Mission Statement:

Apricity provides those impacted by substance use disorders a full spectrum of care including treatment, employment, and support services in a safe, progressive recovery community.

Services Offered:

On January 1, 2018, two successful nonprofits, each with over a combined 70 years’ experience with people in recovery, joined forces to become one entity: Apricity, which means “warmth of sun in winter”.

Both organizations, previously known as Mooring Programs of Appleton and STEP Industries of Neenah and Milwaukee, serve men and women suffering with substance use disorder and provide hope for a better future. This merge addresses gaps in mental health and addiction recovery services; creating a cutting-edge model of care that starts with treatment for substance use disorder and moves to job readiness training, vocational learning opportunities and finally-to safe, supportive housing.

Apricity is like no other nonprofit in the country and includes Gender Specific Residential Treatment, Transitional Residential Treatment, Contract Packaging for job readiness training for those in recovery from the surrounding community, a Training and Vocation Learning Center and Sober Living. Apricity offers a complete continuum of services designed to move men and women from instability to self-sufficiency and economic independence. These changes have strengthened the services of both.

Proudest Accomplishments:

In June of 2017, I was asked to merge STEP Industries and Mooring Programs.  I never would have thought 25 years ago I would be working with people in recovery or leading an organization.

In 1996, while in treatment Theda Clark I was introduced to STEP Industries. During the orientation, I knew that this was going to be a different experience. The team leader talked about her recovery, her journey in recovery, and that had me feeling more comfortable and feeling like this is where I belonged. My plan was to stay for about four months then move to a job utilizing my education; I had a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

After I had been at STEP for a while, my father suggested I stay until I had my first year in recovery. He knew the chances for long term recovery double once a year is reached. I decided to slow down my transition and invest in my long-term self.

A staff position opened when I was at about a year of sobriety and I decided I wanted to give back and share the hope that I was given. In October, that will have been 23 years ago. Since that time, I have grown in my recovery as well as within the organization. I have been a team leader, operations manager, human resource manager and vice president. Now on the first day of orientation clients hear that the CEO, as well as the rest of the operations staff, were once sitting in orientation in the exact same spot they are now. We let them know the entire staff’s wish for them is that we will provide them hope for a different future. One that, just a short time ago, they didn’t even realize was within their grasp.

Michelle Devine Giese

Participant or Stakeholder Testimonial/ Quote:

First of all, I want to thank the staff here who gave me the opportunity to come here to Apricity (Casa Clare) and change my life, my ways of thinking, my entire processing system. When I came here, I was a total wreck, broken, beat down, sick as heck. I got here I began right away on my program.  This time I really wanted it for myself, because if I had not come here, I probably would be dead. Every obstacle I faced I went in head first. I kept my head high and kept on going. I took my time with whatever decision I made. I listened with open understanding, took advice, and did what I was told to do–whether I wanted to or not. It had to be done.

Since coming to Casa I have gained lots of balance. I gained trust back with my family. I gained a full time job. I gained a new me; it took a long time for me to get this far. I also gained a wonderful counselor, Charlotte, who led and guided me every step of the way. She believed in me and when the road got tough, she didn’t let me give up.

Since coming to Casa I gained a lot of support from the staff, the house managers and also a group of wonderful peers/sisters I grew to love so much. So if you are new to this program, no matter how hard it gets, never give up. Last but not least. Since I came to Casa I earned a place in the apartment program. It’s not easy, but you all could be just like me if you stay true to yourself and remember the goals you set when you walked in the door.