• Since 1970, Project Turnabout has been providing high quality, affordable addiction treatment services in Granite Falls, Minnesota. Founded by a group of dedicated men – talk about opening the sanitarium, how many patients, typical info etc. Viewing Project Turnabout’s immaculate campus today makes it challenging to imagine the humble beginnings from which it grew. Armed with a small five figure government grant, Project Turnabout begins providing outpatient and inpatient treatment services at an abandoned sanatorium on the outskirts of Granite Falls.

• By 1985, Project Turnabout has completed its first building project and moves into its first facility on the site of the current Granite Falls campus. The original building provides three group rooms, three offices, and accommodations for up to twelve patients. Outpatient chemical dependency services were also initiated in Marshall, Minnesota. Fraught with financial and operational challenges, Project Turnabout struggles for the next several years. Its survival is a testament to the unyielding dedication of its staff and board of directors.

• Project Turnabout opens its second satellite office, offering outpatient chemical dependency treatment services in Redwood Falls, Minnesota.

• Project Turnabout has formalized its presence in Marshall, building a 16-bed Men’s Halfway House with space for its outpatient services and offices. Around the same time, Project Turnabout is considering requests it is receiving about a need for treatment services for compulsive gamblers.

• With the award of a state grant, the Vanguard Compulsive Gambling Program is born in 1992. After several moves to accommodate its rapid growth, a separate facility is eventually constructed on the Granite Falls Campus.

• 1993 Project Turnabout begins offering Domestic Abuse Perpetrators Program in Marshall, Minnesota. The program is designed using the Duluth Model.

• 1998 Project Turnabout breaks ground for new addition to residential Granite Falls campus. The addition includes construction of a residential unit exclusively for the Vanguard program. Throughout the next six years, Project Turnabout continues with construction by renovating existing buildings.

• 2000 The board approves naming the Men’s Extended Care Unit the “Dick Selvig Unit”, known now as the Selvig Unit. Dick Selvig was employed by Project Turnabout and is recognized as a pioneer in the field of addiction treatment.
• Project Turnabout purchases a home in Willmar, MN to be used as a sober living home for men who have completed treatment and are in the early stages of recovery. Referred to for several years as “Becker House,” the residence would be dedicated in 2014 as “Earl’s Place” in honor of Earl I. Olson who was unwavering in his support for the men who would spend their early recovery months in the home.

• 2000 July 25 – While a board meeting is in session, an F-4 tornado hits Granite Falls and destroys most of Project Turnabout, just two years after the renovation and construction is complete. Thankfully, no one at Project Turnabout is hurt. Patients and staff are quickly moved to the community center and a small motel owned by the organization. For the following days, patients eat at the Granite Falls Lutheran Church. Group is held at this church and the Congregational Church. With the dedication of the staff at Project Turnabout, not one day of treatment was missed.

• 2001 October 23 – Project Turnabout breaks ground to rebuild following the tornado. This unfortunate act of nature has a bright side – it allows Project Turnabout the opportunity to redesign its layout and create an entire facility designed with the patient in mind. All units will now be connected via enclosed hallways – eliminating the need to walk outside in the elements.

• 2003 May 5 – Project Turnabout moves into its brand new facility, expanding treatment services for men and women seeking to reclaim their lives from addiction. This building remains the main campus for Project Turnabout moving forward.

• 2006 Vanguard Center for Gambling Recovery Program receives National award for ‘Outstanding Contributor to the Field of Gambling Addiction’.
• September 5, 2006 – Project Turnabout welcomes Mike Schiks as new Executive Director and CEO to replace retiring Director Phil Kelly. Mike brings his many years of experience in addiction, most of those years spent with Hazelden.

2013 October  – Project Turnabout breaks ground for a $6.4 Million expansion project that will increase services for those seeking addiction treatment.

• Expansion includes:
• Expanding from 89-beds to 122-beds
• Replacing current 20-bed women’s chemical dependency unit with a new 27-bed unit
• Expanding medical services beds by six
• Remodeling previous 20-bed women’s unit into a new 20-bed chemical dependency unit for men
• Building a new education and family center
• Increasing patient square footage by 20,000 square feet and family/education square footage by 6,000 square feet
• Project Turnabout feels there is an ever growing need to meet the demand for treatment services, improve access for individuals and families seeking chemical dependency treatment, enhance patient medical services, and provide additional family and educational services.

• Project Turnabout opens its recently expanded services to individuals and families. Services are quickly utilized and immediately bring benefits to those seeking treatment services.

• Project Turnabout purchases the “Hulstrand House,” a historic Willmar property dating back to 1896. The home’s interior is substantially remodeled and the residence is opened in early 2015 for women completing treatment and beginning lives in recovery. In July 2015, the home is dedicated and named “Cheri’s Place” in honor of long-time Project Turnabout board member, Cheri Weismantel.