Sérénité and the Recovery Center of Medina County (RCMC) are always looking for individuals to help at the center. We need people to help teach art, music, writing, crafts, start support groups, and to facilitate different types of recovery activities. Also, we always accept non-perishable food, hygiene products and clothing donations, and are sometimes in need of furniture for housing.
Donations can be made online at our website donations page, through the mail, or in person at:
The Recovery Center of Medina County
538 W. Liberty Street
Medina, OH 44256
Our students, as well as anyone in the recovery community, have access to a wide variety of support groups, activities, and prosocial events. Because everyone’s recovery takes a different path, the Recovery Center provides several different approaches and programs. From art and music to 12-step programming, to physical activities, we constantly strive to maintain diverse offerings of recovery-focused meetings and activities.
Upon graduation, the expectation is that students actively seek employment elsewhere; however, many of our students have remained and been promoted to management positions within the organization.
There is no fee for participation in the program and is unique in that the students are paid for the training. Students receive an hourly wage for the hours they work in the restaurant.
Yes, we do prefer that you be at least 90 days removed from active addiction or alcoholism.
No. We are not a medical treatment facility. We have no medical staff on site, but we do work closely with a number of medical treatment centers in the surrounding area. Our program is for those fairly early in recovery, but definitely past the point of detox or inpatient services. If medical rehabilitation is necessary, we can help you find an appropriate facility, but we do not offer those types of services.
Yes, the Recovery Center of Medina County and Sérénité Restaurant are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All restaurant income is used to support restaurant operations, wages for students, training, as well as educational materials and programming.
The Sérénité Restaurant and Culinary Institute launched in the Spring of 2018. As a part of the Recovery Center, this job training program is open to anyone in the recovery community and provides culinary training over the course of six-months. At the restaurant, participants help prepare and serve a menu of world-class French cuisine under the guidance of Executive Chef Todd Whitman.
Students will become familiar with all aspects of fine dining. Sérénité actively engages students in an education which includes serving, etiquette, cooking, prep work, text study, and testing to assess appropriate progression. In addition there is assistance with best practices for employees and other soft skills.
While attending the program, students are also required to attend recovery maintenance classes each week. Recovery classes cover everything from mental health and coping mechanisms, to presentations by guest speakers and holistic approaches to recovery. Sérénité and the Recovery Center of Medina County provide coursework for a career in fine dining, while making sure our students have the appropriate tools to sustain long-term recovery.
Yes. Random drug and alcohol testing is done throughout the duration of the program.
No, absolutely not. In fact, most students come with no restaurant experience whatsoever.
We are in the business of giving people a second chance. There are no defined disqualifying offenses, but we do determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis. We are committed to keeping our students and employees safe and we reserve the right to decline admission based upon criminal history
We are a Recovery Center, first and foremost. While we believe serving alcohol to the guests who dine in our restaurant is a necessary and realistic aspect of the fine dining experience, we do not, and will not, tolerate alcohol to be consumed by students or employees. We have a strong culture of recovery and we work hard to hold each other accountable to that goal.
Alcohol is present and available everywhere. Having alcohol on our menu teaches our students to be comfortable around alcohol without having to feel terrified of its presence. Again, we do random drug testing on our students and employees. We are a fine dining training program, and we want our students to find a sustainable career path in the restaurant industry. Alcohol is a necessary part of the cooking and dining experience. However, we are teaching them how to serve alcohol and how to cook with alcohol, NOT encouraging or condoning the consumption of alcohol.
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