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Behavioral Health

Overview

Nelson Construction and Development is partnering with Ascension Recovery Services to develop facilities and programs to provide highly needed addiction treatment services throughout the country.

Ascension Recovery Services was founded in 2016 and is a recognized national leader for developing and managing substance use disorder treatment centers. They have launched 70 programs across 35 states and have served 1,000s of patients.

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Strategy

Our focus within the behavioral health space is to acquire and convert existing assets into addiction treatment centers. We are targeting markets in Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina and Indiana due to the significant need and lack of treatment centers combined with attractive insurance reimbursement rates and Medicaid rates.

Statistics

Annual Deaths from Alcohol, Drugs, and Suicide in the United States 1999-2021

Quick Facts

  • 1 in 3 adults have reported a substance use disorder or mental illness in the last year.
  • In 2023, an estimated 54.2 million people aged 12 and older needed treatment for a substance use disorder in the past year.
  • The number of overdose deaths involving opioids have quadrupled since 1999.

Markets

Iowa

Indiana

Minnesota

North Carolina

Iowa

Indiana

Minnesota

North Carolina

About Nelson
Development

MM+

Total SQFT Constructed

B+

Total Value

Years of Experience

Solving problems through real estate.

Over the past 25 years, Nelson Construction & Development has built over 5,000,000 square feet totaling over $1B in value in a variety of multifamily, hospitality, senior living, and office products throughout the Midwest. We have consistently provided returns to investors who continue to trust us with their capital time and time again.

The common thread uniting our diverse portfolio is a deep belief and commitment to solving problems through real estate. As the owners of most of our projects, we’ve become adept at balancing return on investment with quality design and construction that will stand the test of time.

Nelson Leadership Team

Mike Nelson

CEO & Founder

David Siegel

President

Brian Schall

Director of Development

Want to see more?

View our full portfolio at nelsonconstruct.com

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Ascension Recovery Services

Ascension Recovery Services was founded in 2016 and is a recognized national leader
for developing and managing substance use disorder treatment centers. They have
launched 70 programs across 30 states and have served 1,000s of patients.

Ascension's Mission

To provide culturally competent, comprehensive, and fully integrated, behavioral health care to communities and populations that are underserved and/or where people in need are not accessing care.

Target Markets

Ascension Recovery Services
  • Ascension RS was founded by Douglas M. Leech in 2016 and is now recognized as the national leader for developing and managing SUD treatment centers
  • By 2018, Ascension RS was developing addiction treatment centers in 25 states.
  • In 2019, Ascension RS was selected to partner with the City of Boston to open the Long Island Recovery Campus, a $540MM capital project.
  • In March of 2021, Ascension RS sold a majority interest (59%) to Renovus Capital Partners, a PE Firm based out of Philadelphia, who was recently ranked #1 Small-cap PE Firm in the world.

Notable Ascension Recovery Projects

Doug Leech, founder and CEO of Ascension Recovery Services, discusses the increasing need for quality behavioral health treatment, especially post-COVID, and highlights his company's partnership with Nelson Construction Development. He also shares success stories, including their turnaround work with Claire Matrix and their strategic growth through a partnership with Renovus Capital Partners, which has helped them expand their services and impact across 31 states.
Doug Leech, founder of Ascension Recovery Services, shares his personal journey from public accounting to overcoming addiction after being prescribed pain medication for an injury. Motivated by his own recovery, Doug founded Ascension to address the lack of behavioral health resources, particularly in treatment deserts like West Virginia, and to help others find a path to recovery.
Doug Leech, founder of Ascension Recovery Services, explains the company's mission to expand access to comprehensive, high-quality behavioral healthcare across the country. Ascension has grown significantly, starting from Doug's home basement to operating in over 30 states, partnering with hospitals, health systems, and governments to develop and manage successful treatment programs focused on improving patient outcomes and fostering long-term recovery.
Doug Leech discusses Ascension Recovery Services' unique partnership with Nelson Construction Development, which allows them to strategically select locations with the highest need for treatment centers. Unlike typical projects where Ascension works within predetermined sites, this collaboration gives them a "blank canvas" to focus on areas with high demand, favorable conditions, and maximum impact. Leech emphasizes the importance of the partnership's shared mission and values, as well as the benefits of scaling their efforts across the country.
Doug Leech highlights that Ascension Recovery Services ensures all their treatment centers meet state licensure requirements and go above and beyond by obtaining accreditation from the Joint Commission. This commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care offers families confidence in choosing their programs for their loved ones' recovery.
Doug Leech explains Ascension Recovery Services' approach to financial stability, emphasizing that they do not rely on grant funding when building financial models for treatment centers. While they apply for and often receive grants, the focus remains on ensuring long-term financial strength, which Leech believes is crucial to maintaining high-quality care and sustaining the mission of each center.
Doug Leech shares his surprise at the lack of detox and residential treatment options in Iowa after investigating the state's healthcare resources. Conversations with local hospitals and health systems revealed a desperate need for treatment facilities, as emergency departments were overwhelmed with patients seeking addiction care. Leech emphasizes the state's high demand for services and favorable regulatory environment, which makes Iowa an ideal location for expanding Ascension Recovery Services' programs.
Doug Leech shares Ascension Recovery Services' long-standing work in Indiana, which began in 2017 with Columbus Regional Health, where they developed an outpatient behavioral health treatment center. The success of this partnership led to deeper community involvement, expanding services across the state to address gaps in care for addiction and mental health. With Indiana's increasing demand for treatment and improved reimbursement rates, Ascension is committed to further growing their impact in the state.