The Big Packet Policies * Procedures Rules * Regulations Requirements & Responsibilities Inside this packet you will find answers to common questions and details about procedures and policies.
We appreciate the opportunity to introduce ourselves and look forward to meeting you and answering any questions you might have after you go through this packet. We have tried to be as thorough as possible in the details of our program and what to expect at The Arches but we know you may still have some unanswered questions after you complete the packet. Please write them down and we will be make sure we get all of your questions answered before you make a decision about whether The Arches is a good fit for you. We are a transitional recovery community called The Arches. Our mission is to provide a safe, structured 12 step living program to help men and women transition from early recovery back into productive and healthy lives. The Arches was founded and is run by individuals in recovery who are passionate about sobriety and working with other s to help them realize the miracle of living life clean and sober. We are a community structured program based on the 12 Steps of Alcoholic Anonymous. This is an important element to the success of our program. The process of recovery involves many people who build a support system to keep each other accountable and on the path to permanent recovery. Through this process it is possible to learn to live clean, sober, productive lives. The structure and accountability within our program is all designed to add support for the work you will do with your sponsor through the process of your 12 step recovery program. We work closely with our clients to provide that level of support and advice that is so critical and necessary in the early stages of recovery.
The good news is this process does work if you are willing to take suggestions and do the work. We provide the structure and if you are committed to staying sober the changes and miracles you are getting ready to experience are amazing. The Arches is a great fit for some people but it might not be a good fit for others. The goal is permanent sobriety at The Arches and our policy is ZERO tolerance. Through an interview process we assess the willingness, character and overall needs for a potential client and determine if you will be a good fit for our program. In the event you are not a good fit we will offer referrals to other programs that might provide a level of care more suitable to your particular needs. If you are looking for permanent sobriety and everything you have read so far seems like a good fit for you then please continue.
Here s what we need from you.. Minimum Requirements for Admission 1. Commitment to stay at least 6 months. You may stay longer. 2. Complete abstinence from all mind & mood altering substances. This includes illegal drugs, alcohol, prescription drugs (certain medical exceptions can be made), or any other substance used to alter your mind or mood. We do drug & alcohol screening 2-3 times per week, and all screens are lab verified for accuracy and tampering. We ensure that you will have a safe and sober place to recover, and we discharge immediately with zero tolerance for a failed drug or alcohol screen. Our screens are very comprehensive, and include all illegal drugs, prescription drugs that we do not allow, ETG & ethanol tests for alcohol, and all head shop type substances including spice, bath salts, etc. 3. You must be willing to get a "sponsor", which is a person who will guide you through the 12 Steps of recovery. We expect everyone to have, at very least, a temporary sponsor within 1 week. The importance of working with a competent sponsor is vital to good recovery and the sooner you find someone to start guiding you through the steps the better your chances of staying sobriety. We will help you learn what to look for in a sponsor, and assist you in finding one if needed. 4. Willingness to learn how to stay clean & sober through the 12 Steps of Recovery. Active participation in all groups, step-work with your sponsor, and attendance of outside 12 Step meetings is mandatory. 5. Complete willingness to follow all rules and directions. The Arches is a structured living environment that provides all residents with the opportunity to transition back into life by living with structure and accountability. We will discharge anyone who does not follow the rules, for the safety and well-being of those who are serious about long term recovery. 7. You must either have a job, be actively seeking employment (this will be verified), be attending an outpatient program, or be participating in community service or volunteer work during the day. Part of the structure of recovery and transitioning into life is learning to fill our day with worthwhile and productive activities. Even if your program fees are being paid by family or outside resources, you will be required to be productive and self-sufficient at The Arches. If you are unemployed, you will have three weeks to find a job (all program fees are still due on time). 8. Willingness to focus on yourself. Putting relationships on hold for a minimum period of 30 days is suggested.
