From now on a client must be in the program for a certain period before having a cell phone. Of course a loud cry went up. Some needed to contact their families daily. Some were trying to run a business while still in the program. Other needed to contact their kids every day. Some needed to talk to the court system. All sorts of excuses.
But, we had an answer for them also. Each day we have a period when clients can call home. Or take care of any other business. After all, our goal is to not leave them incommunicado. It's to keep them from calling drug using friends or drug dealers.
And even for those who aren't trying to get drugs we don't believe they can focus on their recovery if they constantly have their ear in a telephone. And it's rare to walk down the sidewalk in front of the program without meeting a client who's not on the phone.
We went into the meeting with the expectation of losing probably 30% of our population. But, we miscalculated that because not one person left after the meeting.
But, we'll see what happens tomorrow.
