Ember Recovery Campus Ribbon Cutting Celebrates New Chapter for Iowa Youth

With the snip of a ribbon and a swell of applause, a new chapter has officially begun for some of Iowa’s most vulnerable youth.

YSS officially celebrated the opening of Ember Recovery Campus — a state-of-the-art facility designed to offer healing, purpose, and belonging to Iowa youth and young adults overcoming substance use or in need of crisis stabilization.

“You are experiencing a vision that has come to life,” said Andrew Allen, President and CEO of YSS, standing before a crowd of donors, advocates, state leaders, and young people. “From the moment you step on this campus, you know it was built with intention. Every detail was designed with healing in mind.”

Ember Recovery is YSS’s inpatient addiction treatment program for youth (ages 12-18) and young adults (ages 18-24). Ember offers a modern, homelike environment where healing begins. The best-in-class campus features retreat-style cabins, wellness and recreation areas, nature trails, and therapy spaces.

More than a ceremonial ribbon cutting, the event marked the beginning of something deeply personal and profoundly needed in the state of Iowa.

For Matthew Voorhes, Ember’s Campus Director, the work is rooted in lived experience. “At a time when my life journey seemed like it was coming to an end, the people around me had hope for me,” he told attendees. “I was able to have an opportunity to change my life. My passion for this work and this place comes as a direct result of my own experience.”

As guests toured the new facility, they heard from young people already impacted by its mission. One current client, Hunter, shared: “I’m back on track, and I owe my life to this program. Thanks to Ember Recovery, I have people to guide me on my path.”

Dignitaries including Governor Kim Reynolds and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley also spoke at the event, praising the campus as a model for youth behavioral health nationwide.

“This place is incredible,” said Governor Reynolds, who publicly celebrated 25 years in recovery. “The Ember Recovery Campus represents the largest single investment in children’s behavioral health in the history of our state. Getting these kids the hope and support they need early on makes all the difference.”

Senator Grassley echoed the sentiment: “There is no better setting for youth to get the help they need and recover. This home-like environment in the middle of nature provides pathways for better outcomes and brighter futures.”

The celebration also looked ahead. Phase 2 of the campus will add a maintenance shop for skill-building and a sober recreation space inspired by Smash Park — further expanding the vision of recovery to include work, joy, and community.

“We’re not just building a campus,” Allen said in closing. “We’re building a movement to make Iowa one of the greatest places in the country for young people to recover.”

ABOUT EMBER RECOVERY

Ember Recovery is a program of YSS that provides inpatient addiction treatment for youth and young adults. The program focuses on trauma-informed care, individualized treatment plans, and long-term recovery support.

If you or someone you know needs help, visit emberrecovery.org/referrals or call 515- 373-9088 to learn more or make a referral.