Cenikor Foundation
{{Short description|American drug rehabilitation non-profit organization}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Cenikor Foundation
| logo = Cenikor logo tagline rgb pos-scaled.jpg
| logo_caption =
| logo_size = 225px
| type = Non-profit
| industry = Behavioral Health, Addiction Treatment, Long Term Care Facility
| foundation = Lakewood, Colorado, U.S. ({{Start date|1967}})
| location_city = Houston, Texas
| locations = 14 facilities
| num_locations_year = 2025
| area_served = Texas and New Mexico
| key_people = Bill Bailey (President and CEO)
Kellee Webb (Chief of Staff)
Matt Kuhlman (CFO)
| services = {{Unbulleted list|Detoxification|Medication Assisted Treatment|Inpatient Residential|Partial Hospitalization|Outpatient|Aftercare|Recovery Housing}}
| num_employees = 300 (estimate)
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.cenikor.org}}
}}
The Cenikor Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing drug rehabilitation and mental health services. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Cenikor operates residential treatment centers and outpatient programs for adults and adolescents in Texas and New Mexico. Initially focused on the therapeutic community model, Cenikor now offers a range of services including detoxification, medically-assisted therapies, short-term residential treatment, and outpatient care.{{Cite web |title=Denver Public Library Databases: Login |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%253Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=0F2929A6DB0FBA6E&rft_val_format=info%253Aofi/fmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx&rft_dat=document_id%253Anews%25252F0EBC45535ECA66D4 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=login.denverlibrary.idm.oclc.org}}{{Cite news |date=1977-09-05 |title=Ft. Worth |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-ft-worth/155845274/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=17}}
History
=1960s=
Cenikor was founded in 1967 by James "Luke" Austin while he was incarcerated at the Colorado State Penitentiary. Austin had previously worked at the new religious movement Synanon in California, and initially sought to start a Synanon spinoff group for Colorado prisoners. When his request to start a group under the Synanon name was rejected by prison leaders, Austin renamed the group Center of the Core of the Individual, shortened to "Cenikor," and reframed Synanon's confrontational attack therapy approach as reality therapy.{{cite book |last1=Clark |first1=Claire D. |title=The Recovery Revolution: The Battle Over Addiction Treatment in the United States |date=2017 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=9780231544436 |page=155 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ABySDgAAQBAJ |access-date=30 April 2019 |language=en}} The first Cenikor facility was established in a former Denver, Colorado bakery, supported by a donation from businessman Charles Kettering III.{{Cite web |title=User account |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/user/login?destination=document-view%3Fp%3DAMNEWS%26docref%3Dimage/v2%253A10EEA3FE61C5B8B0%2540EANX-NB-173FEABEB0E633C3%25402441550-173DB95899D597FA%25407-173DB95899D597FA%2540%26hlterms%3Dcenikor%26f%3Dbasic |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=infoweb.newsbank.com}}
=1970s=
File:Cenikor building downtown Houston.jpg In 1972, Cenikor relocated to Houston, Texas, experiencing significant growth fueled by private philanthropy. The Houston facility initially operated at 1101 Elder Street in the Jefferson Davis Hospital before moving to the William Penn Hotel in the late 1970s.{{Cite web |title=Dr. Kelty R. Baker in Houston, TX |url=https://www.houstonmethodist.org/doctor/kelty-baker/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=www.houstonmethodist.org |language=en}} A partnership with the Astrodomain Corporation in 1977 created the Cenikor Astrodome Task Force, providing work experience for patients and contributing to a significant portion of the organization's budget.{{Cite web |last=School |first=McGovern Medical |date=2023-04-11 |title=Schmitz named SRNT fellow - McGovern Medical School |url=https://med.uth.edu/blog/2023/04/11/schmitz-named-srnt-fellow/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Medical School at UTHealth |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Ralph Hawkins |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/writers/ralph-hawkins/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=D Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=CHANDLER |first=CHIP |title=Hastings CEO earns recording award |url=https://www.amarillo.com/story/news/local/2011/05/12/hastings-ceo-earns-recording-award/13160738007/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Amarillo Globe-News |language=en-US}} A substantial donation from Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. in 1979 enabled the establishment of a North Texas facility in Fort Worth.{{Cite web |title=Steps business owners can take that could preserve and strengthen their business for the future |archive-url=https://archive.today/2025.05.08-174937/https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/news/2020/06/03/steps-business-owners-can-take-that-could-preserve.html |url-status=live |archive-date=2025-05-08 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/news/2020/06/03/steps-business-owners-can-take-that-could-preserve.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}{{Cite web |title=Abel Reyna |url=https://www.pattersonsheridan.com/people/abel-reyna/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Patterson + Sheridan |language=en-US}}
