The McNabb Center’s Elevate Recovery Program for high school students will triple its capacity after a successful $9.2 million capital campaign by the Helen Ross McNabb Foundation. The capital campaign was chaired by Ford Little and David Wedekind. The McNabb Center

“By addressing both their educational and recovery needs simultaneously, recovery programs empower students to rebuild their lives and thrive in sobriety,” says McNabb President and CEO, Mona Blanton-Kitts. “Our recovery high school program, Elevate, allows students to receive substance use treatment while also receiving their education. Children should not have to choose between being sober or receiving an education. They can and deserve to have both.”

The campaign funds will be used for a standalone, 13,000-square-foot facility. The program will triple its current high school student population with three 20-student capacity classrooms for a maximum capacity of 60 students. Additional features of the building expansion will include an outdoor classroom, virtual classroom space, cafeteria, group and individual treatment rooms and office spaces.

The new space will provide a recovery-oriented environment that emphasizes accountability, personal growth, treatment and sobriety. Knox County Schools has partnered with the McNabb Center to provide educators who teach academic credit recovery courses to ensure students stay on schedule to graduate. Elevate provides comprehensive support by taking a holistic approach to addressing the needs of youth struggling with co-occurring disorders. The program equips youth with a wide range of support services—including individual counseling, group therapy sessions, educational programs, life skills training and access to recovery support resources—to navigate their recovery journey successfully.

The partnership between the McNabb Center and Knox County Schools has seen more than 200 high school students impacted in Knoxville since its inception in August 2021.

The McNabb Center is the region’s leading nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, social and victim services. We provide a quality and compassionate approach to care from infancy through adulthood. Since 1948, the Center has proudly served individuals with the most needs and fewest resources. Today, the McNabb Center delivers support to more than 51,000 people throughout East Tennessee each year. For more information, visit www.mcnabbcenter.org or call 1-800-255-9711.