9. Willingness to attend mandatory meetings. There are two mandatory meetings that are at specific times and days of the week. Additionally, you are required to attend a 12 Step meeting of your choice every day. For the first 60 days you will be required to attend a 12 step meeting every day at 8111. There may also be other mandatory meeting, retreats, and functions throughout the year.
Policy for the Payment of Program Fees A one-time admission fee of $125 is due at intake. There are two ways to pay the program fees at The Arches: Weekly - $175 per week, due every Friday. Your first week will be due at intake. - OR - Monthly - $700 per month (cheaper overall than weekly), due on the 1st of each month. Your first month will be due at intake. **Program fees must be on time. Friday Fees Must Be Collected by 4:00pm * Monthly fees must be collected by 4:00 pm on the first of the month. * If Fees are not collected by 4:00pm there will be an additional late fee of $25 * If fees are not collected by 9:00 pm on day they are due you will be terminated from The Arches Program** Program fees can be paid by cash, check, money order, or online via credit card. If you wish to pay online, please provide us with your email address, and we will send you an invoice that you can pay with your debit or credit card. We use PayPal for our online payments, but you do not have to have a PayPal account to pay with your credit/debit card. There is a 3% processing fee for paying online. We use Paypal and are charged a 3% fee for using the Paypal service. The 3% processing fee is only charged to cover this cost Online Payments need to be made by the appropriate payment deadlines. If processing fees or late charges are not included in the online payments, they are still due and will be collected from the clients. The Arches Meeting Schedule There are two meetings that are mandatory each week. You must schedule all other activities or work schedules around these meetings. There are some exceptions made from time to time and case by case. In addition to these house meetings you are required to attend 1 (one) AA meeting each day, and meet in person with your sponsor at least once a week. The Arches Mandatory Meeting Program: Wednesday 7:30pm, Check In & AA Meeting (Unit 901) Sunday 7:30 pm, Check In & House Meeting (Unit 901)
Legal Advocacy / Letters of Residency or Acceptance Once you have been accepted in our program, we are happy to provide you with any documentation you may need for probation or parole, legal cases, food stamps, or any other reason. If needed, we will also send a staff member to appear in court on your behalf to explain our program and help with your legal case. There is a $100 fee for our staff s time, and we may ask you to help cover travel expenses if more than 20 miles travel is required.
Program Rules & Policies The following actions will result in immediate discharge from the program: (In other words here s what NOT to do): Being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Refusal to submit to requested drug screen. Possession/distribution of alcohol/drugs. Possession of any drug paraphernalia. Possession of pornography, or use of computers, DVD, or TV to view pornography. No texting of sexually inappropriate messages, calling pornographic sex talk numbers or engaging in any of form of pornographic behavior will be permitted. No Online Date Site activity will be allowed Possession of weapons or wielding any object as a weapon. Threats either verbal or physical, overt acts of violence and/or fighting. Property destruction or altering the physical construction of the premises. Being unaccountable, discrepancies in time off premises and/or violation of curfew. Dishonesty, giving false information on intake paperwork, theft, unusual behavior and/or any form of criminal activity. Failure to comply with rules and/or staff directions.
Food Residents are responsible for purchasing their own food. We will assign you cabinet space for dry goods, and the refrigerator/freezer is shared. In a shared living environment, it is an exercise in cooperation and respectfulness to ensure that each person eats only the food they buy. If the community wishes to have a community meal and purchase food as a group, then everyone should agree on what is to be bought and to work together to contribute equally in purchasing, preparation and cleaning up after every meal. There will be no tolerance for arguments about food learning to coexist with respect and care of one another is the key to living in any group environment. Transportation You are responsible for your own transportation expenses. Our residences are located conveniently to public transportation. People with vehicles in our program work together to offer rides to help those who do not have vehicles. If you receive a ride from another resident, you are required to help pay for gas expenses. Bikes are allowed and must be stored on the back patios, and security of these is not the responsibility of The Arches or the staff. Residents who want to have their vehicles must complete the Driving Contract section of this application, and all Resident s vehicles must have current tags, registration, and insurance. Vehicles will be parked in designated areas and security of vehicles is your responsibility. There will not be storage of inoperable vehicles on the premises and all vehicle maintenance must be performed off the premises. Family Involvement Addiction is a family disease, and it affects everyone involved in the life of an addict. Many families/friends do not understand the disease of addiction, and often times will actually hurt their loved one s chances for recovery through codependence and enabling, when they are only trying to help. We can help clarify for them what types of support will actually benefit the addict/alcoholic, and what will only enable the cycle to continue. You will be required to sign a release for us to talk to your family as well as your physician, therapist, probation/parole officer, or any other persons the staff deems necessary.
