Youth Recovery group bellingham
Our group’s favorite slogan. 🙂
Origin Story
Hello! My name is Eva S., and I am the founder of Youth Recovery Group in Bellingham. This is a group I started at the age of 18 in September of 2024 to support individuals through community and provide encouragement through what may be challenging times.
After going to rehab at the age of 16 (and turning 17 while admitted), I started my journey of substance abuse recovery. I am now two years clean and free. After rehab, I became dedicated to supporting my peers through their recovery and healing journeys no matter where they are at in the journey. I didn’t want others to feel alone like I did, because it is difficult living in a small town with little to no options for the youth in recovery.
This group is dedicated to anybody under the age of 21 who may be seeking support, compassion, community, and friendship. My mission is to bring the youth in Bellingham, who may be in recovery from various mental health conditions, addiction, self-harm, trauma, etc., together to relate to one another, and find that they are not alone.
Whether you are independently in recovery, in active addiction, or fresh out of rehab, I hope that you will find us and join in our gatherings that we will have once a week, as well as the various activities and fundraisers we plan to be doing. We will welcome you with open arms. <3
no matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible.
More about our community (so far)
This group began with me (Eva) making a post on instagram, stating that I was interested in starting a youth recovery group. I asked if anybody was interested and within 48 hours, I received roughly 35 messages from individuals telling me how needed this was in Bellingham. Many stated that they would be interested in attending, some offered to help get it started, and even more enthusiastically said they would love to both help and attend.
I was a solid mix of thrilled, and to be honest, overwhelmed with how quickly it went from a thought, to a reality. My posts and stories regarding the group on both Instagram and TikTok began getting reposted and shared, causing it to reach even more. I am beyond happy at how many we have reached thus far, and I sincerely hope we can continue growing and reel in as many youths interested in recovery as possible. We welcome all, no matter race, gender, sex, ethnicity, identities, backgrounds, lifestyles, cultures, religions, financial status, political beliefs, etc. I am so grateful to all who have assisted in the growth and beginning of this group, including my fellow board members, Noe Vavao, Kamryn Church, and a few others who will remain confidential, at least for now. 🙂
I am in the process of becoming a certified peer counselor and am currently preparing for the final exam. After a serious and disappointing health diagnosis two days after graduating from Sehome High School in June, I was forced to take a quarter off of school. When I return to school, I will attend Whatcom Community College and study to become a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP). By studying now to become a certified peer counselor and beginning this wonderful youth recovery group, I am grateful to continue progressing in a positive direction towards continuing my life’s work. After I get my SUDP, my goal is to work at the rehab that turned my life around for the better, Sundown M. Ranch in Yakima, WA, where I plan to continue my education and become a licensed counselor.
Our goals for this group are to begin fundraising, accepting donations, and putting out advertisements and flyers. Donations collected will go towards more (and better) advertising, prizes for those who have reached recovery milestones, treats and beverages for gatherings, the occasional positivity-based outing, t-shirts and other merch, and beneficial and recovery-oriented things for our group and the community.
We had our first meeting on Friday, the 27th of September. We had a total showing of 6, with 100% saying that they would return the following week. I would also like to mention that we are not associated or affiliated with AA/NA. We may have some similarities in terms of formatting, but this group is directed towards the youth, and we are accepting of all pathways to recovery, and no matter what one is recovering from.
Follow our new Instagram, @youthrecoveryinbham, Facebook @Youth Recovery in Bellingham, WA, and our TikTok @youthrecoverybham where we will be posting updates, progress, events, news, and other content (we are most active on our insta). 🙂