Building the Starting Over Site
This project shows how I applied my MVP documentation approach to a real recovery program, focusing on clarity first and polish second. You can read more about that mindset in MVPs and “Mid” Drafts.
Overview
This project involved building a digital presence for a recovery-focused curriculum to make it easier to understand, support, and adopt in facilities. The content came from printed materials, phone conversations, and a workbook used in reentry and recovery settings. My role was to transform that material into a calm, accessible website that could support outreach and convey the program’s essence without compromising its original voice. Check out the website here.
Audience and Context
The primary audience is staff and volunteers in reentry, recovery, and correctional programs who are exploring the curriculum for use in their facility. The audience was clear, but their access to the program wasn’t. Everything was done on paper or by word of mouth, which made it hard to reach new facilities.
The site also includes a gated forum for people who have already gone through the program and want a way to stay connected.
The Problem
The message behind the curriculum was strong, but there was no web presence to support outreach or engagement. That meant the story and structure were invisible, which went against what the program stood for. The materials weren’t structured for digital use and didn’t offer the kind of clarity institutions need when evaluating a new program. It was also unclear how someone could express interest, learn about the implementation process, or provide financial support for the work.
The Solution
I built the entire site in WordPress, including layout, navigation, user accounts, donation setup, and content structure. The design is intentionally quiet and approachable. It avoids the overly polished look of institutional sites but still feels credible and usable.
I approached the site like any product documentation project: start small, publish early, and refine what works. Some designers might have started in Figma, but building in the live medium brought more clarity. Figma is useful for exploring ideas, while WordPress lets me test what works in practice. The site evolved as I built it, and that process shaped both the structure and the message. Static mockups have their place, but here it made more sense to build as I went.
On the content side, I focused on clarity and tone:
- Rewrote workbook excerpts and transcripts into web-friendly copy
- Clarified how the program works
- Added an FAQ for common questions
- Set up a private login system for forum participation
- Integrated a donation form with suggested giving options
- Incorporated images and title styles from the workbook
The Outcome
The site provides a clear way for facilities to understand what the program is and how to get involved. It supports existing group members with a private forum and provides visitors with a way to contribute or reach out without feeling overwhelmed.
What I’d Do Differently
I would define the institutional visitor path earlier and build more flexibility into the login system to support future growth.
What Success Looks Like
- Facilities requesting more information or adopting the curriculum
- Program participants using the private forum successfully
- Positive feedback on tone, clarity, and usability from both audiences
In the end, success looked like clarity. That’s the same principle I use in every MVP documentation project I build. You can also see the framework behind this approach in The Docs Every Startup Product Needs.
That early visibility opened doors. People could finally see the vision and wanted to help shape it.
Projects like this remind me that documentation isn’t just for products. It’s for people. When something becomes understandable and accessible, it starts to grow on its own.
After I finished this site, the founding pastor asked me to rework a brochure and create a supporting site for his church. Be sure to check it out.
