PALM HOUSE RECOVERY CENTER RECOVERY RESIDENCE RESIDENT HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 PALM HOUSE RECOVERY CENTER RECOVERY RESIDENCE RESIDENT HANDBOOK 11/2014

2 Palm House Recovery Centers 2

3 Mission Statement Palm House Recovery Centers is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide subsidized housing and recovery services for men and women seeking recovery for alcoholism and drug abuse. Our Goal Our goal is to provide shelter and support to recovering men and women while building a foundation in recovery. Palm House Recovery Centers will accomplish this goal by enabling men and women to: Interact responsibility in community environment Develop and enhance social skills Re-enter the work force Become productive members of the community at large Palm House Recovery Centers 3

4 1. Substance Use and Abuse No alcohol and/or addictive substance allowed on the premises. Use and/or possession will mean discharge from the residence. Prescription medications must be obtained by a licensed physician who is aware of resident s addictive disease, as well as be approved by the Palm House Staff. Medications must be taken only as prescribed and will be discontinued only under the direction of a physician. Over the counter medications must be checked in with the House Supervisor and may be monitored by the House Supervisor. 2. Drug and Alcohol Testing All residents will be drug/alcohol tested randomly each week. Non-submission to testing requirements will be considered a positive test result by Palm House Recovery Centers. A resident not giving a urine sample within two (2) hours of request will be considered a positive test result. A positive test result will mean automatic discharge from the residence for the following periods of time: A positive drug test will result in a charge of $20.00 towards your program fees. A. First Positive Test: Dismissal for one week; seven (7) consecutive days. Resident will be charged rent for their time they are out of the house. The resident s entry fee is good if you return after the seven days. B. The dismissed resident must attend a twelve-step meeting every day and must call the House Supervisor each day. If the House Supervisor does not answer, the resident must leave a message at (706) Failure to attend meetings each day out of the residence, or call the House Supervisor each day out of the residence will mean the resident is not eligible to return to the house when their seven (7) days are up. When the resident returns, he/she will be drug tested immediately. If the resident has a negative drug test, he/she may re-enter the residence. Qualifications periods for passes, visitors, and court order time will begin anew. If the resident has a positive drug test, he/she cannot reenter the house and must stay out for thirty (30) days. C. Second Positive Test: Dismissal for thirty (30) consecutive days. Resident has 24 hours to remove belongings from the house. If resident does not remove their belongings, they will first be offered to the current residence for their use and the remainder will be taken to local charity. Resident may return to the house after thirty (30) days. Upon returns, he/she will be drug tested immediately. If the resident has a negative drug test, they may re-enter the residence. Qualifications periods for passes, visitors, and court order time will begin anew. If the resident has a positive drug test, they cannot re-enter the house and must stay out for six (6) months. The resident will be charged another $ entry fee upon returning. Palm House Recovery Centers 4

5 (Continued-drug & alcohol testing) D. Third Positive Test: Dismissal for six (6) consecutive months. Resident has 24 hours to remove belongings from the house. If resident does not remove their belongings, they will first be offered to the current residence for their use and the remainder will be taken to local charity. Resident may return to the house after six (6) months. Upon return, he/she will be drug tested immediately. If the resident has a negative drug test, they may re-enter the residence. Qualifications periods for passes, visitors, and court order time will begin anew. If the resident has a positive drug test, he/she will be dismissed with no opportunity to re-enter the house. Entry fee will have to be paid again before re-entering the house. E. Fourth Positive Test: Dismissal with no opportunity to re-enter the house. 3. Relapse If a resident relapses, he/she must let the House Supervisor know immediately so help can be provided for them. However, a relapse will result in immediate dismissal. The rules concerning positive drug test will apply as to removing belongings and when the resident is eligible for re-admission to the residence. 4. Beginning of the day All residents must be up and dressed by 9:00 a.m. Monday through Friday. Residents must be up and dressed by 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Residents must get up when the alarm clock goes off. Please do not ask people to call you and wake you with a phone call. Beds must be made and room tidied each morning. Bedrooms, bathrooms and closets will be checked for cleanliness and order. Infraction Consequence: Curfew changed to 8:00 pm (amount of days are at House Supervisor discretion). 5. Household Responsibilities The resident is provided with individual space and storage for personal use. Each resident must keep their space clean and neat. The resident s bed must be made and room must be tidy before they leave the room each day. Personal items cluttering up common areas or other resident s individual personal space is prohibited. If this happens repeatedly, items are subject to temporary confiscation. All residents will use their own designated baths and toilet. When a resident leaves their bathroom, they must clean up the area for the next resident s use. Each resident must have a container for their bath items and toiletries. The container must be taken back to the resident s individual area after each bathroom use and stored in their individual space. No open food is allowed to be consumed or stored in resident s bedrooms. Beverages must be in a container with a lid. Spills must be cleaned up immediately. Food that is sealed and unopened may be stored in a plastic tub with lid in the bedrooms, but must be moved to the kitchen as soon as it is opened. Infraction Consequence: Curfew changed to 8:00 pm (amount of days are at House Supervisor s discretion). Palm House Recovery Centers 5

