Hitchcock Center for Women Unveils New Addiction Recovery Facility in Hough-Glenville Neighborhood

The Hitchcock Center for Women – one of the oldest addiction recovery centers in the country – held a ribbon cutting today to celebrate the completion of a $27 million expansion on its campus in Cleveland’s Hough-Glenville neighborhood.

More than 100 people – including elected officials, community leaders and residents – gathered to commemorate the occasion and reflect on the urgent need for services that not only support recovery but keep families together.

“When mothers are given a second chance, their children are given one too, and that changes the future for entire families, said Jason Joyce, CEO of Hitchcock Center for Women. “This new building is where those second chances begin.”

Founded in 1978 by nurse and recovery advocate Jayne Mazzarella, the Hitchcock Center for Women began as a 10-bed women’s halfway house in University Circle. In 1992, it moved to its current location at 1227 Ansel Rd. Currently, it’s the only treatment center in Cuyahoga County where mothers can remain with their children throughout recovery.

In 2024, the nonprofit treated 303 women, with 42 children living on-site with their mothers. The expansion doubles the treatment capacity and aims to create a more integrated, community-focused model for recovery—one that allows women, including those with children, to heal while rebuilding their lives in a stable environment.

The expansion includes a 77,000-square-foot facility which features two connected wings: one devoted to residential treatment and counseling, and the other offering 53 housing units tailored for women and children.

Each unit is equipped with a kitchenette and access to shared spaces, including private lounges, a fitness center, state-of-the-art kitchen, laundry area and playroom. Enhancements to its existing 100,000-square-foot structure also expanded the number of treatment beds from 24 to 42, significantly increasing the center’s ability to meet the rising demand for addiction recovery services.

The lead gift for the expansion was made by Cleveland Clinic. It helped encourageadditional support from the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Other funders followed including the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County (ADAMHS), Fifth Third Bank and the Finch Group.

“Today is so much more than a ribbon cutting – it’s a moment to honor every courageous step taken within the walls of the Hitchcock Center for Women, and spread the unwavering hope that recovery is always within reach,” said Vickie Eaton Johnson, Executive Vice President and Chief Community Officer at Cleveland Clinic. “As an anchor institution, we are committed to supporting initiatives that uplift and improve the health of the communities we serve. We are proud to have contributed to this expansion which will ensure that hundreds of women receive the treatment they need and keep their families whole.”

Nationwide, parental substance abuse is a major driver of rising foster care placements. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, drug use is a factor in 35% of foster care cases, and an estimated 8.7 million children live in households where at least one parent has a substance use disorder. In Ohio, more than 2,100 children are currently in foster care—the highest number recorded since 2011 according to recent data.

The Hitchcock Center for Women has become a regional leader in women-centered addiction recovery—especially for those with complex needs such as co-occurring mental illness, pregnancy or prior involvement with the child welfare system. It provides a comprehensive range of services to support women in addiction recovery, with a strong focus on keeping families together. The center offers residential treatment for up to 30 women at a time, allowing children up to age 12 to live onsite with their mothers.

Services include evidence-based care such as Medication-Assisted Treatment and free, two-hour drop-off daycare on weekdays. In addition to clinical care, the center offers holistic educational and wellness programs, including the Women in Transition in partnership with Tri-C, nutrition classes from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, financial literacy courses from First Federal Savings of Lorain, as well as art therapy and yoga classes to promote emotional and physical well-being.