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The Beacon

1717 Woodland Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309
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The Beacon IA 50309

About The Beacon

Founded in 1980, The Beacon of suburban Des Moines, Iowa, is a residential community for women in crisis. They aim to provide a supportive place for those who, through trauma and systemic inequity, face homelessness, substance use, and involvement with the criminal justice system. In 2024, they transformed a former motel into 32 efficiency units called The Beacon Village, a safe place for women to continue their recovery journey.

The SAMHSA Wheel of Wellness

They operate under the evidence based wheel of wellness created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This model has eight parts. The first is occupational, through which they partner with organizations like Project Iowa and Central Iowa Works for job skills training and placement. They also partner with Dress for Success to supply work clothes.

The intellectual section encompasses things like motivational interviewing and onsite educational classes, in addition to library access.

For the financial portion, they’ve joined with the Evelyn K Davis Center and Freedom Financial Bank to offer women budget coaching and a bank account. They’re also able to provide reduced rent and utilities.

Physical and Spiritual Relief

The physical aspect of the model involves nutrition counseling and fitness classes, and they’ve partnered with the Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health for medication reviews and support. For the spiritual side of things, they focus on activities for mindfulness in both private and shared spaces. They can also facilitate referrals for clients with specific religious or spiritual needs.

Under the environmental umbrella, their 18 hour staff delivers trauma informed care. Daily chores and community activities are practiced. There are weekly house meetings to keep up with the lives of the residents.

Case Management and Cake Management

The last two areas of the SAMHSA model are emotional and social. These are achieved through weekly case management and individual and group counseling. Peer to peer mentoring is provided, as are weekly sober social activities. Once a year they host the Cake Gala, a nonprofit event with food and music to benefit the Beacon and fund its services.

It’s also neat that The Beacon Village is near local attractions like Chamberlain Park. If you get some free time, you can stretch your legs and unwind a bit.

Facility Overview

Bed icon 34
Number of Available Beds

Latest Reviews

Erin Blank
5 months ago on Google
5
The Beacon is a wonderful nonprofit. The Beacon empowers these women to live full lives--giving their love to their families and contributing their talents to their communities. I have been able to witness first hand the wonderful work the Beacon has done and continues doing in the Des Moines community.
Whitney Judkins
5 months ago on Google
5
The women in The Beacon's programs are on powerful journeys of recovery and rebuilding. They are survivors of homelessness, domestic violence, and addiction. The Beacon empowers these women to live full lives--giving their love to their families and contributing their talents to their communities. The joy and pride on the graduates' faces is absolutely priceless.
Quinlan Riser
5 months ago on Google
5
The Beacon is a great organization creating a space where women coming out of traumatic circumstances can move forward and live independent and fulfilling lives.
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Rehab Score

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Scoring is assigned by a proprietary system which helps surface key metrics that determine quality. The 10-point scale factors in categories such as operations, customer satisfaction, and trust metrics. Read Full MethodologyCaret icon
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7.1 / 10

Location

Other Forms of Payment

Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.

Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for those 65 and older. It also serves people under 65 with chronic and disabling health challenges. To use Medicare for addiction treatment you need to find a program that accepts Medicare and is in network with your plan. Out of pocket costs and preauthorization requirements vary, so always check with your provider.

Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.

