The Basics
Founded in 2014 in Suffolk County, New York by CEO Danielle Bruschi and Chief Operating Officer Lauren McNamara, New Hope Rising, a non-profit organization, provides the Harmony House transitional housing program for men and women, as well as a graduate sober living program for a small group of women. Bruschi, who is in long-term recovery, is a CASAC, as well as a certified Reiki instructor, while McNamara is a Master’s-level social worker.
New Hope Rising’s logo is a lotus plant, which is a Buddhist symbol for purity of mind and spirit, as well as self-awareness. The mission of New Hope Rising is to provide a haven for those recovering from the damages of chemical dependency, and to help them find inner healing. Besides utilizing a 12-step program, New Hope Rising offers holistic services including yoga and Reiki.
Accommodations and Amenities
New Hope Rising’s Harmony House program operates two houses for women, one with a 12-bed capacity and the other with a 10-bed capacity, as well as one house that holds ten men. The women’s graduate house is a quaint white bungalow with dark blue trim, with an anchor plaque by the front door. The house holds four women who have completed a stay at Harmony House. There is a quaint bed and breakfast motif at play, in the women’s houses, which include country-style chairs, and vintage furniture, arranged carefully in sun splashed rooms. Clients are usually paired in double-occupancy rooms, and while there are a few triples, all of the rooms provide ample space.
Personalized food shopping is provided, and clients usually prepare their own meals. Breakfasts include bagels, ample coffee, cereal and milk. Usually, clients pack their lunches to go, as many of them attend an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) during the day. Community dinners, which are prepared by residents under the supervision of an assigned kitchen captain, are provided at 5:30 pm Mondays through Thursdays. The dinners offer residents a chance to relax, talk about their days, and share fellowship.
Amenities in all the homes include discounted gym memberships, movie passes, house computers, transportation, bowling nights, Wi-Fi, cable and laundry facilities. Smoking is permitted outside, in designated areas. Staff lives on the premises at each residence.
Rules and Regulations
Applicants to the Harmony House are accepted on a case-by-case basis, but usually have undergone primary care at a drug rehab or have undergone detox. New Hope Rising has a licensed nurse practitioner that provides Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) specifically monthly Vivitrol injections, to ease withdrawals from alcohol and opiate dependence. Length of stay is up to a year.
Clients undergo four phases at New Hope Rising, and each phase, except for the first one, is completed on an individualized timeline. During the first phase, which lasts between one and two weeks, residents are paired up with buddies, who are senior residents, who act as chaperones. The only time that clients are not chaperoned is when they are going to IOP. Many clients attend the Long Island Center for Recovery, which also provides transportation to and from treatment. Clients start out by attending seven weekly 12-step meetings, seeking out sponsors and basically get acclimated to their new surroundings. Those who want to check out SMART Recovery or other recovery support groups are encouraged to do so, as New Hope Rising does not believe in a cookie cutter approach.
The following three phases include going to daily 12-step meetings, obtaining and actively working with a sponsor and continuing outpatient care. Eventually, men and women step down to five weekly 12-step meetings, but this is determined on an individual basis. During the first phase, the curfew is 11 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and 11:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. By the third or fourth phase, the curfew is extended to 11:30 pm and 12:30 am, respectively.
When the time is right, clients are provided with vocational and academic support and guidance, so that they can become self-sufficient and independent. During phases three and four, many clients gain employment, while some enroll in school. The graduate program offers more flexibility, however residents must still attend regular 12-step meetings, and work with their sponsors. Most of the women in the graduate program are working or attending school.
Extras
New Hope Rising is active in other aspects of recovery. They provide interventions, as well as inpatient referrals for those who need a more structured program. Other services include a weekly 12-step-based yoga class, acupuncture, guided meditation, case management and Reiki.
In Summary
One would expect a program like this, which includes comprehensive services usually found at high-end rehabs, to cost several thousand dollars, but the 30-day cost is $850. Along with a holistic approach, which also features the 12-step yoga, New Hope Rising really works closely with each client, providing much individualized attention. And they are also close to the beach, which is often a healing force in itself. New Hope Rising does not disclose their address, for the privacy and safety of their clients.
New Hope Rising, Inc.
PO Box 115
Mastic, NY 11950
New Hope Rising Cost: $850 (30 days). Reach New Hope Rising at (631) 336-9990 or by email at newhoperisingorg@gmail.com. Find New Hope Rising at Facebook and Twitter
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