At the end of a nondescript country road in western Howard County, a house sits on several acres of land. Outside, there is lush greenery and blooming hydrangeas, and birds chirp frequently as the wind whistles in the trees.

In this tranquil setting is Highland House, a 14-bed women’s recovery home that focuses on the care of pregnant women. The home, which opened in Howard County last spring, is part of Tuerk House – an alcohol and drug addiction treatment network with several locations in Baltimore and two in Howard County.

After reviewing feasibility studies, Bernard Gyebi-Foster, CEO of Tuerk House, found that “there aren’t many programs for women, specifically pregnant women, in this county.” However, the plan is to help all women in Howard recover.

He noted that the group already had a men’s program in the county and offered services to women in Baltimore, but “we just didn’t have anything for the women in Howard County.”

Gyebi-Foster joined Tuerk House in 2011, starting as clinical director before later rising to executive director and becoming the organization’s first CEO last year.

“The quiet nature of the neighborhood is what drew me to the property,” Gyebi-Foster said. “It’s a beautiful place, (from its) atmosphere to its serenity. It’s very conducive to treatment.”

Women who have completed their detoxification at either Tuerk House’s main campus in Baltimore or another treatment facility may choose to move to Highland House. With the opening of Highland House, Tuerk House is one step closer to its goal of providing treatment services to pregnant women at every stage of their recovery process.

Highland House is rated at American Society of Addiction Medicine Level 3.1 care and is also known as a low-intensity treatment facility, Gyebi-Foster said.

“In other words, when you reach this level (3.1), you are on the verge of being reintegrated into the community,” Gyebi-Foster said. “That’s when you really take responsibility for your life path. … It’s kind of the only step that keeps you from being on your own and independent.”

Highland House provides 24-hour clinical care, accommodation, transportation, and individual and group counseling. The staff is all women. Patients are also transported to medical appointments outside the home.

Patients can live at Highland House for a minimum of six months, but their stay can be extended, Gyebi-Foster said.

There are two women per room in the home. They eat all their meals together and can stay in the living room.

Once or twice a week, patients can stretch their legs on organized walks in nature. The plan is for all patients to have their own garden in the lush backyard and to start a crocheting circle.

With a $500,000 donation from the Howard County government, Tuerk House acquired the property in 2023. The treatment center’s name is an ode to its location in Highland, about 2 miles southwest of Clarksville.

The county government’s financial contribution is part of its efforts to expand psychiatric services and provide “low-cost inpatient treatment for all population groups,” according to a county press release.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Gyebi-Foster this spring.

“With the opening of Highland House, we are building on our efforts to save lives, support all of our neighbors and help build a better future for all,” Ball said at the time.

About 80 to 90 percent of Highland House’s patients are Howard County residents, Gyebi-Foster said.

Five years ago, Howard House, a 16-bed treatment facility, opened in Ellicott City. Another partnership between Tuerk House and the county, Howard House is a treatment facility for men living with substance use disorders, including opioid addiction.

There are five other Tuerk House locations, all in Baltimore. The main campus on Ashburton Street includes an 82-bed inpatient treatment center, an outpatient center, urgent care, and an integrated mental health center.

Tuerk House also wants to expand its treatment options for pregnant women in Baltimore. The organization announced plans to complete a rehabilitation treatment facility (detoxification) for pregnant women and children in East Baltimore in 2026. Tuerk House recently received $5 million for the project from the City of Baltimore.