The Basics
Established in 1978, the Spring House for women has been a part of Bergen County’s program for substance abuse recovery. Since its founding, Spring House has been home to over 1,500 women seeking a safe sober living environment after primary care treatment.
The facility itself is located on the same grounds as the Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus, New Jersey. All funding for the home is provided for by Bergen County as its beginnings are credited to the efforts of a group of Bergen County residents on behalf of an under-served population of women in need of substance abuse treatment.
Accommodations and Amenities
The Spring House is located in Building 7 of the Bergen Regional Medical Center and offers 35 beds for women who are concurrently enrolled in a treatment program. There are three floors in Building 7, each with 10 single-occupancy rooms. Each floor also has one double-occupancy room reserved for senior female clients who prefer to live with a roommate. Each room has a private bathroom, twin bed, closet and dresser drawer for clothing storage. The facility provides linens but clients are responsible for providing their own toiletries. The building also has a large classroom for facilitating groups as well as offices for private meetings with counselors.
The first level of Building 7 has a large cafeteria and kitchen where meals are prepared. Clients are responsible for cooking their own food, however, a majority of food is donated or provided by private funding.
A media room and computer lab is located next to the kitchen area where clients may enjoy their free time and sharpen their computer skills. The media room has a TV and DVD player for watching movies and shows that are approved by staff members.
Rules and Regulations
All clients living at the Spring House must be 18 years of age or older and must be female. Completion of a primary care program prior to enrollment is required in addition to substantial recovery time. Having a primary diagnosis of alcoholism or addiction and medical and psychiatric clearance to attend a halfway house is also required. Typically, clients are referred through Work First New Jersey, drug court or the Welfare-To-Work Program. All clients are assessed to ensure they are an appropriate fit for the program by an intake coordinator.
Typically residents stay at Spring House long term; six to nine months and even upwards of a year. Once graduated, clients are admitted to an alumnae association that remains active in the house programs. All residents must remain clean and sober during their stay and relapse results in termination of treatment and clients referred elsewhere for more intensive treatment.
During their stay, clients participate in an individualized treatment plan that includes individual therapy and family counseling. Family counseling is required so that the home will be a space conducive to recovery upon the client’s return. All treatment is facilitated by CADCs and LADCs. Clients must attend one to two individual therapy sessions per week and one weekly or bi-weekly family therapy session on the weekends.
Attendance and active participation in 12-step programs is required. Clients attend up to five meetings per week and must get a sponsor at a meeting. The house also facilitates meetings that utilize the 12-step structure and program principles. Clients must attend the house meeting unless they have a work or school commitment.
Part of programming at Spring House is in-house computer systems training to prepare clients for the workforce. The clinical staff help residents obtain employment and housing within 30 days of beginning treatment. Clients are trained to be more productive, employable and healthy so that they may transition into the community with ease.
All clients are given weekly house chores that they must complete in a timely manner. Each client is also responsible for keeping their own room clean and beds made every morning. Clients must cook their own food and buy their own groceries. If a client needs food stamps or further assistance buying food, the staff helps with obtaining government assistance.
Curfew is 9 pm during the week and 10 pm on weekends. There are no exceptions to the curfew rules unless a client has a work shift or class that goes late. All clients are expected to find their own means of transportation to and from their obligations.
Extras
When clients graduate the Spring House program, they immediately join the alumnae association. Participating in the alumnae association includes sponsoring women in the house, helping with transportation to meetings and being a source of inspiration for current residents. Graduates are encouraged to attend groups if they would like to offer support or need support themselves.
In Summary
The Spring House for women offers a safe, gender-specific space to live while women are still attending or have recently completed a program. All clients must have 30 sober days prior to enrollment and must exhibit responsibility for their recovery and dedication to self-improvement. All clients are put on the fast track to employability, gaining computer skills and developing their resumes with the help of the clinical staff. Spring House works diligently to provide clients with the opportunity to reconnect with their families and become productive members of society.
Spring Halfway House for Women
230 E Ridgewood Ave
Paramus, NJ 07652
Spring House Halfway House for Women Cost: Welfare and Drug Court Funding. Reach Spring Halfway House for Women by phone at (201) 261-3582. Find Spring Halfway House for Women 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.
