PRE-TREATMENT SERVICES (all clients start here – NO COST)
Clients who wish to enroll in the Outpatient Treatment or Residential Treatment programs are put on a waiting list until space is available and must meet the following requirements (exceptions are made as necessary). Waiting list clients must attend a morning or evening pre-treatment group session Monday through Friday and a NA/AA meeting five days a week.
BILINGUAL INTENSIVE-OUTPATIENT TREATMENT
From 35 to 45 men and women are enrolled in our six-month intensive Outpatient Day Treatment Program which is offered in English. An evening Outpatient Program called Animo is offered for Spanish-speaking clients. The outpatient treatment programs involve structured activities 5 days a week, consisting of daily group sessions, daily 12-step meetings, daily education/life skills classes, a weekly family group session, one-to-one counseling and case management, and participate in occasional field trips or special events. (NO COST)
WOMEN’S RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT-PERINATAL AND SINGLE WOMEN
The women’s residential program entails a highly structured schedule of activities and responsibilities and a total immersion in recovery, with all of the attending challenges. It is a minimum of seven months in duration and involves daily group sessions and 12-step meetings five days a week. Clients also attend education classes with outpatient clients. Special trips or outings are planned, some specifically for Malaika House children. During the first month of the program, clients are not allowed to have any outside communication (except necessary agency contacts). During the final stage they focus on transitioning back into the community, preparing for employment and finding housing. To graduate, each woman must be employed or involved in a job training program, have found stable housing, acquired a 12-step sponsor and completed all of her treatment goals. Clients receiving SSI, AFDC, GA or other public assistance are given an allowance and the balance is used for partial payment of the treatment costs. Otherwise, there is no cost to the client. If a client successfully completes the program, 30% of the total fees they have paid to the program are issued back to them as a gift to help them commence their new life. (SLIDING SCALE)
MEN’S RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT
In the fall of 1998 Free At Last was awarded a grant by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to open a men’s residential treatment program for 12 men in the first year, expanding to 16 men by the second year. There are two men’s residential houses in East Palo Alto, one of which has a meeting room and offices, where group sessions are held. The men’s residential program entails the same program of activities and requires the same participation in household chores. The male residential clients attend education classes at the Neighborhood Recovery Center together with other treatment clients and also participate in special outings. (SLIDING SCALE)
The following goals are integrated into the treatment process for residential and outpatient clients.
- FAMILY RESTORATION FOCUS: Our primary goals is to rebuild families stressed and undermined by substance addiction, and to develop the parent’s ability to support and maintain a stable, positive life for their children. Family Restoration entails parenting classes, weekly family group sessions, and advocacy for reunification of parent/child when separated by CPS. The focus is on understanding child development, effective and positive parenting techniques, and age appropriate communication and discipline. Ultimately, the objective is to strengthen the emotional bond between parent and child and develop the parent’s confidence in their ability to provide a secure home life.
- LIFE SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT READINESS: Our programs seek to prepare clients to handle the responsibilities of life, family and employment by imparting a set of basic skills.
- Positive social skills: Build positive self awareness, social skills, and train participants to take personal responsibility. Training includes classes in anger management, conflict resolution, money management, and positive communication.
- Personal educational achievement: Improve basic learning skills and become more aware of the value of education. Clients are linked to GED classes and receive tutoring support through volunteers. There is an ESL at Free At Last for Spanish-speaking clients and Project Read teaches a class once a week.
- Employment readiness training: Build the confidence and skills clients will need to become economically self sufficient, entails offering them classes that help them to build their interpersonal skills, awareness of appropriate behaviors, ability to manage time, take direction and follow instructions.
- Job or Training Placement: Clients assess their job interests, discover employment options, and learn how to search the job market, what is required to qualify for different types of employment, what job training programs are available, how to write a resume and interview for a job.
LONG-TERM SUCCESS PROGRAMS
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING: Shared SLE housing (separate for men and women) up to 18 months to support recovery and give clients the chance to establish stable employment and credit history.
ALUMNI/AFTERCARE: Maintain support system for graduates through regular social events and weekly group meetings. Ongoing social events and outings to support Free At Last alumni in their recovery.
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM Former clients with two year clean can apply for apprenticeship positions on staff.
ORGANIZATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY: Free At Last maintains a high level of program accountability and fiscal integrity. Since its inception, every contract has been completed and performance goals have been exceeded; all programs have remained in positive compliance with licensing and certification.