Mini Twelve Step House, Inc. is one of the first residential rehabilitation facilities to help women suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. 

Since opening its doors in 1971, Mini Twelve Step has successfully aided women and their families living in urban environments who have been historically known to battle a disproportionate number of social issues including homelessness, domestic violence, poverty, illiteracy, mental illness and unemployment.

The late Marie Bowden, a courageous and pioneering African American woman converted her three-bedroom home into a sanctuary where homeless women could address their alcoholism and drug addiction and rebuild their lives in 1971.  Marie and three friends carried out her vision.  The word MINI is an acronym derived from Marie, Iona, Nita and Inez, the Founding Women of Mini Twelve Step House, Inc..  In 1974 Mini Twelve Step House, Inc. became a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization incorporated in the State of California in 1974.

Today, under the present leadership of Bobbi Owens, Executive Director (since 1992), and its dedicated board of directors, Mini Twelve Step House, Inc., has positioned itself for growth and development.  The programs are specialized in providing high quality, effective and culturally rich residential, outpatient and outreach services along with intensive case management by certified counselors.   MTSH program, steeped in tradition upgrades the most vulnerable families of Los Angeles County.  Specifically, the programs target population is comprised of families of South Central and Compton.    Mini Twelve Step House, Inc., is a unique and valuable program, deeply tied to the community.  The program  has received numerous state, county and national awards and commendations.  The continuum of care is designed to build motivation and ability to achieve long term sobriety, thus overcoming the families dependence on bureaucratic systems that govern lives and threaten the County's resources.  Especially competent in addressing the multiple vulnerabilities of women, the continuum of care is continually improved upon to the meet the most urgent and applicable needs of the community it exist to serve.

The dedicated staff of Mini Twelve Step works with each client to effectively empower them to sustain a sense of hope and remain committed to change.

The primary goals of the organization are to:

• Meet the needs of low income women with dependency disorders and their families
• Create and rebuild opportunities for sustaining sobriety and building economically stable lives
• Give clients the responsibility for building and redirecting their lives thus upgrading the community in which they live

All of these goals are accomplished by participation in the residential treatment program, transitional living residence, outpatient treatment program, aftercare services, resale shop training and Mini Kidz Klub.

The bus theory is a tool to show the connection of the programs that comprise the continuum of care.  Formal Intakes are done for clients entering the progran from residential, outpatient and aftercare.  See Philosophy & Missionfor more information.

Mini Twelve Step House, Inc.

 Call Now to Help.  Mini House has sustained recovery services in L.A. County since 1971.   Help us help women and families reconstruct their lives post addiction.

Bobbi A. Owens, Executive Director (323) 813-0200 

Sonya Boyd support staff (323) 813-0200

Pat Parker, Director of Residential Services (323) 232-6228

Vera Martinez, Program Coordinator of Outpatient Services (310) 608-1505

Drug addiction treatment is cost-effective in reducing drug use and its associated health and social costs. Treatment is less expensive than alternatives, such as not treating addicts or simply incarcerating addicts.

According to several conservative estimates, every $1 invested in addiction treatment programs yields a return of between $4 and $7 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs, and theft alone. When savings related to health care are included, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1. Major savings to the individual and society also come from significant drops in interpersonal conflicts, improvements in workplace productivity, and reductions in drug-related accidents. See SAMSHA website for more treatment data.   www.samsha.gov.

Chandra Wilson, Dr. Bailey on current ABC hit

Grey's Anatomy, plays a homeless woman (Mini House Alumni, Yvonne Caldwell) in the Hallmark Movie "Accidental Friendship". 

The movie is based on the real life story of

Yvonne Caldwell, Mini House alumnus, and LAPD Officer Tami Bauman .  The legendary Ben Vereen and Chandra Wilson are compelling as stars of the movie.  One of the producers of the movie Lorraine Touswsaint of TNT "Saving Grace", Rick Rosenberg, and representatives of the Hallmark Channel spent the day at Mini House Health Fair on September 13, 2009 and walked through the Mini House.

ACCIDENTAL FRIENDSHIP  WAS NOMINATED FOR THE NAACP IMAGE AWARDS AS BEST DOCUMENTARY - THE FILM WON THE PRISM AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY- CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE PHENOMINAL TALENT THAT CREATED THIS MASTERFUL DOCUMENTARY.  Look for it on Hallmark Channel.
 Bobbi Owens and Legendary Actor/Entertainer Ben Vereen
at opening of Accidental Friendship