September 2, 2025 •Ann Daugherty
Alumni at a homecoming participating in a sobriety countdown.
Editor's Note: The late Ann Daugherty, founder of Tara Treatment Center, published "One Dream - A Thousand Miracles," which shared the story of her vision and the remarkable start of the addiction recovery center. We are pleased to present the chapters of the book as part of our 40th Anniversary of helping people survive and thrive. We invite you to read Ann's words and draw inspiration from them.
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We have been successful beyond our wildest hopes and dreams. When we started the center, we, like others had state funding. In those early years, state and federal funding created opportunities for many start-up treatment centers. In responding to the requests of the state, we were successful in providing the full continuum of care for our clients. Taking the advice of state officials, I diligently implemented the necessary changes so that Tara would remain viable. As a result of the willingness to follow suggestions, Tara now offers a full continuum of services which include:
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Detoxification Unit
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Residential Program
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Day Treatment
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Transitional-Residential (halfway house)
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Intensive-Outpatient
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Outpatient Programs
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Education
Another major step for our organization occurred in 1996, when we became a managed-care provider. At this time, we started a separate treatment program for men and women. In providing this service, we were able to address gender-specific issues in addition to addressing the need for providing housing at separate locations. Although this change doubled our expenses and responsibilities, we felt that we needed to make this change. We always seemed to find ways to accommodate the needs of our clients.
Within the spectrum of services offered at Tara, we have also developed the Family Program. In understanding the critical role of families in the healing process, this program was developed to meet the needs of not only the recovering addict or alcoholic, but the family as a whole. Many times, the ripple effect of addiction can be felt throughout the entire family. The addict or alcoholic often leaves their family members with fears of imminent death as a result of their progressing disease.
We spend a great deal of time reassuring, educating, and often getting them connected to 12-step programs, too. We encourage family members to participate in Al-Anon to help them cope with the crisis and the coming changes. Just as Alcoholics Anonymous helps the addict or alcoholic, Al-Anon is a 12-step program for family members and loved ones affected by the disease. We work with the client’s family members and loved ones to help with their personal growth and healing.
In celebration of the success that Tara has had in changing the lives of others, we annually hold a homecoming and alumni celebration for former clients, family members, and supporters. Just as it was before the center opened, Tara continues to be a place of picnics, celebrations, and music. Many Tara alumni provide the entertainment for this event. Even in retirement, Mr. Mills, from the Indiana Department of Mental Health, comes with his family to our homecoming. I told him when he gave me the initial grant in 1985 that I would make him proud of his decision. At that point, I felt like a child talking to my father. He is one of the many miracles that allowed Tara a chance to save those suffering from the disease of addiction.
I find these homecoming events to be a wonderful chance to look at the impact that Tara has had on the lives of others. What an experience it is each year when we count down the total sobriety of those at the event. Each year, men and women take hands, forming a large circle, starting with the least sobriety (maybe only 24 hours) and your eyes travel to the next person with a longer sobriety date. The circle expands and then you witness the last hands linking up, those having the largest number of sobriety bonding and closing the circle with those with the least amount of sobriety.
Ann's Story.
Ann Daugherty knew firsthand how alcoholism and drug addiction could affect the lives of families and loved ones.
Her personal pain as a result of her brother’s death at 36 from alcoholism inspired her to help others.
Ann worked for several years as a master’s level psychiatric nurse and therapist, specializing in the field of addiction for most of her career. Through her prior employment, she became aware of a grant available for the treatment of women with addictions.
She researched and wrote a grant proposal to open the original eight-bed Residential Program. A location for the facility was not an obstacle for her, as she had a history of opening her home to those in need. Her efforts were rewarded in July 1985, with funding for Tara.
Throughout the years, Ann recognized the multiple needs of individuals served, which resulted in program and facility expansion. In July, 1996 Tara became a Managed Care Provider offering a full continuum of services for men and women.
Although diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer in 2003, she remained the Chief Executive Officer until July 2006. At that time she presented her eldest daughter, Theresa Matthews, to the Board of Directors as her successor, noting that she had worked closely with her since Tara’s inception. Ann's fight ended August 25, 2008. Her mission and vision have been embraced by many and still continue today.