Medications Residents must be capable of maintaining and administering their own medications. A list of all medications you take will be completed in this packet and kept in your file. If your medications change, you must immediately notify the House Manager. There are certain medications that are not allowed at The Arches, and you should speak to the staff if you have any questions regarding medication you are taking. Failed drug screens due to prescribed medications we are not aware of, are grounds for immediate discharge. There are a number of medications that are allowed the best policy is to let the staff know what medications you are taking, no matter what they are. Then there are no questions or situations that arise with a violation of policy. Buddy System All new residents will be on a buddy system for a minimum of the first two weeks at The Arches. This means that any time you are not on our property, you will be with another member of the program. The only exception is if you are going to work. The buddy system is a great way for new residents to get to know their new housemates, and to integrate into The Arches community. It also provides accountability and safety while you are settling in. You may process to come off the buddy system after you have been at The Arches a full two weeks. Processing is done in your Community Meeting. The requirements to come off the buddy system are: 1. Integration into the community (you have gotten to know everyone and are not isolating) 2. You have a 12 Step sponsor and have begun working the steps. 3. You have a job, or have demonstrated that you are doing an intensive job search. (If you are in school or an outpatient program, that fulfills the requirement) 4. You have not broken any rules 5. You have completed and processed a Community Contract (the form can be found in this packet)
Electronics TV s, Phones, Stereos, Computers Residents are permitted to carry cell phones. Clock radios are permitted in the rooms but must be maintained at a sound level that is considerate of your roommates and not heard outside of the residence. WIFI is provided in the residences. Computer use is a necessity in today s world but it can also be a form of isolation and a gateway into abusive behavior. Viewing pornography and excessive usage of computer systems will not be permitted. Watching movies on your computer in the bedrooms will not be allowed. Loaning your computer to a roommate is done so at your own discretion and is not considered a good policy to practice. The Arches does not recommend or is liable for any issues surrounding your computer systems. The Arches provides a TV for use in the common area. TV s are not allowed in the bedrooms. The use of PlayStation, Xbox and other gaming systems are permitted at the discretion of the House Manager. *IMPORTANT* The TV is to be shared among the roommates. There will be no controlling of the TV by one person. Continued violations of this behavior will not be tolerated. Personal Belongings Any valuables such as money, jewelry, stereos, pictures, etc. are the responsibility of the resident, and should be secured at all times. The Arches is not responsible or liable for your personal belongings. Residents are not permitted to share clothing, personal property, loan money, and/or drive another resident s vehicle. Any belongings left in a The Arches residence after discharge will not be kept for more than 72 hours and will be disposed of at the discretion of The Arches staff. Recreational Activities There is a workout room and tennis courts in the complex. Available after 30 days residents will be able to utilize the facilities and participate in classes at Total Boxing, a kickboxing school located in Roswell, Georgia.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PROCESS AN ISSUE/REQUEST? Living a sober life is challenging, and for most a new experience. We often lack the insight and decision making skills needed to make responsible life choices that will support our recovery. Processing or discussing issues and requests in Community Meeting serves as a means to get constructive feedback and guidance from fellow community members. Residents are required to process issues related to; employment, relationships, leave requests, sponsorship, recovery plan, goals, and any other issue/topic that the resident is advised to address by staff. Accountability As a resident of The Arches, you are expected to account for all your time away from the residence. As a resident, you are expected to be at work or your daily routine, (i.e. IOP, school, volunteer work, community service, etc.) during the scheduled times. You must notify the House Manager of any changes in your schedule such as, sick leave, vacation, time off, early dismissal, etc. Open communication and accountability are essential to success in our program. Sickness If you are ill, inform your House Manager as soon as possible. You are expected to report your chemical dependency to any medical person you see personally. You are also expected to report to your House Manager any person you will be seeing medically, before the appointment, and bring any requested paperwork to the House Manager promptly. This includes dentists, eye doctors, ER visits, etc. Your House Manager must approve any prescribed drug BEFORE you fill ANY prescriptions. Curfew The curfew at The Arches is 10:00pm, Sunday-Thursday, and 11:00pm Friday & Saturday. Please plan ahead so that you are not late for any reason. Curfew is checked every night and absolutely no tardiness is acceptable. If a curfew extension is needed for any reason, a TL form must be filled out and processed at your community meeting.
