Orlando, FL — December 4, 2025 — Ascension Recovery Services (Ascension RS), a national leader in behavioral health consulting, management, and program development, focused on substance use disorder (SUD-MSO), today announced key achievements from 2025, including new facility openings, acquisition-driven expansions, Tribal nation partnerships, and successful turnarounds in rural and underserved markets across the United States.
“2025 reinforced why Ascension RS exists — to bring hope, structure, and sustainable recovery to communities that often have limited options,” said Doug Leech, chief executive officer, Ascension Recovery Services. “From launching new facilities and strengthening Tribal-owned programs to turning around struggling operations, our team showed what it means to combine strong recovery principles with disciplined execution.”
The Ascension RS partnership with Nelson Construction & Development drove major expansion across the Midwest in 2025. The Indiana Treatment Centers portfolio opened a new 54-bed facility in Columbus including detox and residential services in January expanding during the year to include IOP and MAT joining four sober-living homes previously opened. A second facility and fourth Indiana program will open in Mishawaka in January 2026. In Iowa, Ascension RS launched a new 60-bed residential center—the second in its Iowa network—creating one of the state’s largest treatment footprints and an emerging triangle-of-care across Iowa City, Cedar Falls, and surrounding communities.
In the Pacific Northwest, Ascension RS broke ground on Freedom Bridge in Arlington, the second facility developed with Holman Recovery Centers. Holman’s first 36-bed program in Everett previously engaged Ascension RS for full management support, resulting in restored performance, stabilized staffing, and renewed capacity for growth.
In New Hampshire, Paugus Bay Behavioral Health achieved a full turnaround under Ascension RS management. Within one year, clinical, operational, and financial restructuring returned the program—offering IOP, PHP, and sober-living homes—to stability and cash-flow positivity.
A defining highlight of 2025 was the launch of the Pawnee Nation behavioral health program, one of the few fully Tribal-owned and Tribal-operated continuums of care in the U.S. Led by Program Manager Brian Kirk, the program launched IOP in May and Detox and Residential services in June, with occupancy doubling from September to October and revenue ahead of plan. It now stands as a national model for culturally grounded, sovereign behavioral health delivery.
Ascension RS enters 2026 with strong momentum across development, management, turnarounds, and Tribal partnerships. With new facilities coming online and stabilized programs strengthening their communities, the organization remains focused on expanding access to sustainable recovery through compassionate leadership and operational excellence.
About Ascension Recovery Services
Ascension Recovery Services (ARS) is a national leader in behavioral health program development and management, partnering investors, hospitals, health systems, government entities, non-profit treatment organizations and tribal lands to accelerate the creation and operation of high-impact substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment programs. As the nation’s first Substance Use Disorder Management Services Organization (SUD-MSO), ARS integrates capital planning, facility design, licensure and accreditation, staffing, payer contracting, marketing, and long-term management into a single, scalable model. With more than a decade of experience and projects spanning 80 organizations across 35 states, ARS supports every level of care—including Residential Treatment Centers, Intensive Outpatient Programs, Partial Hospitalization Programs, Sober Living Homes, and hospital-based treatment lines—delivering measurable clinical and financial results for its partners. Headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia, and backed by RCap Equity Partners, ARS combines financial expertise, clinical excellence, and compassionate leadership to expand access to sustainable recovery nationwide.