I am sorry to see that Becker County, Minnesota has ended its contract with the F5 project. This is a big mistake. Many people at the lowest points in their lives have enormously benefited from F5 programs, and turned their lives around.
Yes, the North Dakota Attorney General’s office found that F5 made some improper financial mistakes. However, F5 has signed a compliance agreement, promising that those mistakes won’t happen again.
The F5 project is a non-profit organization that helps people transition back to the community after incarceration, addiction or mental health challenges.
Its mission is to disrupt the cycle of crime, addiction, and isolation through peer support and individualized care. It empowers individuals to heal, rebuild, and thrive through housing, recovery and support that breaks the cycle for good.
“The F5 program changed my life,” 49-year-old Danielle Knoblauch of Fargo told me. “They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. They challenged me.”
Danielle’s serious problems started when she was 14. She became a regular user of cocaine, methamphetamine, acid, oxycodone, and alcohol. From age 30 to age 46, she took drugs every day.
“I was addicted. I felt I had to take drugs. I couldn’t face the world without them,” Danielle said. “I was suffering in my own emotions. I used them to cope with the pain I was in every day.”
Danielle Knoblauch
For 15 years, Danielle was also in an abusive relationship. She was repeatedly raped, choked, hit across the face, dragged across the floor, and had pillows put over her face.
“He told me I was no good, and that nobody wants me, “Danielle said. “He told me he was the best I could ever get. I would forgive him and it would happen again. We both were addicts.”
So, the beatings continued, along with her clothes being ripped off, and an attempt to stab her.
“I don’t understand why I stayed. Maybe because of fear,” Danielle said. “I don’t think I loved myself. I didn’t think I deserved any better. I thought I deserved the punishment.”
The relationship finally ended when Danielle’s abuser was convicted of burglarizing businesses and stealing a vehicle, and was sent to prison.
Danielle’s next move was just as brutal. She was human trafficked by the cartel. She delivered drugs and collected money for drug sales.
“I didn’t feel safe, but I felt I would have been killed if I didn’t do this. Not only me, but my immediate family. They threatened to kill my parents and children if I didn’t stay with them.”
Eventually, Danielle made the gutsy move of turning herself in to law authorities. She pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation.
“I had to get away from the cartel and the human trafficking,” Danielle said. “I wouldn’t be living today if I didn’t turn myself in.”
At that point, Danielle wanted to turn her life around. So, she got involved in the F5 program.
Danielle stayed at the F5 Sober Living Women’s House in Fargo. She was taught about accountability, curfews, relating and recovery. She also underwent rehab with F5 programs outside the house. In addition, she worked with Sollera, formerly, the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center in Fargo, was randomly tested for drugs and alcohol, and met with a care coordinator.
“They showed me how to live my life without illicit drugs and alcohol,” Danielle said. “They taught me coping skills and a crisis plan. They taught me to love myself and believe in myself.”
Danielle was now in a safe place that challenged her.
“I 100 percent recommend the F5 program,” Danielle said. “They helped me build my self-confidence. They helped me find my voice. If I didn’t go to F5, I wouldn’t be alive today.”
Sarah Mowry, 44, of Fargo, is another tremendous F5 success story.
Sarah Mowry
“F5 showed me that I could live a very successful life without drinking or drug abuse,” Sarah told me.
Sarah started drinking and smoking marijuana when she was 9-years-old. By age 16, she was smoking pot and drinking every weekend. That included drinking Jack Daniels straight out of the bottle or drinking straight shots of tequila.
By age 21,she was drinking, smoking weed, and partying every day.
“I was regularly getting drunk. I enjoyed getting drunk,” Sarah said. “I was trying to fit in. Once I started drinking, I couldn’t stop. I was generally a quiet and shy person. When I drank, that went away. I got loose and became more sociable.”
Sarah would go into lengthy treatment programs, and would temporarily stay sober, but in the end, she returned to heavy drinking.
“It gave me something to do,” Sarah said. “It gave me a reason to be with people. Drinking made me happy.”
Meantime, her marriage was falling apart, and her son didn’t want to live with her. Later, she had a hysterectomy and struggled with thoughts that she couldn’t have another baby.
That led to three suicide attempts. First, by taking a whole bottle of blood pressure pills. Secondly, by taking the full bottle of her anxiety medication. Lastly, by trying to strangle herself with her socks.
“I felt so down. I didn’t like myself,” Sarah said. “I wasn’t being a good mom. I thought I was a bad daughter. I felt that everyone would be better off if I was gone.”
Shortly after that, Sarah lost her apartment and was homeless. Later, from her excessive drinking, she blacked out and was treated at Sanford.
“I realized I had to change something or I would die,” Sarah said. “I got scared and didn’t know what to do.”
Fortunately, Sanford has a partnership with F5, which Sarah had never heard of. At 1:45 am, she sent a long message to F5.
Adam Martin, F5 Project CEO
15 minutes later, F5 Chief Executive Officer Adam Martin responded. Adam asked if she was okay and felt safe. They messaged back and forth for two hours.
Shortly afterwards, two representatives from F5 came to her room at Sanford. They told her what F5 offered, and of their own past struggles.
“For the first time in my life I felt like someone understood me,” Sarah said. “They weren’t talking like they were above me.”
Sarah was assigned an F5 care coordinator. They met every week.
They talked about how she was feeling, her drinking, her mental health, her finances, and whatever else she needed help with.
“Everyone there was really concerned about me,” Sarah said. “They were very concerned about me. I needed to learn how to live my life without drinking. I was doing really good.”
After a year and a half, Sarah was successfully discharged from the program.
“F5 showed me nonjudgmental love and support can happen,” she said. “They were there no matter what. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
So, five years ago, Sarah stopped drinking, stopped taking illegal drugs, and doesn’t abuse prescription drugs.
“I am happier now,” Sarah said. “I feel better about myself. It’s been a life saving experience for me. I believe I would be dead if it wasn’t for F5.”
There are thousands of people like Danielle and Sarah who have flourished from the F5 project. It helps 5,700 people every year. It gives hope to people who are struggling.
F5 is an outstanding program that should be supported so people can continue to recover and thrive.
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