Addiction Treatments

Levels of Care

inpatient iconInpatient
Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.
aftercare iconAftercare Support
Rehab aftercare programs support clients' reintegration into their home, workplace, and community following inpatient and residential treatment. They also promote long-term recovery for clients who may no longer be receiving outpatient treatment. Rehab aftercare services encompass a wide range of modalities and often include various medical, mental health, and social service programs. Case managers and care teams develop clients' customized service plans based on the client's evolving needs and recovery goals.
sober-living iconSober Living Homes
Sober Living Houses (SLHs), aka sober homes or halfway houses, are safe, substance-free, supportive living facilities for those recovering from substance abuse. Ideal for those who've just been through inpatient or outpatient treatment, SLHs are supervised environments with rules that support sobriety, such as curfews, shared chores, and therapeutic meetings. Residents are also often trained on life skills and coping skills to make it easier to transition into society. SLHs also provide a strong sense of community that can lead to the kind of deep and lasting connections with other sober individuals that supports a new, healthy lifestyle.
medically-assisted-detox iconMedically Assisted Detox
If you've become physically dependent on drugs or alcohol, quitting suddenly can cause very dangerous side effects. During a medically assisted detox, licensed medical professionals will monitor your vitals around the clock and provide medications if necessary to ensure you're as safe and comfortable as possible throughout this process.

Treatments

The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.

Drug rehab in Iowa is available in many formats. A variety of inpatient and outpatient options provide programs that are tailored to individual needs, making recovery possible for everyone.

A combined mental health and substance abuse rehab has the staff and resources available to handle individuals with both mental health and substance abuse issues. It can be challenging to determine where a specific symptom stems from (a mental health issue or an issue related to substance abuse), so mental health and substance abuse professionals are helpful in detangling symptoms and keeping treatment on track.

Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.

Programs

adult-program thumbnail image
Adult Program
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
young-adult-program thumbnail image
Young Adult Program
Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.

Clinical Services

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.

Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.

Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.

Learning healthy eating habits is an important part of drug rehab in Iowa. Nutrition therapy protects you from future substance use by giving your body the energy and strength it needs. It will help you avoid cravings or "off" feelings that can lead to relapse.

Amenities

  • home-setting iconResidential Setting
  • private iconPrivate Setting

Staff

Amy Landrigan, MA

Executive Director

Contact Information

Phone icon (515) 244-4713
Building icon

1717 Woodland Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309

Edited by:
Peter Lee, PhD

Rehab in Cities Near Des Moines

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Reviews of The Beacon

3.83/5 (43 reviews)
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Reviews

5

This is my home, this wonderful non-profit organization that does amazing work for people like me! They helped me start over and I'm thankful for that

Reviewed on 3/7/2019
Overall Experience
Date Submitted
Reviewer

Google Reviews

3.8 (42 reviews)
Megan Fjetland
2 weeks ago
5

The Beacon is a warm and empowering space where women find the support and community they need to thrive. The leadership team is uplifting and truly dedicated to helping every woman realize her full potential. It’s a place built on hope, growth, and genuine care.

Janet H
2 weeks ago
5

The Beacon is such a wonderful non-profit with such an important mission! I appreciate how hard it is for these ladies to get back to a normal life. And how hard they work to get back to living. The executive director, Amy Landrigan, works tirelessly for this program and is a great community leader. If ever you are looking to volunteer at an amazing place, reach out to her.

Aaron Meyer
3 weeks ago
5

The beacon is a place for hope and recovery. The executive director, Amy Landrigan, is passionate about helping women regain their lives. Can’t speak highly enough about her or the services they offer!

Erin Blank
5 months ago
5

The Beacon is a wonderful nonprofit. The Beacon empowers these women to live full lives--giving their love to their families and contributing their talents to their communities. I have been able to witness first hand the wonderful work the Beacon has done and continues doing in the Des Moines community.

Whitney Judkins
6 months ago
5

The women in The Beacon's programs are on powerful journeys of recovery and rebuilding. They are survivors of homelessness, domestic violence, and addiction. The Beacon empowers these women to live full lives--giving their love to their families and contributing their talents to their communities. The joy and pride on the graduates' faces is absolutely priceless.

Quinlan Riser
6 months ago
5

The Beacon is a great organization creating a space where women coming out of traumatic circumstances can move forward and live independent and fulfilling lives.

