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410-399-2904 Bel Air, MD 21014 |
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410-399-2904 Bel Air, MD 21014 |
Save the Date!
Our Stiletto Dinner & Fashion Show will be held March 13, 2012.
We currently do not have any beds available. Please contact us if you would like to have your name added to our waiting list.
Click to review the Eligibility requirements for admission to our program.
Resident Manual (244 KB)
What Do I Bring (16 KB)
The long-term program at Homecoming is intended to help the women cope with the problems of everyday life without relying on drugs and alcohol. The majority of the women who come to Homecoming have abused alcohol and drugs for many years. Additionally, many of them have come from troubled families who did not teach them to learn and practice effective coping skills. Without these skills, a woman’s ability to stay clean and sober is greatly minimized.
In order to ensure continuity and cohesiveness, the weekly group therapy focuses on one coping skill at a time until we feel confident that the residents are proficient in that skill. Each woman is assigned specific exercises from the recovery workbook and expected to complete those assignments as part of the group process. The following are the modules selected for the weekly group sessions:
Individual counseling is offered on a bi-weekly basis to each resident. In the beginning of a client’s stay, when cravings may be pulling at her to leave, the counselor will meet with her more frequently. Also, if a client identifies a heightened stress level or becomes emotionally unstable, more counseling is added until the client becomes stable again or has resolved the situation causing stress. At the time of intake, the client is scheduled for an initial bio/psycho/social and needs assessment with the counselor. A treatment plan is developed based on this assessment and will be updated throughout the client’s stay.
While Homecoming does not offer a family program, we do invite family members to visit on Saturday and Sunday. Often, the resident will ask for a pass to go out to lunch with her family or prepare a meal at the house. Residents who are mothers with children living nearby are permitted to have their children sleep over one night per month, if she wishes. If a family wishes to meet with the counselor, time is made available. We often hold co-joint sessions with the resident and her family especially near the time of her discharge. Every effort is made to ensure that the women reconnect with their families, providing that the families are healthy enough to be involved in the recovery process. Throughout the week, the women call their families and children and are encouraged to write letters and send cards, especially to the children.
Given that addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease, ongoing support services are considered a crucial part of preventing relapse and assisting clients in building the foundation for a drug-free life. It is important that the residents be empowered to solve their own problems as often as possible. It is our belief that we will not work harder than our residents for their sobriety. However, if a resident identifies a need, the program manager will provide the resident with possible resources and options. Many times, the women are capable of addressing their own needs but need the coaching and support in order to do so.
As with any extended care facility, the clients come in with myriad unresolved issues. Women come to us homeless and unemployed. They are faced with outstanding legal issues and overwhelming debt. Many of them lack the proper identification such as a photo ID or social security card, which is necessary in obtaining employment. Most women that come to us require follow-up psychiatric care for co-occurring disorders, medical and dental examinations but are uninsured and have no financial means to obtain these necessary services.
At the time of intake, new residents identify their needs and the issues that will need to be resolved. Without case management and the proper support services, most women would crumble under the weight of their “sober to-do” list. They find comfort in knowing that they have up to one year in a safe and supportive environment to “chip away” at their list of unresolved issues. We ask that they put all except their most immediate needs on hold until they have reached Level 2 status in our program which usually occurs within 90 days.
Mandatory, weekly education sessions are presented to the residents. The program manager arranges for local business and government professionals to conduct group sessions at the residence on a range of pertinent topics including money management, professionalism on the job and personal safety. Local professionals in the arts of yoga and acupuncture provide much needed pain and stress management alternatives to support clients in the recovery process. Harford Community Action Agency has been a great local resource for Homecoming clients. Clients have attended their four week “Get That Job” workshop, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, and GED classes and testing.
On the evening of the education session, the women prepare dinner for the speaker and enjoy spending time over the meal to get to know him or her better. Following the session, the residents are asked to complete a simple, questionnaire on the topic presented and how they can apply the information to their sober life.
Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous have proven themselves to be vital tools for the addict in her effort to obtain and maintain sobriety. For some, this program will become a way of life, while others will use their preferred 12-step program in conjunction with their church, counseling or other modalities to support their recovery efforts. Without fail, it has been proven that 12-Step programs are the most successful modalities and has brought happiness and sobriety to millions of alcoholics and addicts. We model our program from the principles taught in Alcoholics Anonymous, such as honesty, willingness, and acceptance. Homecoming requires the residents to attend one meeting daily for 90 days. They are also expected to connect with a sponsor and begin working the 12 steps with their sponsor’s guidance.
Access to physical recreation is essential to the well being of clients as they work to address addiction issues, maintain good health and learn to make better lifestyle choices. Homecoming Project has an in-ground pool on site that provides a calm and relaxing atmosphere for clients to exercise and take water aerobics classes. Therapeutic riding lessons are offered by a partner horse farm in Harford County. Acupuncture treatments and classes in yoga and meditation for stress reduction and drug-free pain relief are donated by local practitioners. Clients also have access to exercise equipment in a newly renovated room, giving them the opportunity to improve their physical strength and endurance. Clients are also encouraged to enjoy the local outdoor resources such as Rock State Park and the Ma and Pa Trail.