Receiving Mail & Residency Questions There will be times when you will be asked for proof of residency, such as; applying for social security card, food stamps, outpatient counseling services, job applications, etc. As a resident of The Arches, you are considered to be a participant in a social services program and not a permanent resident of the physical address where you are currently living. When listing a current address you must use the following mailing address: TW Enterprises c/o YOUR NAME 8343 Roswell Road - # 358 Atlanta, GA 30350 There will be times when you are asked for a proof of residency and this can be obtained by requesting a letter from the staff verifying your current address and participation in the program. Residents are to be advised that if this policy is not followed and mail is received indicating utilization of the residence address and/or an attempt to establish The Arches residence as a permanent address will result in immediate discharge and possible criminal charges for fraud. Also, note that all mail received at the residence address for unauthorized individuals or a resident who has been discharged, will be marked incorrect address and returned to the local post office. Employment All residents of The Arches are required to be employed within 3 weeks of admission. The only exceptions to this are full-time students, individuals on disability, individuals attending an I.O.P. program, or situations pre-approved by the staff. Your job must not conflict with curfew and required meetings. Residents are not permitted to serve alcohol or work in any environment that would be considered dangerous to their sobriety. All job opportunities must be processed in Community Meeting and approved by the staff prior to accepting employment with any employer. Residents are not permitted to terminate a job without first processing the issue in Community Meeting and have the approval of the staff.
Drug & Alcohol Screens All residents are required to submit to random drug and alcohol screens (including breathalyzers). Random drug screens will be conducted at least twice a week. When a resident is informed of a drug screen, he/she will have 1 hour to comply with the request. The Arches uses Calloway Labs to perform on-site drug screens, which are monitored and lab confirmed. Calloway will collect your insurance information, as well as a list of all medications you are taking, at the time of the first drug screen. All screens are processed through your insurance as lab work, and they are in-network with all insurance carriers. You should never have a co-pay or any additional charges for our drug screens, however you may receive a statement that will say This is NOT a bill, and some charges may count against your deductible. A positive drug screen or refusal of a requested drug screen will result in immediate discharge. Dating / Fraternizing You must have a willingness to focus on yourself if you want to be successful. We have a strict No Fraternization policy for a minimum of 60 days. This means no dating, hanging out, or spending time with members of the opposite sex. Additionally, there will be absolutely no fraternizing with members of the opposite sex who are current residents of The Arches program. If you are already in a relationship, you must be willing to put it on hold and focus on your recovery for a minimum of 30 days. At 60 days you may process dating privileges in community meeting, and receive feedback from the staff and your peers. We prefer you be at least on your 5th step to process dating privileges. Personal Cleanliness and Chores You are responsible for keeping your residence in a neat and orderly fashion. This means you will keep your bed made at all times, carpets vacuumed, floors swept, and clothing clean and put away. You are also expected to keep the bathroom and kitchen clean after each use. Staff has the right to inspect the premises, including your dressers and closets, at any time. You will also be assigned chores each week in order to help keep the residence as a whole in top condition. Overall cleaning day is Saturday morning before you leave for the day but maintaining a level of cleanliness through the week is mandatory.
