Written Plan for Services - Long Term Residential

PHILOSOPHY

Dawn Farm exists to assist drug addicts and alcoholics to achieve and maintain sobriety. We do this by identifying and removing barriers that prevent our clients from joining the recovering community.

We believe that addiction is a treatable disease, one symptom of which is drug and alcohol use.  All addictions whether to drugs or alcohol, are treated with a consistent therapeutic approach. This approach includes long term residential services (3 to 4 months on average), a strong emphasis on the group process, the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotic Anonymous and a belief in the importance of engagement with the recovering community.  We believe in the value and dignity of each client and in their capacity to develop a lifestyle of honesty and recovery.

Dawn Farm prides itself in treating traditionally under served populations, including IV drug users, low socio-economic status, women and historically marginalized communities.

POPULATION SERVED

Dawn Farm residential treatment serves individuals, over the age of 17, who struggle with addiction.  We serve male identifying, female identifying and non-binary clients.

We admit people without regard to their drug of choice and in no way limit admission based on nationality, race, religion, marital status, sexual identity or orientation, gender identity, or political belief.  In general, we do not treat clients who have been diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness; although, we are happy to discuss the specific cases with referring psychiatrists. Clients who have been discharged are eligible for readmission after a period of time determined by the treatment team. Readmission of clients discharged for rule violations needs to be discussed by the treatment team.

Dawn Farm welcomes referrals from the criminal justice system.  Clients must be willing to become compliant with all legal entities upon admission to residential services.

Dawn Farm admits clients without regard to their ability to pay for treatment.

DAYS AND HOURS OF OPERATION

Dawn Farm Residential Treatment is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Full time clinical staff are on site Monday - Friday 9 A.M.-5 P.M. and are available for consultation at all other times.  Resident Aide staff is present at both the Farm and Downtown locations whenever clinical staff is off-site.  

GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

Please see the Program Evaluation system for a complete description of measurable goals, objectives and outcomes.  These measures are consistent with our philosophy as stated above.

SERVICES OFFERED

Case management- Each client has a primary therapist who oversees their treatment, including: assessment, treatment planning, advocacy, referrals, aftercare planning and acting as a liaison with the medical and legal communities.

Group therapy- All clients are involved in 10-12 group therapy sessions per week.  These groups include, but are not limited to gender specific groups, didactics groups, trauma and dbt. The group therapy process also helps support the overall milieu, helping residents work through conflicts and learn to trust and be honest.

Work therapy- Residents all participate in work around the farm and facility.  This may include gardening, animal care, cooking, cleaning or laundry.  Work is overseen by all staff.  Work is considered therapeutic and is not a way for residents to “earn their keep”.  Work allows residents to experience structure, gain self esteem and learn to function as part of a team.

AA/NA- The 12 Steps are emphasized in all group therapy sessions, readings from AA/NA literature are assigned in treatment plans, residents are brought to seven AA/NA meetings per week and are required to get a sponsor and develop a support system within AA/NA.  As residents progress in treatment, they make plans for supports/sponsors to bring them to AA/NA meetings and arrange to spend recreational time with them on  the weekends.

Family sessions and education- With the client’s written and verbal permission, family members are welcome to check on a client’s progress with their primary therapist.  When it is deemed to be in the best interests of the client, their family may be involved in treatment, attending one or two family sessions with primary therapists and visiting with the client.  When appropriate, referrals are made to Al-Anon and family therapy.  Dawn Farm offers educational programs and family members are invited.

Medical assessment- Dawn Farm provides each residential client with a physical exam within 14 days of admission.  The Medical Director is on call for consultations 24-7.  Referrals are made for problems requiring a specialist and clients are transported to the nearest hospital for emergencies.

Special activities- Clients participate in a number of special activities including AA dances, trips to the lake, bowling and alumni events in order to promote hedonic rehabilitation.  

Community education- Members of the community (schools, service clubs, universities, youth groups) are eager to hear the experiences of our clients.  Clients who are willing to do this are brought by a staff member to present any aspects of their story they feel comfortable sharing.

Special populations- Dawn Farm strives to meet the needs of special populations.  These groups include, but are not limited to the following.

• Through seminars, training, consultation and discussion amongst staff, we continually hone our skills in working for marginalized populations. 

•  Referrals are made for both support and medical care and, of course, universal precautions are observed at all times.  We offer monthly HIV education and testing provided by Unified (HIV/AIDS Resource Center) and/or the local health department for all clients.

• Clients confined to wheelchairs are accommodated by completing their treatment at the Farm, which is wheelchair accessible.

• Clients with allergies are assigned work duties that will not exacerbate their symptoms.

• For clients with medical problems (asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) we offer medical referrals and attempt to arrange health education where appropriate.  The only situation we cannot accommodate are those clients requiring daily professional care and those for whom treatment necessitates them being absent for large portions of treatment.

• Pregnant women

• Custodial parents are referred to outside classes as needed and or allowed extra child contact via visitation or phone contact. 

• Survivors of incest and sexual abuse/assault are urged to talk in gender groups and receive outside referrals when appropriate.  Dawn Farm also offers a specific trauma group.

• Clients with eating disorders receive outside referrals, when necessary as well as Dawn Farm consults with Eating Disorder experts.

TEAM APPROACH

The team approach is integral to treatment at Dawn Farm.  The team includes the entire clinical staff, the clinical supervisors, Support Staff, Resident Aides, the Medical Director, the GED teacher and, when appropriate,  AA sponsors, family members, probation officers, outside medical personnel, etc.  The primary therapist consults with all appropriate members of the team on an as needed basis and the clinical staff meets on a weekly basis.  Most clinical decisions are made in this context and during clinical supervision.  All decisions (unless the situation is an emergency) are made after consulting with at least one other staff member.  The team approach is also supported by use of the Daybook, the use of which facilitates communication between staff on various shifts.