Helping Up Mission (HUM) Review
Located in the major seaport city of Baltimore, Maryland, Helping Up Mission (HUM) is a holistic faith-based substance abuse recovery program that aims to meet each client’s basic needs—food, clothing and shelter—as well as their clinical, mental health, medical, educational and vocational needs.
HUM is a residential treatment facility that accepts adult male clients who are at least 21 years old who are willing to commit to a 45-day initial in-house restriction and ready to work all aspects of the program. In addition, applicants must not have open court dates or outstanding warrants. No outside employment is permitted for the first six months of the program, allowing clients to fully commit to treatment.
Accommodations and Food
HUM is a 12-month inpatient dormitory facility where clients sleep in assigned dorm rooms, each accommodating 25 men who sleep in bunk beds. Each client is also assigned a closet for personal items. Clients receive three square meals a day, mainly consisting of traditional American-fare and comfort foods.
Treatment and Staff
HUM integrates the latest scientific understandings of addiction treatment combined with strong spiritual development. The clients are immersed in a culture of healing and wellness that meets physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs through four phases of treatment: Seeds of Hope, Alpha, Omega and Life Prep.
In the first phase, Seeds of Hope, clients receive clinical counseling, attend support and accountability meetings (AA/NA) and begin Bible studies, chapel and discipleship. During this initial stage, each client receives a Work Therapy assignment which accounts for 40 hours. This period also requires men to go through a “black-out” period wherein they avoid almost all contact with the outside world (they are able to contact their family after two weeks). If necessary, detox is available through partnerships with local hospitals.
During the second stage of treatment—the Alpha Phase—clients continue their professional counseling, spiritual training and work therapy. Clients begin attending classes to learn life skills and habits for healthy, substance-free living. They also participate in social activities that include choir and art. At this time, men are given permission to resume contact with their friends and family.
The Omega Phase encourages participants to dig deeper in their faith-based classes and continue to meet with professional counselors. Also, they have the opportunity to pursue new training and employment through trade schools. Individuals who did not finish high school work towards earning their GED. At this point, a heavy emphasis is placed on relapse prevention.
The last stage is Life Prep. During this phase, individuals have successfully completed Work Therapy and are ready to apply for jobs with outside employers. To ensure they are able to handle independent living, clients continue participating in spiritual development and counseling when they aren’t working. The staff also helps individuals prepare for graduation by ensuring that men are connected with outside accountability partners that include sponsors, recovery support groups, spiritual groups and many others. Scheduling of individual therapy is dependent upon each client’s needs, though most attend sessions once a week for 45 minutes to an hour.
The staff has Substance Abuse Counselors, a psychiatrist and Licensed Chemical Dependency Techs (LCDT).
Extras
HUM provides a night of shelter for men experiencing homelessness with 50 available beds available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests receive a bed for the night, two hot meals (dinner and breakfast), toiletries, clean clothes and evening chapel message. If they decide they want to receive more in-depth help, they may apply to the Spiritual Recovery Program.
Additionally, HUM honors their clients who have succeeded in completing the program with a gala celebration—the Spiritual Recovery Program Graduation—attended by alumni and family. Clients who have completed treatment may also elect to step down to transitional housing offered through the Helping Up Mission.
In Summary
Helping Up Mission is a faith-based substance and alcohol abuse program for men. Clients progress through a four-phase program that cumulates in a gala celebration that honors their sobriety. This residential program is unique in its integration of evidence based methods with a holistic approach and a multi-phase program that gradually awards clients for their progress. Staff is made up of alumni who contribute their own experience, strength and hope to each client’s recovery.
Helping Up Mission Location
1029 E Baltimore St
Baltimore, MD 21202-4705
Helping Up Mission Cost
Sliding scale. Reach Helping Up Mission by phone at 410-675-7500 ext. 136 or by email at admissions@helpingup.org. Find Helping Up Mission on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Soundcloud
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Photo courtesy of User:Steelplug [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons (resized and cropped)
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