6 6. Household Chores Each resident is required to participate in keeping the residence clean and neat to promote a healthy sense of community. Residents are assigned chores on a rotating weekly basis at the Community Meeting. The House Supervisor will post weekly chores. Infraction Consequence: Curfew changed to 8:00 pm (amounts of days are at House Supervisor s discretion). 7. Community Meetings Attendance at Palm House Recovery Centers Community meetings is limited to current residence, House Supervisors and Palm House Staff. The regularly scheduled meetings will be on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Residents are required to attend. The meeting will be facilitated by the House Supervisor. 12- step meeting attendance sheets and pass requests are submitted to the House Supervisor at the meetings on Thursday nights. 8. AA and NA Meeting Requirements Residents are required to attend five (5) outside meetings each week. Residents are required to attend AA and NA meetings held at the residence after the Tuesday and Thursday community meetings. Nonresidents arriving for the weekly AA or NA meetings must wait outside until community meeting is over. Infraction Consequence: Missed meetings must be made up the following week. Curfew changed to 8:00 pm (amount of days determined by number of meetings short) and loss of next available weekend passes. 9. Full-Time Work Expectation The resident must secure full-time employment (at least 35 hours per week) within thirty (30) days after being admitted to the recovery house. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of community agencies for assistance. Work requirements for residents on federal disability will be addressed on a case to case basis. Work settings involving illicit drugs or illegal activities are strictly prohibited. A copy of each paycheck stub must be given to their House Supervisor upon receipt. 10. Rent Rent is $160/week which includes housing, food, utilities, and basic household supplies. Rent will be paid in the form of cash, check, or money order. Rent is due each week (by Friday) and will be collected by the Program Director. Returned checks will have a $30.00 returned check fee and only money orders or cash will be accepted from that resident in the future. It is the resident s responsibility to address any delinquency with the Program Director. Rent delinquency exceeding five hundred ($540) dollars will result in discharge from the residence. This amount does not include entry fee. Any amount of financial delinquency may result in immediately dismissal. 11. Sign In / Sign Out Palm House Recovery Centers 6

7 Residents must sign out whenever they leave Palm House Recovery Centers. Residents must sign in whenever they return to the residence. Residents are required to list their destination, their expected return time, and a phone number, so we can reach you if needed. If you are going to be late from the expected time of return you are required to contact your House Supervisor. Infraction Consequence: Curfew changed to 8:00 p.m. (one night per infraction). For example, failure to sign in and out is considered two (2) infractions. Residents who stay out of the house all night without notifying the House Supervisor with a valid reason is considered to have relapsed, and will be dismissed from the residence. Positive drug testing rules for returning to the residence will apply. No resident is allowed to leave the residence before 5:00 a.m. without House Supervisor s approval. 12. Under 30 Day Rules No family or friends may visit the resident for the first thirty (30) consecutive days. No overnight visitors are allowed under any circumstances. For a resident who has less than thirty (30) days at the residence and no job, curfew is 9:00 pm Sunday- Thursday. Curfew for Friday and Saturday night will be 10:00 pm. For a resident who has less than thirty (30) days at the residence and has a job, curfew is 10:00 pm Sunday-Thursday. Curfew for Friday and Saturday night will be 11:00 pm. The resident must take another resident who has more than 30 days with them when leaving the residence. You must include that person s name on the sign/sign out sheet and remain with that resident during their outing. The resident with less than thirty days may job search on their own from 9:00-2:00 pm. They must take a job search log and put in at least five (5) physical applications daily until a job is secured. Resident s must be appropriately dressed. The resident may attend a 12-step meeting on their own if they cannot find another resident to go with them; you may leave 20 minutes before the meeting and must return to the residence 20 minutes after the meeting has ended. Please notify House Supervisor that you are leaving the property on your own. Infraction Consequence: Failure to comply with the under thirty (30) day rules will result in starting your time over as well as shortened curfews. 13. Curfew For residents who have more than thirty days (30) at the residence, and who have a full-time job,(30 hours or more) curfew is 11:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday. Curfew for Friday and Saturday nights is 12:00 p.m. (Must have three weeks consistently and documentation of paychecks stubs to earn this privilege). For residents who have more than thirty days (30) at the residence, and a job with less than 30 hours per week curfew is 9:00 pm Sunday-Thursday. Curfew for Friday and Saturday nights is 10:00 pm. (Only exception is if you are working) Palm House Recovery Centers 7

