Recovery Centers of America at St. Charles Celebrates 5 Years of Transforming Lives Through Addiction Treatment
Award-winning center marks milestone with expanded services, patient success stories, and continued commitment to saving lives.
Chicago – August x, 2025 – Recovery Centers of America (RCA) at St. Charles announced today the celebration of its fifth anniversary, marking a major milestone in its mission to save lives from the disease of addiction.
Since opening its doors on September 1, 2020, the Illinois treatment center has grown from a single inpatient cottage to a thriving campus with seven cottages and newly opened Recovery Living residences. Outpatient services launched in 2021 in a small office in South Elgin and soon grew into a larger site in St. Charles in January of 2024, a short distance from the main campus. This fall RCA will also open a second outpatient facility in Rolling Meadows, further strengthening its presence in Illinois.
Over the last five years, RCA at St. Charles has become in-network with 28 insurance companies—expanding access to more people—and supported more than 5,000 thousand patients and their families through inpatient, outpatient, and family services. Patient care for detox and residential care has grown steadily year over year:
- 2020: 119 patients, 2,269 patient days
- 2021: 856 patients, 18,629 patient days
- 2022: 1,155 patients, 24,004 patient days
- 2023: 1,161 patients, 24,908 patient days
- 2024: 1,249 patients, 27,567 patient days
- 2025 (to date): 844 patients, 18,664 patient days
Beyond treatment, RCA at St. Charles has fostered a vibrant alumni and family community:
- 4,868 alumni have attended the weekly St. Charles Alumni Meeting since 2021
- 46 alumni events have connected more than 1,500 alumni, friends, and families
- 17,311 supportive “check-in” texts have been sent to alumni
- 552 families have accessed RCA’s educational and therapeutic resources
RCA at St. Charles has also been consistently recognized as a national leader in addiction care, earning Newsweek’s “America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers” award for three consecutive years (2023-2025).
“Recovery Centers of America at St. Charles represents the best of what we strive for across the organization: clinical excellence, community involvement, and an unwavering commitment to patient outcomes,” said Mark Puckett, COO of RCA. “Five years is an incredible milestone, but it’s just the beginning of the long-term impact RCA will continue to make in Illinois.”
The center’s growth has been supported by its dedicated workforce, which expanded from 40 employees in 2020 to nearly 150 today. A culture of connection is at the heart of the team, reflected in staff-led engagement activities ranging from themed competitions and cookouts to community service events, all organized by the “FUN Team” committee.
RCA at St. Charles’ presence extends far beyond its campus. Staff actively participate in community events, such as Campton Hills’ National Night Out and South Elgin’s An Almost Winter’s Day, providing education and free Narcan training to attendees. The team also helps host the annual RCA Alumni Fall Festival, strengthening bonds between patients, families, and alumni.
“The most fulfilling adventure of my career has been to help bring RCA’s programs and a full continuum of addiction treatment to Illinois,” said Karen Wolownik Albert, CEO at RCA at St. Charles. “I am incredibly proud of our team of dedicated and passionate professionals who, every day, provide care to our patients and who have helped thousands of alumni on their road to recovery.”
As they look ahead, RCA at St. Charles plans to open its final inpatient cottage this fall and expand outreach efforts into the Rolling Meadows area in 2026, following the opening of its new outpatient facility. With innovative offerings such as Work Flex programs, outpatient MAT and GOP services, and new Recovery Living residences, RCA remains dedicated to evolving to meet the needs of patients and families.
To learn more about RCA, visit www.recoverycentersofamerica.com.
About Recovery Centers of America
Recovery Centers of America (RCA) is on a mission to save one million lives impacted by addiction and mental health disorders, one person at a time. RCA’s evidence-based care approach features a full continuum of consistent, personalized, inpatient and outpatient services at world-class facilities in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeast regions. These programs are designed to support lasting recovery and lifelong healing. RCA admits patients 24/7, accepts most major insurances, and provides transportation, intervention and family support services. RCA is proud to have many of its facilities recognized in Newsweek’s America’s Best Addiction Centers rankings for excellence. For inquiries or admissions, call (331) 901-4225or visit www.recoverycentersofamerica.com.