Friday, April 12, 2013

Women's Outpatient Update

A few months ago we only had two or three live-in clients in the women's outpatient treatment program.  But we were having a bit of conflict between them and the women in the halfway house part of the program.  So to resolve the conflict we paid for them to live in other halfway houses while they continued treatment with us.

One conflict was that our women in treatment don't have to seek employment or work every day. Their job is to attend treatment and follow that schedule. So the women who work, and who adhere to the rules of the halfway house were somewhat envious.

Another conflict arose because clients in the outpatient program would return to the halfway house and mention receiving a therapeutic  massage. Also, they were able to engage in yoga instruction and art classes. And they went on weekend jaunts to the movies, the zoo, or the bowling alley. Plus they had a fitness club membership.

To reduce these conflicts, we rented a house a few blocks from the treatment center big enough to house ten women. We figured that would hold us for a few months. But, we were wrong. Those ten beds were filled the first week.

So we had to find more housing. And we were lucky enough to lease the house next door to provide beds for the next 10 women.

It’s a great challenge to face. What next?