8 For residents who have more than thirty days (30) at the residence, and has no job, curfew is 8:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday. Curfew for Friday and Saturday nights is 8:00 p.m. (This also includes lockdown status for the weekend, which you are only allow to leave the center for one meeting each day). At 11:30 pm Sunday Thursday, and 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, all lights, television, and cell phones are to be shut off and all noise is to cease. Please respect other residents when they are resting, or need quiet time. Be considerate. Late for curfew: The resident must notify House Supervisor as to why they will be late and estimated time of arrival. Unexcused reason will result in shortened curfew at House Supervisor discretion. Failure to notify the House Supervisor will result in the disciplinary action listed under Relapse. 14. Passes No weekend passes are allowed for the first thirty (30) days. Residents need to spend at least five (5) nights per week at the Palm House Recovery Centers in order to remain residence status. The resident must work at least 35 hours per week, residents paid bi-weekly must have 70 hours on their last paycheck stub, have met the weekly meeting requirements, paid their weekly rent, and have been paying $50.00 consistently (at least three weeks) on their back rent to be considered to take a weekend pass. Only two (2) weekend passes per month will be allowed. Pass request must be submitted to the House Supervisor at the Thursday night community meeting. Passes submitted after Thursday will not be approved, no exceptions. The House Supervisor must sign off on your pass and the resident must submit that pass request to the Program Director for final approval. Holiday Passes are awarded depending on compliance with house rules. Thanksgiving and religious holidays Holiday is defined as 15. Emergency Passes Passes may be given to a resident in case of emergencies. Example: critical illness or death, funerals, legal matters, etc. 16. Locking the Door To ensure the safety of all residents, all doors must be locked at all times. When you sign in/out, and leave the residence, lock the front door unless someone is outside on the porch. Infraction Consequence: Curfew shortened two (2) hours for one week and loss of eligibility of next weekend pass. 17. Phone Rules When answering the phone: NO INFORMATION about the Palm House or its residents is to be given out over the phone. If the person they want to speak to is not available, take a message. (continued- phone rules) Do not give any caller any information about where the person is, or when they might return. Phone messages are to be put on the sign in/out table. Palm House Recovery Centers 8

9 No phone calls are to be received or made on Tuesday and Thursday during community meeting. No phone calls are to be received after 10 p.m. No calls are to be made after lights out at 11:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. No incoming calls before 8:00 a.m. (Phone rules continued) Cell Phones are not to be used during community meetings or after lights out. Infraction Consequence: Shortened curfews and possible loss of next available pass. 18. Smoking Smoking and use of tobacco products is not allowed inside the residence. Resident may smoke outside. All embers must be completely extinguished and cigarette butts placed in provided container or ashtray. Infraction Consequence: Immediate discharge from the residence 19. Clothing No apparel promoting alcohol, drugs, sex, violence or profanity is allowed. Residents must be appropriately dressed when interacting with the community as each resident is a reflection of Palm House Recovery Centers. 20. Money and Valuables We encourage checking accounts and the resident keeping only $20.00 cash for personal use each week. Palm House discourages the resident from bringing expensive and valuable possessions with her/him to the residence. The residents are considered a renter/boarder with Palm House Recovery Centers. Palm House is not responsible for the resident s belongings. When the resident is discharged, they need to gather all their belongings so the discharge process can be completed within an hour. Any property left behind after a resident is discharged will be held at the residence for forty-eight (48) hours. Property will then be transferred to Palm House storage facility and held for thirty (30) days. After this time, property will be disposed of. 21. Theft Theft of anything from anybody is against the law. Violators of the law will be discharged immediately and may be prosecuted. Infraction Consequence: Immediate discharge from the residence. 22. Violence No weapons of any kind are allowed. No physical violence is allowed. No verbal threat of violence is allowed. Infraction Consequence: Immediate discharge from the residence. Palm House Recovery Centers 9

