Engaging residents and their families is a core part of the Hope House program and model. Our philosophy is that treatment and recovery is most successful when it involves not just the individual, but their whole support system as well. We have developed numerous ways to actively involve both residents and their loved ones in the journey towards lasting recovery and rehabilitation.
From the very start of a resident’s stay with us, we work to build strong relationships with their family and support network. When someone is first admitted, we schedule an intake meeting with their emergency contact or closest family member to discuss our program in detail. This allows us to collect important background information, address any initial concerns, and communicate our family-inclusive approach.
Within the first week, we schedule a mandatory family program orientation where a treatment team member explains our various family programs and engagement opportunities. This helps families understand the different ways they can be involved to support their loved one’s recovery. We provide educational materials on addiction and the recovery process to address any questions or misunderstandings family members may have.
After the orientation, residents and their families work together with clinicians to develop an individualized family involvement plan. This outlines specific goals for family participation based on the resident’s treatment goals and each family’s needs and availability. Plans may include anything from weekly family therapy sessions, to scheduled family activities, to participation in our family support group. The plans are re-evaluated monthly to track progress and make adjustments.
Our on-site family therapy services are a major part of engaging families constructively in the recovery process. Within the first month, residents begin attending weekly multi-family therapy sessions with their loved ones to discuss relationship and communication issues affected by addiction. Through these sessions, families learn effective ways to support recovery while setting healthy boundaries. Individual family therapy is also available to directly work on any underlying family dynamic issues contributing to substance use.
We also host monthly on-site family education workshops on various topics like co-dependency, relapse prevention strategies, self-care for caregivers, and how to establish a sober home environment. These are open to all residents’ families and provide valuable supplemental addiction education outside of therapy. Feedback from these activities helps us identify additional workshop topics families find most helpful.
For families unable to participate in on-site programming due to distance or scheduling, we provide remote involvement options. Monthly phone check-ins with individual clinicians allow regular treatment updates and support. We also hold weekly online family support groups where distant loved ones can connect with others experiencing similar challenges. Both residents and families receive training on our secure videoconferencing platform to facilitate virtual family sessions if needed.
Beyond our clinical programming, we coordinate regular fun, recreational family activities to foster bonding in a positive, sober environment. This includes things like weekly on-site family movie nights, monthly Friday game nights, art projects, and seasonal outdoor activities. Residents look forward to these special events as incentives to meet treatment goals. They help nurture the healthy relationships and support systems critical for long-term success.
Our staff are also available 24/7 by phone for emotional support, situational advice, and crisis intervention for families throughout a resident’s care. We understand stressful events or concerns may arise unexpectedly, so providing this consistent access helps families feel invested in the recovery journey. Feedback is also gathered through regular satisfaction surveys to further enhance our family services.
Our goal is to empower families as active members of the recovery team. By breaking down barriers through education and relationship-building activities, we aim to cultivate strong, sober support systems residents can rely on for life after treatment. Engaging both residents and their loved ones is vital for achieving and maintaining long-lasting recovery.