Renewal House: Where Mothers Heal & Families Begin Again
Renewal House is the only program in Middle Tennessee where mothers can heal with their children. See how it's transforming lives. Image: Facebook
When a woman enters Renewal House, she isn’t simply seeking sobriety; she’s seeking safety, stability, and the chance to rebuild her life alongside her child. For nearly three decades, Renewal House has been the only long-term, comprehensive residential program in Middle Tennessee where women receive treatment without being separated from their children.
It’s a lifeline that changes the trajectory of two generations at once.
Since its founding in 1996, Renewal House has provided specialized substance use disorder treatment for women and their children. The mission was bold from the beginning: help mothers heal, keep families together, and create a clear path toward independence.
“Renewal House was founded in 1996, and we provide specialized substance use disorder treatment for women while supporting their children at the same time,” says Pamela Sessions, Chief Executive Officer. “So we treat, promote healing, and provide housing to women and children who are impacted by substance use disorders.”
That dual focus — mother and child — remains the heartbeat of Renewal House. Unlike traditional treatment programs, mothers live in their own apartments on campus while receiving behavioral health services, therapy, support groups, and parenting education. This model enables mothers to establish healthy routines, care for their children, build confidence, and develop skills that will carry them into independent living.
For Maya*, a recent program graduate, this approach made all the difference. “Renewal House was the right place for me because I could have my son with me,” she says. “I could bond with him and be a part of his life. Eventually, I got a job and am able to support him.”
Maya entered Renewal House with her newborn after facing incarceration and probation challenges. Recovery is rarely a straight line, and her experience reflects the complexities many women face. “I was furloughed to Renewal House from incarceration because I violated my probation,” she recalls. “I had so many things that went wrong that led me to a not-so-good place. I am not making excuses; they just happened.”
What she found at Renewal House was the support she’d never had before. “Renewal House is a great place to get sober,” she says. “I got a lot of support, and that is especially good for someone who doesn’t have a lot of family. It was also a good place to be with my child because of the safe environment without drugs or alcohol.”
Creating that safe environment has always been at the core of Renewal House’s mission — but the organization has recently expanded that vision. In September, Renewal House opened a long-awaited childcare center, nearly 29 years after the idea was first imagined. Operated by St. Mary Villa Child Development Center, the new facility offers high-quality childcare for children ages six weeks to five years, serving both Renewal House families and the broader community. And childcare is available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The new space can accommodate up to 75 children, dramatically expanding access to safe, affordable childcare in a city where demand continues to outpace supply. “We’re excited that this center not only supports families at Renewal House, but it also supports parents who have children in the community,” Pamela says, adding, “because we know that there’s just not enough affordable, high-quality childcare in our city.”
For mothers in treatment, having access to childcare is transformative. It means attending therapy without worrying about who will watch their child. It means going to a job interview or starting work with dependable care in place. It means stability … something many families have never known.
Stability is what Maya found. “They supplied everything I needed,” she says. “They gave me food, clothes, formula, diapers, everything.” As she grew stronger, she also grew more confident. “This program allowed me to reflect, bond with my baby, attend parenting classes, and learn how to communicate with people in society again,” she says. “I’ve become more assertive and learned how to set boundaries for myself.”
Today, she lives independently, works full-time, and describes her life in one word: peaceful. “I am proud that I completed treatment and moved into my own apartment,” she says. “There is no chaos in my life. I am at peace and moving in a positive direction.”
Stories like Maya’s illustrate why Renewal House is so vital to the Nashville community. When mothers heal, children thrive. When families stay together, cycles of addiction can finally break. And when women receive the support they deserve, futures that once felt impossible open up.
As Maya puts it, “If Renewal House had not been part of my story, I would not be where I am today.”
In a city growing as quickly as Nashville, the need is only increasing, and so is the impact of every gift. Renewal House relies on community support to continue providing housing, therapy, childcare, supplies, parenting education, and the wraparound services that make recovery sustainable.
Because when a mother gets the chance to stabilize her life while raising her child, everything changes.
Donate $50 today to support Renewal House and help more families begin again.
*Editor’s Note: We are so grateful for the brave stories that encourage and uplift others. To honor her privacy, we’ve changed the name of the woman featured in this story.
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Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Associate Editor and Lead Nashville Writer. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades years ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.