At the end of an unassuming country road in western Howard County is a home tucked away on several acres. There is lush greenery and thriving hydrangeas outside, where birds chirp frequently as the wind whistles in the trees.
This tranquil setting is the location of Highland House, a 14-bed recovery home for women, with an emphasis on assisting those who are pregnant. The home, which opened in Howard County this past spring, is part of Tuerk House — an alcohol and drug treatment network with several locations in Baltimore and two in Howard County.
After looking through feasibility studies, Bernard Gyebi-Foster, CEO of Tuerk House, found “there’s not a lot of programs within this county with respect to women, pregnant women, to be exact.” However, the plan is to help all women in recovery in Howard.
He observed that the group already had a men’s program in the county and offered services for women in Baltimore, but “we just didn’t have anything for Howard County” women.
Gyebi-Foster joined Tuerk House in 2011, starting off as a clinical director before later becoming an executive director. Last year, he became the organization’s first CEO.
“The calm nature of the neighborhood is what drew me to the property,” Gyebi-Foster said. “It’s a beautiful place, [from its] ambiance to its serenity. It’s very conducive for treatment.”
Women who have either completed detoxification at Tuerk House’s main campus in Baltimore or another treatment facility may seek to move to Highland House. The opening of Highland House brings Tuerk House one step closer to its goal of offering treatment services for pregnant women at every stage of their recovery journey.
Highland House is an American Society of Addiction Medicine 3.1 level of care, also known as a low-intensity treatment community, Gyebi-Foster said.
“In other words, when you get to that [3.1] level, you are almost on the precipice of getting reassimilated into the community,” Gyebi-Foster said. “This is when you really take ownership of the trajectory of your life. … It’s sort of the one step away from being on your own, being independent.”
Highland House offers 24/7 clinically managed care and support, housing, transportation and individual and group counseling sessions. The staff are all women. Patients are also taken to medical appointments outside of the home.
Patients can live at Highland House for a minimum of six months, but their stays can be extended, Gyebi-Foster said.
In the home, two women are assigned per room. They eat all their meals together and can hang out in the living room.
Once or twice a week, patients stretch their legs outside during organized nature walks. There are plans for all patients to have their own personal gardens in the lush backyard and to start a crocheting circle.
With $500,000 awarded by the Howard County government, Tuerk House acquired the property in 2023. The treatment center’s name is an ode to its location in Highland, which is about 2 miles southwest of Clarksville.
The county government’s financial contribution is part of its efforts to expand behavioral health services and to offer “low-end residential treatment for all population groups,” according to a county news release.
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball joined Gyebi-Foster for the ribbon-cutting ceremony back in the spring.
“As we open Highland House, we are building on our efforts to save lives, support all our neighbors and help build a brighter future for all,” Ball said at the time.
Roughly 80% to 90% of Highland House’s patients are Howard County residents, Gyebi-Foster said.
Five years ago, the Howard House, a 16-bed treatment facility, opened in Ellicott City. The Howard House, another partnership between Tuerk House and the county, is a treatment facility for men who are living with substance use disorders including opioid addiction.
There are five other Tuerk House locations, all located in Baltimore. The main campus location on Ashburton Street includes an 82-bed residential treatment center, an outpatient center, an urgent care and a center for integrated behavioral health.
Tuerk House is also looking to expand its treatment facilities for pregnant women in Baltimore. The organization announced plans to complete a withdrawal management (detox) treatment facility for pregnant women and children in East Baltimore in 2026. Tuerk House recently received $5 million toward the project from the City of Baltimore.
