Revamping Our Recovery Program to More Effectively Serve Our Residents

This month marks the beginning of a new, improved recovery program. Along with the newly revised program, many rules have also changed for these individuals. To help explain these updates, I have sat down with our Sr. Director of Men’s Ministry, Dr. Kerry Walker and Sr. Director of Women and Children, Cara Henderson.

CB: How has the recovery program changed in 2012?
KW: We have condensed our class schedule to hold classes five days per week instead of two days with a goal of completing the program in a one year period.

CB: What new classes are we teaching?
CH: We are so excited about the new classes we are introducing this year! We have added “Understanding Addiction”, “Basic Christianity”, two life skill classes as well as a life application class about moral excellence based on Biblical precepts and principals.

CB: How will the revised program better help those dealing with addictions?
KW: First, they will have more time spent in classes and in study. This will overcome some of the extended down time our residents experience. Second, we are trying to remove obstacles we have identified which have been causing some of our residents to relapse. The goal is to have a much higher success rate for all our clients.

CB: What rule changes have been made for residents?
CH: We have shortened the recovery program to one year. Our residents will no longer be able to have cell phones (phone rooms are provided on campus to keep contact with family). Our residents’ time off campus will be limited with more family visitation time on campus. We have also made outside work or school an option only after graduating from our yearly program. We are adding a new transitional program to help residents after their year of study. All of the new rules are designed to help those in our program keep a better focus on their recovery while growing in their relationship with Christ.

CB: Who will be teaching the new classes?
KW: We use primarily our staff to teach our discipleship classes, but we have used specialist volunteers to teach things like financial skills and resume’ writing.

CB: In years past, the mothers staying with us have not had much of a program. What are we doing with them now?
CH: Because resources are so saturated and they are not transitioning as quickly as in the past, we want to better equip our moms with the life changing Word of God, parenting classes, life skills such as finances, resumes, etc. We are also looking to add nutrition and fitness classes.