how we got here

It all started when…

The Change Initiative started with a group of women providing winter shelters for people experiencing homelessness. We kept seeing the same pattern: women who wanted help with addiction but couldn't access it because treatment programs wouldn't let them bring their children. So they stayed in active addiction rather than lose their kids.

That's how Phoenix Recovery House was born.

We're now the only WVARR-certified recovery residence in North Central West Virginia where mothers can stay with their children during recovery. But we serve all women—mothers and non-mothers, women working toward reunification and women whose kids aren't in the picture, pregnant women and women who've never had children. The program is the same for everyone. What's different is that if you're a mother and it's safe for your kids to be with you, they can be.

Our Mission

To initiate positive change by improving quality of life that leads to a purposeful being.

In plain language: we help people build lives worth living.

What We've Done

7 women have graduated our program.
21 children have been reunified with their mothers.
9 graduates are working in stable careers—peer recovery support specialists, social service professionals, skilled trades.
Multiple women have moved into their own apartments, completely independent, no assistance.

And those numbers are growing. In 2026, we secured a $380,000 grant to expand from 9 beds to 30+ beds and build a community center. We're not just growing—we're opening our doors wider.

Who We Are

Our board is led by Loraina Lafferty (President), with Laura Matheney (Vice President), Hattie Wright (Treasurer), and Afton Aman (Secretary). Dr. Kristi James and Brandi Robinson (who also serves as Clinical Director) round out the team.

Leadership, we're led by Anjellica Scott, MSW and Melissa Romano, MSW LSW, who bring deep experience in trauma-informed care, wraparound services, and program development.

Our program team includes our Program Coordinator, Tia Stout, who handles clinical oversight and individualized recovery planning; our Recovery Coach and Phoenix House Graduate, Renee Proctor who brings lived experience and real talk; and House Manager, Raven Shaw, who keeps daily operations running and facilitates our morning meetings and evening gratitude sessions.