About This Project & Who We Are
Addiction is not someone else’s problem.
It’s in our neighborhoods.
It’s in our pews.
It’s in our families.
Across Washington County, Minnesota, congregations are encountering people who are struggling — with alcohol, opioids, prescription medications, gambling, anxiety, depression, work addiction, and the growing loneliness that fuels it all.
Many congregations want to respond thoughtfully and effectively, but haven’t been given the tools.
This initiative exists to change that. Addiction thrives in isolation. Faith communities are built for connection.
What This Project Is
Engaging Faith Communities in Washington County Around Addiction is a local initiative of the Center of Addiction & Faith.
Our goal is straightforward: equip congregations across Washington County to respond to addiction with compassion, clarity, and practical support.
This is not about turning churches into treatment centers.
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It’s about helping them become what they are uniquely positioned to be:
places of honesty, welcome, and sustained relational support.
What We Do
We partner directly with Washington County congregations to:
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Form and train Addiction Awareness Teams
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Provide Narcan (naloxone) education and overdose response training
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Offer adult education on addiction, mental health, and stigma
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Help congregations develop sustainable
recovery support ministries
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Connect churches with trusted local treatment and recovery resources
We don’t drop off materials and disappear.
We walk alongside congregations as they build something that fits their own community.
Why Faith Communities Matter
Addiction is medical. It’s neurological. It’s psychological. But it’s also relational.
People recover in community.
Faith communities already gather people weekly. They already sit with crisis, grief, and hope. When clergy and lay leaders understand addiction as a health issue rather than a moral failure, shame decreases and conversations open.
That’s where healing begins.
Research consistently shows that spirituality and community support strengthen long-term recovery. Congregations are not treatment providers — but they can be steady companions in recovery.
Who Is Behind This Work
This initiative is led by the Center of Addiction & Faith, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020. www.addictionandfaith.com
CAF equips faith communities nationwide through conferences, webinars, training programs, and support groups. This Washington County initiative brings that experience home — focusing specifically on local impact.
The work is guided by an eight-member board, community partners, and faith leaders committed to serving this county well.
Leadership
Rev. Dr. Ed Treat
Ed Treat is a pastor and the founder of the Center of Addiction & Faith. After decades in congregational ministry, he now works nationally to equip faith communities to respond to addictionwith compassion, education, and practical tools. Through conferences, training programs, and partnerships, he has helped thousands of clergy and lay leaders move from uncertainty to confident engagement. This Washington County initiative reflects his commitment to bringing that work home—locally, relationally, and sustainably.
Rev. Bob Rusert
Project Manager
Rev. Robert Rusert is a native Minnesotan and graduate of St. Olaf College (Psychology and Theology) and Luther Seminary (M.Div.). His background includes behavioral health work, clinical pastoral education in chemical dependency, and decades of pastoral leadership as a youth worker, church planter, senior pastor, and interim pastor.
He currently serves as Project Manager for the Washington County Opioid Harm Reduction Initiative. Active in 12-Step recovery since 2021, he participates in the Fellowship of Recovering Clergy and supports the Center of Addiction & Faith.
How We Measure Impact
We track:
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• Congregations engaged
• Teams launched and sustained
• Narcan trainings completed
• Education sessions delivered
• Pre- and post-learning outcomes
• Ongoing ministry activity after launch
This is not a one-time event.
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It’s about building long-term capacity in communities that are already here.
Our Hope
If even a portion of Washington County congregations become better equipped to respond to addiction, the ripple effect will reach schools, neighborhoods, and families.
We believe churches can be places where:
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• Addiction is talked about honestly
• Families find support instead of silence
• Recovery is celebrated
• No one has to struggle alone
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We’re not trying to fix everything, we're just helping congregations engage effectively in a terrible crisis. We’re helping local communities take the next faithful step.
Take the Next Step
Are you part of a Washington County congregation? Let’s start the conversation.
Are you a local recovery professional or community partner? We would welcome collaboration.
If you believe faith communities can be part of the solution to addiction in Washington County, we invite you to support this work.
Contact us to learn how your congregation can participate.