--- title: Tara at 40 l Tara Treatment Center description: Tara Treatment Center began in 1985 as a place built on compassion, faith and a deep belief in the power of recovery. image: https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hubfs/Blog-Tara-40.png --- [![Tara Treatment Center](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hubfs/Tara-Logo-White.png) ![Tara-Logo-White](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hubfs/Tara-Logo-White.png)](https://taratreatmentcenter.org?hsLang=en) [GET HELP](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/get-help?hsLang=en) Toggle navigation Toggle navigation - [GET HELP](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/get-help) - [PROGRAMS](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/programs) - [INSURANCE WE ACCEPT](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/get-help#insurance) - [FAQ](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/faq) - [FAMILY SUPPORT](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/family-help) - [ABOUT US](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/about) - [A LOOK AT TARA](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/look-at-tara) - [EMPLOYMENT](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/employment) - HELPFUL INFORMATION - [RESOURCES](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/resources) - [BLOGS](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs) - [VIDEOS](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/resources#videos) - [CONTACT US](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/contact-us) - [SUPPORT OUR MISSION](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/support) - [MAKE A PAYMENT](https://checkout.square.site/merchant/EEY34W8H3GK68/checkout/FYQABORNNXHMANWAAW7VSW6Q) - [PRIVACY POLICIES](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/privacy) - [NEWS](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/news) - [2025 IN REVIEW](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/our-impact-in-2025) - [TRAC9 OUTCOMES](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/trac9) # 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](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog-Tara-40.png?width=1200&height=630&name=Blog-Tara-40.png) --- ## 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. --- ### ![Tara-Cover](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Tara-Cover.png?width=200&height=239&name=Tara-Cover.png)One Dream - A Thousand Miracles ###### The History of Tara Shared by Ann Daugherty  (1936-2008) [![Lawrence Leach l Tara Treatment Center l Franklin, Indiana](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Chapter-1Lawrewnce-Elton-Leach.png?height=630&name=Chapter-1Lawrewnce-Elton-Leach.png)](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-1-the-seed-is-planted?hsLang=en) ## [Chapter 1: The Seed is Planted](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-1-the-seed-is-planted?hsLang=en) September 9, 2025 •[Ann Daugherty](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/author/ann-daugherty?hsLang=en) [![History of Tara Treatment Center l Franklin, Indiana](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Old-Farm-House.png?height=630&name=Old-Farm-House.png)](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-2-before-tara?hsLang=en) ## [Chapter 2: Before Tara](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-2-before-tara?hsLang=en) September 8, 2025 •[Ann Daugherty](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/author/ann-daugherty?hsLang=en) [![Tara Treatment Center Circa 1979 l Franklin, Indiana](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Tara-Early.png?height=630&name=Tara-Early.png)](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-3-realization-of-a-dream?hsLang=en) ## [Chapter 3: Realization of a Dream](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-3-realization-of-a-dream?hsLang=en) September 7, 2025 •[Ann Daugherty](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/author/ann-daugherty?hsLang=en) [![History of Tara Treatment Center l Franklin, Indiana](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Ribbon-Cutting.png?height=630&name=Ribbon-Cutting.png)](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-4-the-opening-of-the-doors?hsLang=en) ## [Chapter 4: The Opening of the Doors](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-4-the-opening-of-the-doors?hsLang=en) September 6, 2025 •[Ann Daugherty](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/author/ann-daugherty?hsLang=en) [![History of Tara Treatment Center l Franklin, Indiana](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Mother-Daughter.png?height=630&name=Mother-Daughter.png)](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-5-those-i-met-along-the-way?hsLang=en) ## [Chapter 5: Those I Met Along the Way](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-5-those-i-met-along-the-way?hsLang=en) September 5, 2025 •[Ann Daugherty](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/author/ann-daugherty?hsLang=en) [![History of Tara Treatment Center l Franklin, Indiana](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Tara-into-the-90s.png?height=630&name=Tara-into-the-90s.png)](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-6-finding-myself-through-adversity?hsLang=en) ## [Chapter 6: Finding Myself Through Adversity](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-6-finding-myself-through-adversity?hsLang=en) September 4, 2025 •[Ann Daugherty](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/author/ann-daugherty?hsLang=en) [![History of Tara Treatment Center l Franklin, Indiana](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Chapter-7-Growth-and-Change.png?height=630&name=Chapter-7-Growth-and-Change.png)](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-7-growth-and-change?hsLang=en) ## [Chapter 7: Growth and Change](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-7-growth-and-change?hsLang=en) September 3, 2025 •[Ann Daugherty](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/author/ann-daugherty?hsLang=en) [![History of Tara Treatment Center l Franklin, Indiana](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Helping-People-Change.png?height=630&name=Helping-People-Change.png)](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-8-helping-people-change?hsLang=en) ## [Chapter 8: Helping People Change](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/chapter-8-helping-people-change?hsLang=en) September 2, 2025 •[Ann Daugherty](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/blogs/author/ann-daugherty?hsLang=en) - - - **TARA TREATMENT CENTER TM 6231 U.S.31 Franklin, IN 46131 P.O. Box 47535 Indianapolis, IN 46247** --- Tara Treatment CenterTM Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All persons meeting admission criteria are eligible regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, sexual preference, veteran, handicaps or any other protected class other than those that would preclude their meaningful participation in the programs. © 2026 [Tara Treatment CenterTM](https://taratreatmentcenter.org?hsLang=en) All Rights Reserved | [1.800.397.9978](tel:8003979978) - [Site by Clever Dogs Media](https://www.cleverdogsmedia.com/) - [Privacy Policies](https://taratreatmentcenter.org/privacy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "contactPoint" : [ { "@type" : "ContactPoint", "areaServed" : "US", "availableLanguage" : "en", "contactType" : "", "telephone" : "463.222.0892" }, { "@type" : "ContactPoint", "areaServed" : "US", "availableLanguage" : "en", "contactOption" : "TollFree", "contactType" : "", "telephone" : "866.393.2888" } ], "logo" : "https://taratreatmentcenter.org/hubfs/Tara-Logo-White.png", "name" : "TARA TREATMENT CENTER TM", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/Tara.Treatment.Center", "https://www.instagram.com/tara_treatment_center/", "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrjligYosYC1VOV-bwAN0Sg" ], "url" : "https://taratreatmentcenter.org/" } ```