Dress Code Proper dress is expected at all times. This means no over revealing clothing will be allowed for men or women. No pants hanging down below the underwear level. No excessively revealing tops. No short shorts. Clothing (shirts, pants or appropriate shorts) must be worn at all times in the residences. Pets Residents are not permitted to have pets while at The Arches, and no pets should visit our property without prior approval from the staff. This is out of consideration to everyone in the program as well as the terms of our lease. Visitors There are absolutely no visitors permitted on the premises except for The Arches staff and approved volunteers without specific permission from the Director or House Manager. Absolutely no one (including family) is allowed in the residences without staff approval. If this occurs, it is grounds for immediate termination and a direct violation of the contract for services with The Arches. This is for the safety and comfort of all of our residents. Emergencies The Arches staff is on call for emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Residents should contact the staff immediately in case of any house emergency, medical emergency, risk or harm to (or by) another resident, relapse or suspected relapse, or a resident s violation of curfew. Failure to do so is grounds for discharge, because everyone s safety is a top priority and will not be compromised. There are evacuation plans and fire extinguishers located throughout all of our residences, as well as smoke alarms and marked exits. If you still have questions about anything at all, we are glad to answer them! You can call any one listed below directly (these are their cell phones) to ask any questions you may have: House Managers: Directors: Todd Wilson 404-513-5640 -or- Debbie Cohen 678-760-1573
The following pages contain important information about our Privacy Practices, and your rights & responsibilities as a resident of The Arches. Please read them carefully! NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES The Arches is required by law to maintain the privacy of certain health care information about our residents. The law also requires health care providers like The Arches to give you a Notice like this one and to follow its standards. The Arches and your Protected Health Care Information As a part of our daily activities, The Arches may need to use and disclose (share) your protected health care information for several purposes without first getting your written approval. Those purposes include: The Arches may contact you based upon your protected health care information. For example The Arches may call to arrange your appointments, provide you with information about new medications, treatments, benefits and services that are available to you. The Arches may provide information to government officials who oversee health care or are working on threats to public safety. Your personal identity will remain confidential unless written permission is provided. The Arches may report Protected Health Care Information regarding unsafe diseases, neglect, abuse, and other crimes, according to laws in specific circumstances per The Arches Informed Consent Form. The Arches will exercise diligence in providing maximum protection of your personal identity where possible. The Arches may provide information to licensed researchers who are under strict rules regarding how they use and disclose protected health care information. Those researchers, as an example, may use the information about patients with your condition for a study to improve ways to combat disease. Your personal identity will remain confidential. No other uses and disclosures of your protected health care information will occur without your written authorization. And, if you sign an authorization, you have the right to cancel it at any time.
HOW TO OPT OUT You have the right to opt out of authorized uses and disclosures at any time. This opt out by law will not apply to disclosures that are legally permitted, disclosures we make to companies that perform services on our behalf, or companies that process or service transactions you request or authorize. Once your request is received, The Arches will, in a reasonable amount of time, stop disclosures. You may always contact us for assistance if you wish to revoke your opt out election. You may direct us not to make disclosures (other than disclosures permitted by law) by writing a formal request to rescind disclosures. This letter can be mailed to the attention of: Todd Wilson, Privacy Officer The Arches 8343 Roswell Road - # 358 Atlanta, GA. 30350 Rights Regarding Your Protected Health Care Information: Under the law, you have several rights that The Arches is committed to upholding. Those rights include: The right to request restrictions on some of the ways The Arches uses and discloses your information. These restrictions can go beyond the restrictions already in the law. The Arches is not responsible for consequences that may occur legally, financially, or professionally if The Arches is restricted from communicating or advocating on your behalf. However, The Arches may not always agree to implement these additional restrictions. The right to receive confidential communications. However, this right is not absolute and may be restricted on the patient s treatment plan. The right to inspect and get copies of your health care information held by The Arches by making a request in writing. The Arches however, may charge a reasonable fee to cover only the cost of providing this information. Staff may restrict access to some information based on clinical or psychiatric conditions.