Jeremy Gatlin
1 year ago
1

I am very bothered, concerned about the validity of the processes they employ to hold their clients accountable. No second opinions allowed. Faulty OTC drug tests without 2 party verification that they report to P.O. after getting first month rent voucher just so they can kick her out, move the next girl in, and do the same thing to her. Dubious practices at best.

Response from the ownerInvalid relative date format:
Dear Jeremy,<br><br>Thank you for sharing your concerns. We understand how important fairness and transparency are when it comes to accountability processes. At The Beacon, we are committed to supporting our clients while maintaining a safe and structured environment.<br><br>Since 2023, we have implemented an appeals process to ensure that clients have the opportunity to contest decisions regarding their stay. Additionally, we prioritize accuracy in all screenings and case decisions, and we work closely with community partners to ensure accountability measures are fair and just.<br><br>We take feedback seriously and are always looking for ways to improve. If you’d like to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out.<br><br>Wishing you the best,<br>Amy Landrigan<br>Executive Director, The Beacon
Shelby DeWulf
2 years ago
1

Advertised as a sober living community for women offering counseling and treatment programs, The Beacon is none of these things. In 2 months the case manager saw me once. There's no real programs, except things like cooking class. It is a halfway house mostly for women on parole.

Response from the ownerInvalid relative date format:
Dear Shelby,<br><br>Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re sorry to hear that The Beacon didn’t meet your expectations. Our mission is to create an environment that empowers women in crisis to achieve positive long-term change. While we are not a treatment facility, we provide supportive housing, case management, and life skills programs designed to help women regain stability.<br><br>Since 2023, we have made significant updates to our services, including expanding case management support and programming. We welcome any feedback that helps us continue improving and encourage current or former residents to reach out to discuss concerns directly.<br><br>Wishing you the best on your journey.<br><br>Amy Landrigan<br>Executive Director, The Beacon
tisha Lindley
2 years ago
1

I was there in 2012 til April 2013, I loved it, but it sounds like it totally changed, what happened to Julie and kesha, they were the best they treated everyone the same

Response from the ownerInvalid relative date format:
Dear Tisha,<br><br>Thank you for sharing your experience and for your kind words about your time at The Beacon. We’re so glad to hear that it was a meaningful place for you. Over the years, The Beacon has evolved, but our commitment to empowering and supporting women remains the same.<br><br>We appreciate the impact that past staff like Julie and Kesha had, and while our team has grown and changed, we continue to focus on creating a safe, supportive environment for the women we serve. If you'd ever like to reconnect or learn more about what The Beacon looks like today, we’d love to hear from you!<br><br>Wishing you all the best,<br>Amy Landrigan<br>Executive Director, The Beacon
Karen Stewart
2 years ago
1

I was a client and stayed here for 2 months. They are inconsistent with their rules, they constantly have you refer to the handbook that is out of date. They play favorites to clients, very unprofessional, yelling and screaming at clients. Make important decisions based on here say or their intuition, they don’t look for the facts nor do they care.

Response from the ownerInvalid relative date format:
Dear Karen,<br><br>Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re sorry to hear that you felt there was inconsistency and unprofessionalism during your time at The Beacon. Our goal is to create a supportive and empowering environment for every woman who comes through our doors, and we take concerns like these seriously.<br><br>Since 2022, we have made several improvements, including updating policies and ensuring clearer communication of expectations. We are always striving to grow and improve, and feedback—both positive and constructive—helps us do that.<br><br>If you'd like to discuss your experience further, we’d welcome the opportunity to listen. Please feel free to reach out directly.<br><br>Wishing you all the best,<br>Amy Landrigan<br>Executive Director, The Beacon
Skylar Daughenbaugh
3 years ago
5

I graduated this program and with it's help went from prison and homeless to my own place car job and savings. If u do what your spose to and work the program it can get in a good place

Tracy Gryp
3 years ago
5

I recommend to anyone! You will have every opportunity to get your life back. I came from prison, and was reluctant to come. I'm so glad I did. It feels like home.

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