Service Groups and Faith Alliance
Quarterly Meeting
11/19/2024
In attendance: Leah Wright, Wake Monarch Academy; Phil Welch, Habitat Wake; Jim Ahler; Timothy Johnson, Raleigh Optimist Club; Derwin Warren, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; Tammy Maulding, Triangle Family Services; Jill Straight, Dorcas Ministries; Jillian Bohinc, St. Andrew Church; Noelle Marino, St. Andrew Church; Jimmy Torres, Town of Apex; Joshua Kenney, Triangle Metro City Church; Prince Boateng, Triangle Metro City Church; Eddie Mullins, Hope Community; Brianne Gill, Town of Apex; Dr. Atoya Hodges; Western Wake Crisis Ministry;Kara Matthews, Apex UMC; Ofc Kenneth Ragland, Apex PD; Niki Miller, Shield NC
Speaker: Leah Wright, Founder/Executive Director of Wake Monarch Academy, (919) 418-2394, leah@wakemonarchacademy.org
Bio for Leah Wright, Wake Monarch Academy
824 North Bloodworth Street
Raleigh, NC 27604
The meeting opened with everyone introducing themselves, sharing information about their organization/church/position and answering any questions about their organizations.
Leah shared about her son’s story and how it inspired her to create Wake Monarch Academy.
- High schools are not equipped to handle students with substance abuse issues.
- A student with substance abuse issues relapses 70% of the time if they receive “normal intervention” in a non-recovery high school.
- A student with substance abuse issues who attends a recovery high school only only relapses 30% of the time. Leah attributes this improved outcome to the fact that these students are in school with peers who are also in recovery. She says the students act as a support system for each other.
Monarch Academy provides accredited classes and employs teachers who are state-certified. Students receive a high school diploma when they graduate. Other offerings are:
- Dual enrollment opportunities with Wake Tech
- Recovery programs that are incorporated into the curriculum throughout the school day
- Access to recovery groups for the student’s family.
- Leah explains that “Addiction is a family disorder.” The whole family needs to be involved in the recovery for the best results. Family members need their own form of recovery
- Monarch is a part of the Association of Recovery Schools (ARS) and is becoming accredited through them.
- Rolling enrollment
- Modified year-round schedule so students are not out of school longer than 2 weeks.
- Random and frequent drug screenings
- Positive peer culture
- Loving environment where everyone is on a first name basis.
- The program aims to meet the student where they are and only work on improving one issue at a time.
- Non-punitive (hybrid education model) They work closely with the Campbell School of Law to create a non-punitive, restorative justice model. Leah says they have never had a behavior problem with any student using this model.
- Yearly “SProm” which is a sober prom. During the SProm, they have a “Recovery Countdown” to celebrate students recovery.
- Assistance as students transition out of high school
- CRC-Collegiate Recovery Community
- Wake Tech
- Programs that look good for college transcripts such as:
- Service projects with Healing Transitions
- Music classes and service projects with Rock N Roll High School
- Service Projects with the Food Bank
Monarch Academy is not a treatment center. Although, the receive referrals from treatment programs, as well as, the Dept of Juvenile Justice, counselors, social workers, Alternative Program Schools, and word of mouth.
Monarch will be moving to a new location soon to be able to accommodate more students. They currently have 14 students and will increase capacity to 25-30 students.
Students are required to have at least 30 days in recovery to be able to enroll. Monarch provides a support team to students with less than 30 days in order to assist them in reaching 30 days of recovery.
How are they funded?
wakemonarchacademy.org/events
Tuition covers 30% of total revenue.
Grants, fundraisers & donors make up the other 70%
Josh Stein worked to get Opioid Settlement Fund. Monarch will use funds from this to create an “APG” or Alternative Peer Group and After School Programming
Darryl Strawberry will be speaking at their 3rd Annual Gala For Recovery on February 22, 2025