A warm environment
Our residents are still young, and need not only treatment, but to be nurtured. We want our residents to feel at home, however temporary their stay. With no more than eight residents at a time, we aim to create a close and loving community where each resident feels appreciated and cared for.
Family Reintegration
We work with our residents to re-build trust between themselves and their families. An experienced facilitator will host a weekly support group for the parents of current residents, and will have bi-monthly, individual meetings with parents. Our program will also hold a monthly “family day” in which residents and their families will gather for a therapist-led workshop geared towards recovery as a family.
A mentorship program
Each resident will be linked with an adult with two or more years of uninterrupted recovery who will serve as a mentor.
A twelve-step process
We have members of the twelve-step community volunteer to engage with residents five times a week. Volunteers will share their experience with recovery and prepare an activity with the residents. Residents will have the opportunity to attend twelve-step meetings in order to build the skills that they will need for maintaining life-long recovery.
Weekly therapeutic group workshops
Adjustment to life outside of treatment happens gradually; there must be an intermediate stage between residential treatment and everyday life.
A gradual reintegration into everyday life
Life outside of treatment is full of triggers and threats to one’s sobriety. Slow reintegration starts with residents’ restricted ability to leave the house, and close monitoring by staff. When a resident demonstrates their capacity for greater responsibility, residents will be granted greater privileges.
Residential staff
Our sober living will be staffed 24-hours by Peer Support Specialists.
Scholarship based residency
We offer scholarship based residency to students pursuing careers in any field related to the betterment of at-risk youth. We want to contribute to the growth of this field, and we recognize that hands-on work with adolescents is one of the best sources of education.
Community Garden Program
Residents will be responsible for our community garden. The yield will be distributed to sober living houses in the area by residents as part of their service work.
Service Work
We believe that being of service to others is essential to one’s personal recovery. We will provide opportunities and require each resident to fulfill a certain amount of service hours.
Educational Support
Whether in school, out of school, or attending school virtually, our program meets residents where they are. We work on a case-by-case basis to prepare each resident for successful adulthood, whatever that may look like.
Employment
YRHS will partner with local businesses to create safe and nurturing places for our residents to work if employment is right for them. We aim to partner with businesses that are run by long-term members of the recovery community, and that have the ability to work closely with our residents.
House rules that foster both residents' recovery and a loving community
These rules were designed by people who have significant lived experience in sober living homes. The following expounds the key structural rules:
Leaving the residence: residents will not be allowed to leave the house according to their level of responsibility.
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- Level 1: residents will not leave the residence without staff or approved persons for the first several months of their stay, or longer if they do not demonstrate a sufficient level of responsibility.
- Level 2: residents may leave the residence with permission by staff and accompanied with two other residents at the same or higher level. Residents will be breathalyzed, undergo a urinalysis screening, and be searched upon return.
- Level 3: residents may leave the residence with permission by staff and accompanied with one other resident at the same or higher level. Residents will be breathalyzed, undergo a urinalysis screening, and be searched upon return.
- Level 4: residents may leave the residence with permission from staff. Residents will be breathalyzed, undergo a urinalysis screening, and be searched upon return.
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Curfew: curfew is 5pm.
Mandator Community Dinner: residents must be present at community dinner without exception, unless a resident is physically sick. Residents may invite their sponsors, family members, or other appropriate persons to dinner with approval from staff.
Daily chores: residents will be held accountable for the cleanliness of the residency as well as for their own space.
General Substance Screening: residents will be subject to a urinalysis screening at any time and as frequently as necessary.
Service: we believe that being of service to others is essential to one’s personal recovery. We will provide opportunities and require each resident to fulfill a certain amount of service hours.
Twelve-step meetings and sponsorship: residents are required to attend at least five twelve-step meetings weekly. Residents are required to have a sponsor, who will be screened and approved by our team, and to be actively working the twelve steps with them.
Family Visitation: residents will be able to visit with their families off-campus after several months in our program, and then visits must be approved by the President and Executive Director. Families are allowed to visit the residence on monthly “family days” as well as at other staff-approved times.
Smoking Rules: residents will not be allowed to smoke or vape while in our care. We will provide our residents with resources and support on quitting if need be.
Financial Responsibility: guardians of residents will be financially responsible. Program fees are due on the first Friday of each month, and the first month is due upon intake.
Friends and Visitors to the House: Friends and visitors to the house must be screened and approved by the President and Executive Director.
Cell Phone Usage: we recognize in this digital age that cell phones pose a threat to one’s sobriety, as many use their phones as a means to set up ways in which to use substances. We want to teach our residents how to have a healthy relationship with technology. As such we will allow residents access to their phones from 3pm-5pm. Staff will frequently look through a resident’s phone to ensure the safety of that resident. On outings among Level 2 and up residents, one person deemed by staff as most responsible will carry a cellphone.
Computer Usage: the same rules apply to computer usage as to cellphone usage; however, residents may use their computers for school or work on a case-by-case basis.
Room Checks: residents will be subject to room checks before going to bed, and as often as necessary. This encompasses a search of the resident's personal belongings.
