Tara at 40.

A Personal Tragedy Sparks a Lifesaving Mission.

What started in 1985 as a personal mission to honor a lost loved one has grown into a beacon of hope for more than 20,000 people seeking help and their families. This is Tara Treatment Center — a place built on compassion, faith and a deep belief in the power of recovery.

Blog-Tara-40

Milestones

The origins of Tara Treatment Center are rooted in Ann Daugherty, a psychiatric nurse and addiction therapist who lost her brother to alcoholism at the age of 36.


1985

Driven by both personal grief and professional purpose, Ann turned her own home into an eight-bed residential treatment facility in July. With the help of a grant she had written herself, Tara was born — a place where those struggling with addiction could find safety, structure and the support of a healing community.

1996

The center became a managed care provider, expanding its services to offer a full continuum of care for both men and women. What began as a modest initiative quickly developed into a comprehensive treatment campus, now spanning 13 acres of tranquil rural land for a men's center. A separate facility for women was later established just minutes away, reinforcing Tara’s commitment to tailored, gender-specific care.

2003

Even after being diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in 2003, Ann continued to serve as Tara’s CEO until July 2006, embodying the resilience and dedication she hoped to inspire in others. Upon stepping down, leadership passed to her daughter, Theresa Matthews, who had been involved in the center since its earliest days. Ann passed away in 2008, but her spirit and values remain central to Tara’s operations and culture.

One Dream - A Thousand Miracles

The History of Tara
Shared by Ann Daugherty  (1936-2008)
Lawrence Leach l Tara Treatment Center l Franklin, Indiana

Chapter 1: The Seed is Planted

September 9, 2025 •Ann Daugherty

History of Tara Treatment Center l Franklin, Indiana

Chapter 2: Before Tara

September 8, 2025 •Ann Daugherty

Tara Treatment Center Circa 1979 l Franklin, Indiana

Chapter 3: Realization of a Dream

September 7, 2025 •Ann Daugherty