Weekly Calendar
Click the arrows on the right-hand side to show our weekly schedule and open hours!
All groups and services below (not including street outreach) are provided at the Café, located at 635 N. Central Avenue, Connersville, IN 47331
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CLOSED
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Harm Reduction Street Outreach | 9AM - 1PM
Alternatives to Suicide, led by Charmin Gabbard | 5:30PM - 7PM
Renew Your Spirit Grief & Loss Support Group, led by Jamie Naylor & Frank Oakman | 4th Monday of the Month, 7PM - 8PM
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Alcoholics Anonymous, led by Josh Jarboe | 5PM - 6PM
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Harm Reduction Street Outreach | 9AM - 1PM
Codependency Women’s Group, led by Lauren Worth and Stephanie King | 2PM - 3PM
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Harm Reduction Services | 9AM - 7PM
Men’s Open Discussion Group, led by Tim Bunch | 7:30PM - 8:30PM
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Prosocial Games and Activity Night | 4PM - 10PM
All Pathways to Recovery Support Group, led by Connection Café Staff | 6PM - 7PM
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Brianna’s Hope Peer Support Meeting, led by Frank Oakman and Josh Jarboe | 9AM - 11AM
Prosocial Activity Night | 4PM - 10PM
All Pathways to Recovery Support Group, led by Connection Café Staff | 6PM - 7PM
Sitting in a coffee shop in Washington D.C. with Alison Greene (IU School of Public Health), Charmin Gabbard thought about what she wanted for her hometown of Connersville, Indiana. Her community was one of many in the U.S. that had been affected by the opioid epidemic, and like many rural communities, there was an intense need for more local services. The Connection Café was born through this need, and was molded with the passion and determination to create real, sustainable change.
The Connection Café is an evolution of the Harm Reduction Alliance, which was established in January of 2020 as a rebranding of the previous syringe service program from 2015. This space was created by those with firsthand knowledge of the struggles of opioid use disorder. Lived experience has informed our services, our delivery, and our approach to recovery as a whole.
Our Story
Meg Vogel for KHN
Our mission is to provide a safe environment that accepts people as they are and provides harm reduction services for supporting individuals on their recovery journey.
The Connection Café was built on the idea that there is no “one size fits all” way to recovery. To everyone who walks through our doors, we love and accept you as you are. We are here to support you in whatever form of recovery you choose.
Meg Vogel for KHN
Our vision is to become a leader in southeastern Indiana as a harm reduction and recovery service that is person-focused, empowering, and engaging with the surrounding community.
At the Connection Café, we pride ourselves on thinking of recovery in a holistic way. Our goal is to set an example to follow with our innovative harm reduction strategies and services that empower the individual to succeed.
Meg Vogel for KHN
Above pictures were originally published as part of a Kaiser Health News (KHN) story (linked below) and are republished here under KHN’s Creative Commons license.
Meet the Connection Café Team!
Charmin Gabbard, Director
Charmin Gabbard, Director of the Connection Café and visionary behind this ambitious project, is a perfect example of how people can change. After years of abuse, substance misuse and incarceration, Charmin came out empowered to make a difference in her hometown.
Combining efforts with local and state leaders, her mission is to stop the spread of infectious disease, bring awareness to mental and substance use disorders, as well as support people in all stages of substance use and recovery. As a Certified Recovery Coach, Charmin has invested in countless lives by mentoring and developing recovery programs and by partnering with correctional facilities to support others in their recovery. Since being released from Madison Correctional Facility in 2015 with only her GED, Charmin has earned an Associate degree in Human Services and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Additionally, Charmin has earned Certified Addiction and Drug Abuse Consultant II (CADAC II) credentials through ICAADA along with countless certifications. Charmin has formed relationships with dozens of Indiana organizations dedicated to addressing substance use disorder and is incredibly knowledgeable about local and state treatment and recovery services.
Lauren Showalter, Program Assistant & Recovery Coach
Lauren Showalter, Program Assistant of the Harm Reduction Alliance and certified Recovery Coach, was born and raised in Connersville, IN. Lauren has an Associate degree in General Studies from Ivy Tech Community College and hopes to obtain her Bachelor of Science with a major in Addiction from Indiana University East in the near future. Lauren loves to spend time with her family and two rescue dogs. She has enjoyed reading and writing since she was a young girl and loves to express herself through words.
Within her current employment, Lauren has been able to partake in a variety of trainings and earn several certifications. These trainings include HIV/AIDS Education and Risk Reduction, Peer Recovery Ethics, Motivational Interviewing, Recovery Coaching a Harm Reduction Pathway, Training of Trainer’s, and CCAR Peer Recovery Coach Academy. Lauren is also certified in CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens, is a certified Community Health Worker, and is a certified Naloxone distributor through ShipHappens. Her passion is to help people and for her, doing that in any capacity is what really gets her motivated and excited.
Timothy Bunch, Peer Recovery Coach
Timothy Bunch, 37, is a 2002 graduate of Rushville Consolidated High school. His favorite things to do include spending time with his family, playing and watching sports and listening to a variety of music. After spending nearly 20 years in active use, Timothy is now in recovery. He regularly attends many different meetings and helps out in his community any chance he gets. He loves helping those who are still struggling with addiction and mental illnesses. Most recently, Timothy has earned his certification to become a licensed Peer Recovery Coach. Now, Timothy is excited to reach his full potential as a recovery coach by getting certified and continuing to show people that recovery is possible.
Lauren Worth, Peer Recovery Coach
Lauren was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky and has been a permanent resident of Connersville since 2017. She is a full-time mother as well as a part time student at Ivy Tech, where she is pursuing a degree in Human Services. Lauren supports all pathways of recovery and personally chooses to support her recovery through the Alcoholics Anonymous program. She is a successful graduate of the Addiction Recovery Care (ARC) program “Karen's Place Maternity Center”, which began her journey in recovery. Since then, Lauren has learned to maintain her mental health and has been successful in maintaining her recovery. Most recently, Lauren has earned her certification to become a licensed Peer Recovery Coach. She loves people and believes everyone deserves the best life. She believes in meeting people where they are at and helping them pursue the best life they can achieve.