10 23. Reading Material Big books and 12-step recovery materials are kept on the bookshelf in the residence and are available for use by the residents. Please return these materials to the bookshelf after you are finished with them. No reading material or DVD s that could be considered sexual of nature. (Examples: Playboy or Playgirl). 24. Visitor and Visitation Visits must be pre-approved by the House Supervisor. They are limited to the designated visiting area during pre-approved times. First 30 days at the residence: No family or friends may visit the resident for the first thirty (30) consecutive days at the Palm House Recovery Centers. No overnight visitors are allowed under any circumstances. Visitors must not be under the influence of any mood-altering substances, i.e., alcohol or illegal substances. If this is evident, the House Supervisors must be advised, and the visitor(s) will be asked to leave the premises. All visitors (recovering and non-recovering) will be expected to follow the same rules. Visitors will also be confined to specific community areas. 25. Discharge Procedures If a resident plans to leave permanently, the Palm House Recovery Centers asks that the resident gives at least two weeks notice. If a resident decides to leave by their own decision or is discharged for noncompliance with the house rules, the resident is responsible for rent due for the current week and any rent monies already paid for that week will not be refunded. Any entry fee of $ will be required for re-application. 26. Completion Letter For resident s that need a letter of completion, you will be required to show proof that you have worked the first three steps of your program. This will be confirmed by the staff speaking to your sponsor. After it has been confirmed by staff, you are then required to make an appointment with the Program Director to discuss these steps and to confirm that you have a true understanding of these steps. Also, you will need to have a ZERO BALANCE and have the required consecutive months of clean/sobriety time, based on the requirements from your court order. Please remember that if you relapse, your time starts over. 27. Medical Issue Palm House Recovery Centers does not provide medical treatment and is not responsible for the cost of a resident s medical treatment. 28. Medical Emergencies When a medical situation arises, notify the House Supervisor immediately day or night. If they are not at the Palm House residence, call 911. Notify the House Supervisors on their cell phone as soon as Palm House Recovery Centers 10

11 possible. If they do not answer, leave a message with all the information. If the house supervisor has not responded within an (1) hour call the Program Director. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLE SITUATIONS REQUIRING 911 AND/OR EMERGENCY ROOM Profuse bleeding of any sort; Go to the emergency room! Call 911 while traveling and tell them you are on the way to Athens Regional emergency room. Chest Pain: Even if it might be anxiety, we don t know! Go to the emergency rom. Unconsciousness: Call 911; even if they wake up before they get there! Sudden severe disorientation: Resident losing direction, time, place, recognition. Go to the emergency room! Head Injury: Causing concussion, blurry vision, disorientation, severe pain. Go to the Emergency room! Projectile or profuse vomiting that will not cease: Call 911 or go to the emergency room quickly! Vomiting that involves any fresh, bright red or brown blood: Go to the emergency room! Severe unremitting pain and/or swelling from internal causes: Go to the emergency room! Limb numbness or paralysis: For extended time- more than going to sleep feeling. Go to the emergency room! Burns that is large, deep, or very painful: Go to the emergency room. Gaping wounds that may need stitches: Go to the emergency room immediately! Extremely high blood pressure that will not come down: Go to the emergency room! Racing heartbeat (tachycardia) that will not slow: Go to the emergency room! ALL RULES ARE SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION OR CHANGE BY PROGRAM DIRECTOR Palm House Recovery Centers 11

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