Who We Are
Our mission is to break the cycle of addiction and trauma for women, children and families.
Seventy years ago Wayside Recovery Center, formerly The Wayside House, Inc., began with a mission to improve the quality of women’s lives.
Since then, Wayside has become an expert in delivering gender-specific and trauma-informed substance use treatment and mental health services for women and their families.
Wayside Recovery Center provides a holistic array of substance use treatment for adult women, including outpatient and residential substance use treatment, recovery support services, adult and children’s mental health therapy, long-term supportive housing, and family support services.
Our vision is that all women, children, and families achieve healing and hope for their future free from the effects of addiction and trauma.
About
Our History & Care Philosophy
In 1954, Sally DeVay, a door-to-door cosmetic saleswoman, saw a need in Minneapolis. In her work, she met countless women who were sexually abused, unemployed, dependent on substances. Sally knew there were systems of oppression that gave these women nowhere else to turn—and she knew they deserved more.
Sally founded Wayside House, a women’s sober housing shelter on Washington Ave. in downtown Minneapolis, an area which was known as the Minneapolis “skid row” at the time. Wayside House served 7 women its first year. Over the decades, Wayside has vastly increased our treatment programs and services. Sally’s vision for improving the lives of women is still the driving force behind our work today.
Our care experiences are guided by the client voice, the cultural preferences of all involved, the needs of the entire family system, and our commitment to long-term relational support.
Our staff focus on strategies that reduce disparities, address historical sources of abuse, consider social determinants of health and interrupt the generational transmission of risk to future populations.
Wayside believes that women can and do experience fulfilling lives even having struggled with trauma, addiction and mental health concerns. Our role is to be an effective, caring partner in the journey of her recovery.
There is hope. With appropriate care, education, support and accountability, each woman can recover – no matter what has happened in her past. We recognize and honor the courage of a woman taking her first step and coming to Wayside.
We see you. We hear you. We welcome you.
Senior Leadership Team
Amy Morgan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Nway Linn, MS, LPCC, LADC
Chief Clinical Officer
Zora Darcourt, LSW
Director of Training
Alex Sukalski
Chief Financial Officer
Tamara Olson
Director of Outpatient
Logan Sheppard
Director of Operations
Jennifer Hayes, LADC
Women’s Residential Treatment Director
Laura Whaley
Human Resources Director
Christina Ingracia, LADC, LMFT
Family Residential Treatment Director
Board of Directors
Wayside Recovery is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who have expertise in housing, health care, finance, business, legal services and treatment. We are fortunate that many of our members have a meaningful connection to the journey of recovery, either personally or with loved ones.
President: Suwana Kirkland
Vice President: Sarah Murphy
Secretary: Cheryl Davidson
Treasurer: John McDonough
Board Members:
Nadir Abdi
Shadoe Darris
Nicole Guimond
Laurie Halverson
Mary M. Hodge
Tracy Johnson
Cresta Jones
Kate Lerner
Careers at Wayside
In joining the Wayside team, you will become part of a compassionate, client-focused, innovative staff that works together to empower women in recovery and support their children and families. Wayside is an equal opportunity employer and encourages diverse candidates to apply.
Wayside empowers employees with:
- Health, Dental and Vision benefits
- Company paid long-term and short-term disability, and life insurance
- Generous paid time off
- Student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
- Retirement savings plan with employer match
When you give to Wayside, your donation goes directly to providing individualized care for women and whole-family treatment. Wayside empowers women and children with the tools they need to recover their lives, but it is donors like you who empower Wayside to provide families with everything they need to heal, stabilize, and thrive.
Take the first step towards recovery. You can also reach intake during traditional business hours at 612-242-5540.