The Cedar House is a community of women recovering from addictions and the effects of addictions. These women have also connected to a larger community of persons in recovery. We first meet some of our new friends and neighbors at Sisters of Serenity (SOS) on Monday evenings which is held in a cozy cabin on The Cedar House property. It is on Monday evening that those present share an evening meal, a guided spirituality meeting, followed by a twelve step meeting. Each woman who joins us for the SOS cabin meetings support us in friendship, fellowship, and recovery in addiction and the effects of addiction, as each new resident and participant begins her journey.

For the first two weeks at The Cedar House each resident is required to volunteer at the local food and clothing bank. This is her introduction to the town of Abilene KS., since we believe that the best beginning in recovery includes taking small steps in giving back. The Cedar House has its own Kansas Certified food bank on site. Once an individual volunteers in the local downtown food and clothing bank she is then ready to help us run our own. We deliver food to around thirty five families per month. The Cedar House residents learn very quickly that healing comes in the giving.

We maintain outdoor gardens between early Spring thru late Autumn. Since an indoor micro-farm is under construction we will soon be able to provide fresh foods year round. Everyone lends a hand in keeping the grounds and the gardens tended. We also have goats, ducks, geese, peacock, turkeys, miniature donkey, several dogs, and chickens which provide free range eggs. The Cedar House is a serene farm that seems at times more like a petting zoo. We learn to cooperate with creation in both our surroundings and given our many wildlife visitors.

We have at least one 24-hour certified peer mentor who lives on the premise in separate housing. She oversees the daily goings on in the house. Medications are locked and distributed daily. Check ins are required when residents leave and return to the house.

All residents maintain employment off site. We assist in helping each woman get her first job, if necessary. We provide support and direction in a resident seeking further employment or educational opportunities.

Sunday is life skills. We have a peer mentor who has oversight of the weekly sessions in life skills, with attendance being a requirement. Residents attend at least three 12 step meetings per week. Most of the meetings we attend are held in the outlying locales as a way to grow our fellowship in meeting new people.

In addition to having the support of a mentor and a sponsor, each woman also maintains weekly therapy with a licensed mental health therapist. Family members of each resident also have the support of a certified peer mentor as needed to guide and direct next steps with their loved ones.