The Basics
Founded in 2005 in Athens, Georgia, Palm House Recovery Center provides long-term transitional living for men and women, including criminal justice clients, in early recovery. Its mission is to help clients learn life, social and vocational skills, so that they can successfully re-enter society and become productive citizens.
Accommodations and Amenities
Palm House Recovery Center accommodates between 175 and 180 clients in gender-specific buildings. During the first two months, clients reside in main dorm-style buildings. After that time, provided that they fulfill all requirements, they move into houses. Accommodations at the main buildings vary, but there are between three and six clients in a furnished room. Residents are appointed storage space. While using bathrooms, clients must carry personal hygiene items inside plastic containers, which are stored in their rooms.
Food is provided. Residents prepare their own meals in fully equipped kitchens. While amenities are limited, clients have access to laundry facilities, and outdoor smoking areas. House supervisors, or former clients, reside on the premises and oversee operations.
Rules and Regulations
At Palm House Recovery Center, there is a mandatory 12-month length of stay. Clients must find feasible employment within 30 days of arrival, or engage in community service, if they are on disability. Weekly requirements include attending a minimum of five weekly 12-step meetings, including AA/NA or Celebrate Recovery, performing assigned household chores and being at two community meetings.
Other rules include attending classes offered on the premises, depending on clients’ level and needs. Classes offered include a 12-session SKILLS training program, designed to help criminal justice clients find work, an eight-week anger management class, a relapse prevention group and a class which helps clients become acquainted with the 12 steps. Many non criminal-justice clients participate in the SKILLS program, which provides a Work Readiness Certificate upon completion.
During their stay, residents progress through a phase system. Besides accomplishing weekly requirements, level one residents attend five sessions from the SKILLS program, attend daytime classes, look for work, provide verification of job searches, complete step one and find a sponsor. Level Two residents must complete step two, work a minimum of 30 weekly hours, and complete the SKILLS program. Clients must deliver paycheck stubs to staff. The level one and two curfew is 9 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and 10 pm Fridays and Saturdays. Both levels last 60 days.
Phase three continues until the sixth month of stay. Level three candidates move into houses. Besides completing basic requirements, clients complete step three. The last six months include maintaining all basic requirements, completing steps four through seven, and transitioning into apartments. During the last six months, residents adhere to an 11 pm curfew Sundays through Thursdays, and a midnight curfew on Fridays and Saturdays. Candidates in good standing are eligible to become house supervisors.
At Palm House Recovery Center, random drug and alcohol screenings are conducted. Residents are allowed four relapses, prior to permanent dismissal, but with each relapse they must leave the premises. After the first, second and third relapses, they have to leave the house for seven, 14 and 30 consecutive days, respectively. After re-admission, they have to perform community service, attend seven weekly 12-step meetings and start the program from the beginning. A fourth relapse warrants permanent eviction.
Staff includes CSACs, house supervisors and gender-specific program coordinators.
Extras
The houses are in close proximity to a plethora of 12-step meetings.
Move-in cost is $860, which includes the first two weeks’ rent and a $500 deposit. Pets are allowed, for an additional $250, pending approval and only in certain houses.
In Summary
While highly structured, many former clients have claimed that Palm House Recovery Center is a lifesaver. This long term transitional care program is perfect for clients requiring additional support, while they find feasible means of employment, and utilize a 12-step based protocol. Clients seeking a more faith-based curriculum are also encouraged to attend Celebrate Recovery meetings.
Palm House Recovery Center
610 Oglethorpe Ave
Athens, GA 30606
Palm House Recovery Center Cost: $720 (30 days). Reach Palm House Recovery Center by phone at (706) 543-0087 or by email at info@palmhouseathens.org. Find Palm House Recovery Center on Facebook, Twitter and Google+
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