Santa Maria Expands Partnership with Project HOMES

Recovery housing opportunities for women with children participating in Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)  have been expanded thanks to a unique partnership between Santa Maria and Project HOMES.

Project HOMES, an initiative of UTHealth Houston, believes that individuals using medication as part of their recovery deserve the opportunity to build a path that works for them.  Through partnerships with recovery residences across Texas, they support substance free communities for individuals committed to healing and transformation. 

Santa Maria serves women and women with children with substance use disorder and provides ongoing medication assisted treatment via the onsite I-CARE Clinic.  After completing treatment at Santa Maria, many participants receive ongoing MAT services which reduces their options for housing, with some housing programs limiting assistance to those receiving this service.

Thanks to this new partnership, Project HOMES will reserve a select number of housing units for women who are receiving medication assisted treatment at Santa Maria and their children.  With the need for safe and stable housing met, these families will be able to focus on their long-term recovery while staying connected to the vital services they need to thrive.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to spotlight the importance of mental well-being, reduce stigma, and promote education and support for those affected by mental health conditions.

At Santa Maria, we recognize how deeply intertwined mental health and substance use disorders can be. Research shows that individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health challenges may turn to drugs or alcohol as a form of self-medication. That’s why we prioritize integrated care for women with co-occurring disorders—because recovery must treat the whole person.

Through our COPSD (Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Disorders) Program, we provide specialized treatment designed to address both psychiatric and substance use disorders together. Whether in our residential or outpatient settings, participants receive compassionate, evidence-based care that supports long-term mental health stabilization and recovery.

Our onsite I-CARE Clinic, operated in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine, offers comprehensive, integrated healthcare for both mothers and their children. Services include psychiatric support, behavioral health, recovery coaching, pediatric care, medication-assisted treatment, and more. By addressing both physical and mental health needs in one place, we give families the best possible foundation for lasting recovery.

In addition, our partnerships with organizations like SAMHSA (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) ensure that our participants can continue to access community-based mental health resources throughout their recovery journey.

“My counselor helped me understand the underlying reasons behind my addiction. I now have the tools and resources to cope with my issues head on.”  

-Cindy

A Grateful Farewell to Rachael Wright, Chief Development and Communications Officer

As Santa Maria continues to grow and change, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation to Rachael Wright, who has served as our Chief Development & Communications Officer since 2022.  Throughout the past three years, Santa Maria’s private donations grew by 150%, Santa Maria launched a capital campaign to expand to Austin TX, significant funds were raised for Houston facilities improvements, and our RISE fundraising luncheon was a big success.

We are grateful for Rachael’s leadership, dedication, and passion for this work.  We will miss her at Santa Maria however we are excited to see what she will accomplish in her next chapter.

In the coming weeks, we will launch a search for a new Chief Development and Communications Officer to continue building on the strong foundation Rachael helped establish. In the interim, Santa Maria’s Executive Team will ensure continuity in donor communications, fundraising operations, and campaign momentum.

Update: Public Funding Sources

As news outlets continue to highlight governmental funding cuts across all sectors, we would like to share Santa Maria’s status regarding public funding. Over the past few weeks, Santa Maria had two contracts for auxiliary programs impacted by the termination of the Health and Human Services Commission's Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act.

These funds directly impact uninsured individuals receiving medication assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder and a small portion of our recovery housing participants. Santa Maria has successfully coordinated with community partners throughout Houston and the state of Texas to ensure that the needs of the women we serve are met and all participants in these impacted programs do not experience a disruption in services.

Santa Maria is committed to providing programs and services which meet the unique needs of our participants.  We diligently make every donation count with 97% of every gift going directly to programming. Through the generosity of our donors and faithful commitment of our volunteers and community partners, Santa Maria continues to serve as Texas' premier provider of recovery services for women and women with children.  Your ongoing support matters to us and we will continue to update you as we navigate this ever-changing funding climate.