The rights to request that The Arches amend or correct any information in your record. To make such a change, The Arches will ask you to make the request in writing with the reason you want your record changed. The Arches may not always agree to such requests. If you have any questions or complaints about the way The Arches handles your protected health care information or if you believe your privacy rights have been violated, contact The Arches Privacy Officer, at (404) 513-5640 or in person. You can also contact the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Please note that there will be not retaliation against you for filing a complaint or making requests regarding your health care information, or for disagreeing with The Arches related decisions. The Arches may need to change its privacy practices from time to time. Before making such changes however, The Arches will modify this Notice and begin distributing it to patients when they are treated by The Arches. These new practices will then apply to all information held by The Arches. At any time, anyone has a right to get a paper copy of the latest version of this Notice by asking Todd Wilson, Privacy Officer. CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES Provision of Information Clients have the responsibility to provide, to the best of their knowledge, accurate and complete information about presenting problem(s), identifying information, past treatment(s), medical issues, medication usage, legal issues, or other matters asked by the staff of The Arches. They have a responsibility to report any changes of condition, or relapse to the staff of The Arches. They have a responsibility to report any violation of rules and regulations, of their own or of other clients, to the staff of The Arches. Clients are responsible for making it known whether they clearly comprehend a contemplated course of action and what is expected of them.
Compliance with Instruction Clients are responsible for following the recommended recovery plan established by The Arches and themselves. This may include instructions by personnel not employed by The Arches such as other healthcare personnel, other mental health professionals, parole officers, probation officers, or other officers of the Court. Clients are responsible for keeping appointments, attending scheduled groups and activities, with The Arches and outside agencies. Clients are responsible for giving sufficient notice as described by The Arches or outside agencies, when they are unable to meet their prior commitments. Refusal of Services / Therapeutic Advice Clients are responsible for their own actions when they refuse therapeutic advice or fail to follow the suggestions of staff or volunteers as it relates to their recovery. Payment of Fees Clients are responsible for meeting financial obligations to The Arches as agreed with the Business Office. The Arches - Rules and Regulations Clients are responsible for following all rules and Regulations of The Arches. Respect and Consideration Clients are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other clients, other residents of the recovery residence and to The Arches staff. Clients are responsible for noise control within their residence. Clients are responsible for being respectful of the property of other clients, other residents of the house, the neighborhood, the home itself, and of The Arches. Property Issues Under no circumstances are the residents of The Arches to go to the Leasing Office for anything. All questions, repair problems or other property situations are to be discussed with the Directors only.
Confidentiality Clients are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their peers. Clients are responsible for complying with Federal Regulations regarding confidentiality and cannot disclose the presence of any other client, current or past, enrolled in The Arches. Clients are responsible for not disclosing any information they may hear regarding any other client enrolled in The Arches Program. CLIENT RIGHTS As a resident of The Arches you have the right to: 1. Clients DO have a RIGHT to be fully informed of their rights and responsibilities as a client of The Arches. 2. Clients DO have a RIGHT to the least restrictive environment, to socialize and participate in recreational activities, appropriate to their treatment and the RIGHT to move about freely as safety permits. Special conditions may apply for clients who are mandated to The Arches as a condition to parole, probation, bond, or if mandated to the House Arrest Program. 3. Clients DO have a RIGHT to wear their own clothing and to keep their own possessions, religious items, or other symbolic items, unless the property interferes with their recovery or the recovery of other clients. 4. Clients DO have the RIGHT to be informed of the Rules and Regulations of The Arches, the schedule and procedures that they are to follow as client of The Arches. Clients DO have a right to be informed of what is expected concerning their conduct as a client of The Arches. They are entitled to information concerning The Arches grievance resolution policies for the initiation, review, and resolution of their complaint(s). 5. Clients DO have a RIGHT to know the identity and professional status of the individuals providing services to them. 6. Clients DO have a RIGHT to confidentiality, except in matters concerning child or elder abuse, threats of violent to another human being, threats of homicide to another human being, and suicide threats. 7. Clients DO have a RIGHT to consult with an attorney concerning the documentation used by The Arches.
