Women facing addiction issues in Bulloch County have a new option for recovery and rehabilitation. The Women’s Transition and Recovery Home is more than a service center; it is a real home, a refuge for women with children in need of help getting back to healthy lives, said Pineland Mental/Behavioral Health executive director June DiPolito.

A ribbon cutting for the facility, formerly the Joseph’s Home for Boys on Cypress Lake Road, drew a large crowd Wednesday morning as people from several counties and local agencies attended the ceremony.

Pineland was able to purchase the expansive house after the boy’s home closed. The new space is larger and more suited to providing a home life for women with addiction challenges, especially those with children, DiPolito said.

The women’s programs began in the 1980’s, but there have been challenges, including finding suitable property in which to house the programs, she said. “We want the women’s programs to be nice and attractive.”

Sen. Jack Hill was instrumental in securing finding for the women’s program at the beginning, and has supported the program and his efforts paved the way for other funding, she said. Hill attended the ceremony Wednesday.

“We are headed in the right direction and I am proud to be a part of this day,” he said.

Among those attending the open house were several women and their children who will be moving into the facility this week. “We have had three healthy babies born” into the program over the last six months, DiPolito said. “This is what makes it all worthwhile. “Now there are 22 such programs across the state.”

Another guest was Commissioner Frank Berry with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

“What a phenomenal job,” he said in praise of DiPolito, whom he said led the effort to bring the women’s programs to its current position. “People will follow a strong leader, and thank you for all you have done. I haven’t seen a place like this anywhere else in Georgia.”

Community donations have helped furnish and refurbish the house, according to DiPolito, who praised the Statesboro and Bulloch County volunteers and donors.

“I have never seen a community come together like this,” Berry said. “You should be so proud. We need to get our department to see this.”

The home looks like any other upscale residence, with landscaped yards at the hands of volunteers and a warmly decorated interior. However, there are still needs, DiPolito said.

A list of needs includes furniture, dining room chairs, outdoor chairs and patio furniture, dishes, kitchen utensils, cookware and appliances; bedding, decorative items, plants and flowers and towels.

Also, the women will need clothing for themselves and children’ diapers, wipes, games, toys, playground equipment, and baby furniture including beds and play pens.

Things like movie and bowling passes, restaurant certificates, books, DVDs and magazines will also help make the recovery for women and their children more pleasant and create a more “normal” lifestyle, she said.

The program is “total inclusive” and provides women and children in need with a safe, family-oriented home; counseling ( group and personal), parenting and job skills classes, and therapeutic child care sessions for children who may have issues stemming from living in a family suffering from addiction, she said.

For more information about the program or how to donate or volunteer, contact DiPolito at jdipolito@pinelandcsb.org.

Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.