After an investigation by the IRS, Houston district attorney, and a state senator found that the Austins had been misappropriating funds, Luke and Dottie Austin were fired in 1977. Board members Ken Barun, Doug Sadbury, and Edward Fresquez took over leadership of the organization. In July 1978, Luke Austin and several other individuals, including his mother Helen Thompson, were arrested for attempting a violent takeover of Cenikor's Houston and Denver facilities.{{cite news |title=Cenikor's founder Luke Austin's mother in simultaneous raid on facility in Denver |url=https://universityofcaliforniariverside.newspapers.com/clip/1249765/cenikors_founder_luke_austins_mother/ |access-date=30 April 2019 |work=Newspapers.com |publisher=Valley Morning Star |date=30 July 1978 |language=en}}
=1980s=
Cenikor received national recognition in 1983 following a visit from President Ronald Reagan to the Houston facility. President Reagan commended Cenikor's success in operating without government funding and securing private sector support. First Lady Nancy Reagan also visited Cenikor facilities, demonstrating support for the organization's mission during the national anti-drug campaign.{{Cite web |title=Our Story |url=https://2000roses.org/pages/our-story?srsltid=AfmBOoo_4lvVbUA_mkBOMCAC4bbWRwDf89B_rniyLIzfRAkJZRULA1CS |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Rose Garden ReMake |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=HealthLeaders |title=Hilda Dalfonso Takes Over As CFO For Corpus Christi Medical Center |url=https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/finance/hilda-dalfonso-takes-over-cfo-corpus-christi-medical-center |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=www.healthleadersmedia.com |language=en}}
=1990s=
In 1994, Cenikor's Houston facility moved to a larger location in Deer Park. The organization further expanded its reach in 1995 by opening an outreach office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, providing referrals to Texas facilities.{{Cite web |last=COPELAND |first=MIKE |date=2015-08-25 |title=Hobbs Bonded Fibers bought by New York company |url=https://wacotrib.com/business/hobbs-bonded-fibers-bought-by-new-york-company/article_48ee49d6-2238-5c7f-b508-ea4a848ddee0.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Waco Tribune-Herald |language=en}}
= Growth and Expansion =
Its commitment to reach those most in need drives its consistent growth and expansion. It has opened new facilities in Waco (2012), Tyler (2015), Austin (2016), Corpus Christi (2018), Amarillo (2019), and Farmington, NM (2022), each a testament to its dedication to helping people in underserved areas. The integration of Charlie's Place Recovery Center (Corpus Christi) in 2018 and Amarillo Recovery from Alcohol and Drugs (ARAD) in 2019, as well as twelve more nonprofits in 2022, significantly broadened its ability to offer life-changing services.{{Cite press release |last=Incorporated |first=Comerica |title=Comerica Incorporated Names Melinda A. Chausse Chief Credit Officer; Peter W. Guilfoile to Retire in the Third Quarter of 2020 |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comerica-incorporated-names-melinda-a-chausse-chief-credit-officer-peter-w-guilfoile-to-retire-in-the-third-quarter-of-2020-300991252.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=User account |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/user/login?destination=document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=news/13B2C12A964D4E08 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=infoweb.newsbank.com}}{{Cite web |title=Cenikor-Foundation-210286 |url=https://carf.org/provider/cenikor-foundation-210286/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=CARF International |language=en-US}} It is proud of its recognition as one of the largest Houston-area nonprofits in 2023.{{Cite web |title=May 11, 2019, page 1 - Waco Tribune-Herald at Newspapers.com - Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/985940129/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=www.newspapers.com |language=en}}
In 2019, an investigation by Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, (affiliated to NPR and Public Radio Exchange) reported on coercive and dubious practices (including physical and psychological abuse) in conflict with Cenikor stated rehabilitating mission, including patients being assigned to perform physically demanding unfree labour for major companies including Exxon, Shell, and Walmart. Reveal reported that "tens of thousands" of patient-workers have worked without pay in Cenikor programs, and that this practice has resulted in nearly two dozen serious on-the-job injuries and a 1995 death.{{cite news |title=They worked in sweltering heat for Exxon, Shell and Walmart. They didn't get paid a dime |url=https://www.revealnews.org/article/they-worked-in-sweltering-heat-for-exxon-shell-and-walmart-they-didnt-get-paid-a-dime/ |access-date=29 April 2019 |work=Reveal |date=24 April 2019 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=When "rehab" means patients do unpaid work for big companies |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cenikor-foundation-rehab-patients-doing-unpaid-work-for-big-companies/ |access-date=29 April 2019 |work=cbsnews.com}}{{cite news |title=Recovering from Rehab: Work-based Therapy in the US |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/faultlines/2019/04/recovering-rehab-work-based-therapy-190410091614891.html |access-date=29 April 2019 |work=aljazeera.com}} Following the report's release, state officials in Texas and Louisiana launched multiple probes into Cenikor's operations. In addition, the Compass Group and others who had employed Cenikor patients as low wage labor ended their contracts with Cenikor.{{cite web |last1=Walter |first1=Shoshana |title=Drug rehab faces investigations into labor practices and Medicaid fraud |url=https://www.revealnews.org/article/drug-rehab-faces-investigations-into-labor-practices-and-medicaid-fraud/ |website=revealnews.org |date=16 May 2019 |publisher=The Center for Investigative Reporting |access-date=18 May 2019}}
= Leadership =
- James "Luke" Austin - Founder, 1967
- Bill Bailey, appointed President and CEO in 2004, and was the first non-graduate to lead Cenikor.
References
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