Reality House Review
Reality House is a treatment center owned by Louisiana Health and Rehab, one of the leading providers of substance abuse treatment in the Baton Rouge area. It is well-known for a multi-faceted program that only admits pregnant women and women with two or fewer dependent children under 13. The state’s health agency even named Reality House Outstanding Program of the Year for 2013-2014.
Accommodations and Food
Residents live in a large Baton Rouge home that can accommodate 30. One of the perks of living at Reality House is that every woman (or woman and child) gets her own room. The room furnishings are simple and include twin beds, cribs if needed and dressers. Also on-site is a nursery for children under five and a common area with a television.
Clients get three meals a day and one evening snack and take turns preparing the meals for one another based on a menu Reality House provides. The women go to the grocery store twice a month to pick up any specific snacks or treats that they like.
Treatment and Staff
Reality House understands the specific problems facing women so they offer a trauma-focused, individualized and holistic treatment for moms, families and pregnant women. The program also relies heavily on the 12 steps and provides case management for residents.
Treatment includes individual therapy (both mom and child), group therapy (both mom and child), family counseling (both mom and child), 12-step meetings, relapse prevention, addiction education, nutrition education, child development education, spiritual groups acknowledging a Higher Power, parenting training, tutoring for children and training in life skills such as money management and job searching.
A typical day begins with a 7:30 am wake-up, followed by breakfast and group therapy from 9 am to 12 pm. Residents then eat lunch and continue group meetings and education or life skills training throughout the afternoon. After dinner in the early evening, there might be a 12-step meeting. Children over the age of five are required to attend school daily during the school year. During treatment breaks, a resident can visit her child in the nursery, watch television or just relax.
Staff includes the executive director, a house manager, a clinical director with a Master’s degree, licensed counselors and administrative staff. It does not employ a psychiatrist or psychologist or have one on contract. Staff are present 24 hours a day at Reality House and the staff-to-resident ratio is about one-to-three.
Extras
Residents regularly go on weekend outings to encourage light recreation for pregnant women and quality family time for mothers and their children. Outings may include a trip to the park or a nearby mall.
Once a resident is considered ready to return to work, she can continue living in Reality House, which accommodates graduates of the program who need a halfway house. Women should be aware though that this program has a very strict policy that no resident can stay longer than six months, including their time spent in inpatient treatment.
In Summary
Reality House offers pregnant women and women with children a safe environment and well-rounded, individualized treatment. Unfortunately, Reality House often has a wait list; so prospective residents should be prepared to wait at least a month, sometimes a few months, before being admitted.
Reality House Location
2056 North Blvd
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Reality House Cost
Sliding scale (30 days). Reach Reality House by phone at (225) 343-3438 and via email at info@lahealthandrehab.org. Find Reality House on Facebook
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Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