8. Clients DO have a RIGHT to attend the religious service(s) of their choice. Clients cannot be forced to attend. 9. Clients DO have a RIGHT to receive care and treatment that is suited to their individual needs, to expect a reasonable continuity of care, and for care to be administered skillfully, safely, and humanely, with respect for their dignity and personal integrity. 10. Clients DO have a RIGHT to participate in the individualization of their recovery plan. 11. Clients DO have a RIGHT to secure private services, at their expense, for additional counseling or groups, if they desire. 12. Clients DO have a RIGHT to be referred to another program, at their expense, if they request to be transferred. Acceptance to another facility is conditional upon the other facility s admission requirements. Clients who are mandated to The Arches will be required to obtain permission from the mandating entity before the referral request can be honored. 13. Clients DO have a RIGHT to refuse services to the extent permitted by law; however refusal of required services could result in termination of all services from The Arches. Clients who are mandated to The Arches will have to answer to the mandating entity regarding refusal of services. 14. Clients DO have a RIGHT to know the cost of services rendered to them, regardless of the source of payment. Call the House Manager or Director immediately in case of emergency or the following: 1. Drugs, alcohol, weapons or pornography on the premises 2. Suspicion or knowledge of someone using/having used drugs/alcohol 3. Any and all repair problems with the residences 4. Individual who may be in withdrawal or having physical difficulties 5. Curfew violations House Managers: Directors: Todd Wilson (404) 513.5640 -or- Debbie Cohen (678) 760.1573 What to bring to The Arches
Ok, so you have decided that The Arches is the place for you, and we have accepted you as a resident.now what to pack? Well, even though you will be with us for 6 months, we have limited storage space for each resident, so we suggest that you pack as lightly as possible keeping in mind that you can always go back to get more things if you find you need something. You also be expected to keep your clothing and belongings neat and straightened at all times. Please pack with that in mind. You should pack: A Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous is essential as it contains the entire 12 Step program of recovery no matter what your drinking/using history may include. They are around $8.00 at any AA clubhouse, and slightly more at a bookstore. Also a copy of 12 Steps & 12 Traditions, and other recovery related books are suggested. Devotional books for morning meditation such as Daily Reflections and 24 Hours A Day, are also a plus. Weather appropriate casual clothing, and dress clothing (for job search or church) Do not pack every pair of shoes you own and every change of clothes. You will be asked to store them elsewhere if you bring more than we have space for. Please be respectful of the fact you ll be sharing a closet with a roommate. A footlocker is an excellent idea for additional storage space. You will provide linens and pillows for a standard size twin bed. You will also provide your own bath towels. Toiletries, makeup, and other bathroom related products bringing a small plastic bin or basket to organize them and keep them separate from others is a great idea. The Dollar Tree sells them for.. a dollar. Books for reading, a personal journal, notebooks and pens, highlighters, etc. are encouraged. An Ipod, mp3 player with headphones is fine do not bring any large stereo equipment, TV s, etc. Laptop or Notebook computers. We provide high speed wireless internet for use with any of your WiFi devices. Food, snacks, drinks, etc. If you have any questions about anything that may or may not be on this list, please call one of the House Managers or Directors. We re always glad to answer any questions you might have!