suffering co-occurring disorders including substance abuse disorders and mental health challenges is set to open in Hastings at 1112 N. Frontage Rd, Suite 101. The center, which will offer clinical treatment for adults and adolescents, was started Tiffany Neuharth, the Founder and Executive Director of Rise Up Recovery, a community organization that provides peer recovery support services for the Hastings community and beyond.

At the final 2024 meeting of the Opioid Response Action Committee (ORAC) Lionheart Wellness and Recovery was 1 of 5 organizations awarded funds from the Opioid settlement fund for Dakota County. While many at that meeting including Brigette Norring, the founder of the Devin J. Norring Foundation, expressed concerns with funds going towards treatment programs instead of prevention, for Neuharth, the gap for such clinical treatment in the Hastings community, especially for adolescents, was clear.

“It’s been apparent to us that there is a lack in our community, especially for adolescents,” said Neuhart. Currently Rise Up Recovery refers adults to Allina Clinic in Hastings, but even there treatment is limited. Allina offers outpatient addiction services weekdays 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at its Regina Hospital Campus. These hours make finding treatment difficult for those that work regular hours: for “working professionals, there is no place to send them,” said Neuharth.

For clinical treatment for adolescents, according to Neuharth, those services do not exist within Hastings requiring referrals to sprawl to programs across the twin cities metro.

For adolescent treatment, Lionheart’s goal is to shake up the mold and make those involved active participants. “We are trying to do treatment different,” said Neuharth. Neuharth wants participants to be active in building life skills like exercising regularly. Therefore, part of the treatment would be “actually do[ing] exercises,” said Neuharth. This ‘recover by doing’ method extends to other areas like social skills, and psychoeducation.

Switching up how treatment is provided from varying activities rather than the same format, Neuharth compares to teachers switching up activities in the classroom: “it’s like a classroom where some thrive and others can just listen and retain,” said Neuharth.

The ‘recover by doing’ method was inspired in part by the ‘disciple by doing’ method from the New Life Evangelical Free Church. Neuharth specifically referenced the Kid’s Church where children learn while being active in various settings.

“Why don’t we do this for treatment?” Said Neuharth”

Another service that will be provided at Lionheart is family support. Family support is set to include monthly family group sessions, individual family counseling and family peer support services. “This is an illness that affects the whole family so we need to treat the whole family,” said Neuharth.

As to the exact timing of Lionheart, “We are ready to open our doors, it’s just a matter of getting reimbursed,” said Neuharth.

Like the private healthcare system writ large, clinical treatment facilities must implement contracts with insurance companies in order to have patient’s care covered. In that same vein, “most people would not be able to bear the burden of those costs,” if they were not covered by insurance said Neuharth.

When Lionheart opens, which is expected late January or early February, depends on the completion of contracts with insurance companies as well as grant funds from ORAC which will be voted upon at the Tuesday January 14 meeting of the Dakota County Community Services Committee of the Whole.

For more information on Lionheart Wellness and Recovery, visit https://www.lionheart.support/