Cedars, December 2019

tact Her Story through its website or be re- ferred by a case worker or police officer. The first step while at the house is an individual assessment to determine the woman’s spe- cific needs. She is then plugged into outside treatments specific to her situation, such as professional help with mental health or substance abuse. At the house, the women participate in daily devotions in the mornings in addition to a recovery-themed meeting in the eve- nings. The group often volunteers together. “Whenever a woman comes, they are with us, doing life with us 24/7 for those 45- ish days,” Wagner explained. Each woman is referred to inpatient treatment after around 45 days of staying in the house. At a treatment facility, she can continue on the path toward sobriety with a foundation of healthy living. Wagner shared the story of one woman who completed the program and is now 15 months sober. This woman is now work- ing on regaining custody of her children. In the meantime, she has an apartment, a car, and a job, and is going back to school. She now volunteers at Her Story House, serving those who are in the same position she was over a year ago. Out of 35 women who went through the Her Story program in the last 12-14 months, 27 are now in long-term inpatient treat- ment, fulfilling Her Story’s goal of moving women from homelessness into a stable en- vironment. If a woman remains in the program for a week, that significantly increases her chances of developing a sober lifestyle. However, in addition to overcoming addic- tion, every woman must deal with her own past, often including trauma and abuse; more than 50% of Her Story residents have been affected by human trafficking. For Brandy Gleason, the executive di- rector of Her Story, the mission of the pro- gram is close to her heart; she is herself in long-term substance abuse recovery. “It was a hard journey,” Gleason said. “I’ve been to jail. Children’s services was called on me when I had my son. But all of that brought me to where I am now.” She has been sober for six years now, but it took the threat of losing her son to ini- tiate long-term recovery. Sometimes, Glea- son said, women who enter the program are not prepared to leave behind their former way of living. “Sometimes they’re not ready [to en- ter into long-term recovery], so we just fo- cus on planting a seed, and when they are ready, hopefully they’ll remember that they were treated with love and integrity, and that they have value,” Gleason said. Wagner is the social worker at Her Story and volunteers much of her time each week at the house doing assessments, leading groups and spending time with the residents. “We want the women to see that there is a bigger world outside of themselves,” she said. “It’s really cool to see their eyes open up [as] they start to dream about different parts of their life and what might look dif- ferent once they’re in sobriety.” Wagner also said her Christian faith motivates her to help the women that she comes into contact with. “I do what I do, serving there, because Jesus calls me to,” she said. “He loves the least of these.” Part of Her Story’s mission is to impart Christ’s love to others. The organization is changing these women’s lives physically and emotionally, but it is changing them spiritually as well. When asked about ways students can help, Wagner first mentioned prayer. The residents of Her Story are not only detoxify- ing from an addiction, they are attempting to start a brand new life, and this is difficult for everyone involved. “Obviously, we love prayer; praying for the women that come to us in very vulner- able and broken spots,” Wagner said. “It’s very hard for some women to get past two days of not using because the addiction [has] taken over their brain.” For those interested in volunteer- ing, Wagner encourages reaching out via Her Story’s website, herstoryhouse.com . Volunteers simply spend time with the women living at the house, whether that means watching a movie, cooking a meal, or just hanging out and getting to know them. There are opportunities available for churches or other small groups to get in- volved as well. December 2019 5 CAMPUS Despite the success they’ve seen, those working at Her Story House know that more can and should be done. For example, Wag- ner hopes that in the near future, Her Story can open a sober living house for graduates of the initial program to come back to after inpatient treatment. Despite the obstacles and hard days, Wagner trusts that God will continue to work through Her Story. “We would not be where we are today without him opening doors – huge doors,” she said. “You see small glimmers of [Je- sus] redeeming people’s lives, which is re- ally inspiring, and that’s why I continue to do it.” Gleason feels the same way: “When I see the changes in a woman, when she starts to believe in herself, and see all that she’s capable of, that’s the best thing of all.” Lydia Switzer is a sophomore Political Sci- ence student. When she is not studying, she enjoys playing the euphonium in Cedar- ville’s wind symphony and competing with the debate team. Photo by Carrie Bergan Sandi Wagner is a social work professor at Cedarville and co-founded Her Story in 2016.