INTAKE: What should
I expect during the Intake process?
CHECK-IN: What is
the general Check-In procedure?
TOBACCO USE: What
are your policies regarding tobacco use?
PHONE CALLS: How
many can clients receive, and what are the times I can call?
VISITORS: Who can
visit clients and what are the times?
TREATMENT PASSES: What
are they and when do they occur?
MONEY: Can clients
have and use money in treatment?
STEREO/TAPE USE: Can
I bring a tape or CD player?
MEALS: What's for
dinner?
MEDICAL CARE: What
if I get sick?
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE:
Is it possible to attend church?
12 STEP MEETINGS: Does
daybreak have 12-step meetings?
WORK ASSIGNMENTS: Are
there chores to do? What about community service?
RUNAWAYS: Can a
client run away? What happens if they do?
GRADUATION (COIN CEREMONY):
What happens when a client graduates?
SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR CLIENTS TO BRING:
What should we bring?
MEDICATION: How
do you handle prescription and over the counter medications?
ITEMS NOT ALLOWED:
What should we NOT bring?
What is going on with teenagers
that cause them to need inpatient treatment?
Adolescents are emotionally and physically in transition,
and the primary tension is between dependence upon adults, and independence.
It is a time when healthy adolescents are moving toward emancipation
and experimenting with life away from their parents' protection. It
is a time when identity issues are of extreme importance. The adolescent
often feels insecure and alone, joined neither to the role of "child"
nor to the role of "adult." They have a natural tendency to
resist authority and parental control.
It is the responsibility of the adults in the family, culture, and society
to provide guidance, protection, and limits to adolescents, so that
their testing of themselves and their environments will not be too dangerous
or risky. Parents and other key adults must be able to adjust their
relationships with the teenager, continuing to be firm and consistent
in maintaining limits and safety, and being flexible and advisory as
the teen experiments with new behaviors and responsibilities. The process
of redefining and renegotiating these relationships is an essential
part of the adolescent's learning, and must be undertaken in an atmosphere
of safety, consistency, and trust.
Adolescence is a difficult time to address chemical use, abuse, and
dependency. Any chemical use by a teenager (especially frequent, self
destructive, or prolonged use) creates situations that radically distort
both the legitimate dependencies and the movements toward independence
that are so necessary for the young persons and their families. These
situations threaten to disrupt, damage, or destroy the safety and security
of the family and social system.
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What kinds of clients are accepted
into the Daybreak Inpatient Program?
Our program is open to children from 12 to 17 years of
age who have been abusing or who have developed addictions to alcohol
and other drugs. Most of these kids have been unable to address their
substance use in previous attempts at outpatient treatment. Sometimes
this inability is due to problems in their home environment, sometimes
due to depression or anxiety resulting from early traumatic events in
their life.
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Do you accept clients with criminal
backgrounds or on referral from the criminal justice sytem?
The short answer is yes. We do not refuse service
to children and families based solely on the fact that they have been
arrested or are on probation. Being arrested is sometimes the incident
that both causes families to notice that their child is having serious
problems and motivates the child to agree to treatment. We are called
upon to make occasional difficult judgment calls regarding client admissions.
We are NOT a penal institution or detention center and do not desire
to become one. We endeavor to admit kids that can benefit from treatment
in this treatment center. The Admission Counselor spends at least 50%
of her time on the phone with referents and families gathering histories,
setting limits, and requesting evaluations from other treaters to screen
out individuals who would benefit more by incarceration or another treatment
modality or program.
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INTAKE
The intake process is extremely important
to the course of treatment. During that several hour process, the Intake
Counselor will gather a history from the parent and the child, seeking
to find out the specific needs and expectations. Parents will also sit
down with formalize any financial arrangements and sign necessary placement
paperwork. We believe it is important that parent and child understand
and feel as comfortable as possible with the treatment approach and
process.
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CHECK IN
After the client has been admitted, personal
belongings will be checked for any items that are restricted. These
items will be sent home with the parent or confiscated and returned
at the end of the client’s treatment stay. Illegal items such
as drugs, cigarettes or weapons will be disposed of. The person and
belongings of all clients will be thoroughly searched to insure that
no contraband enters the facility. (Parents: During treatment, please
check with the counselor on duty when bringing in any personal items
to your son or daughter.)
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TOBACCO USE
Daybreak Inpatient is a totally tobacco-free
facility. The use of tobacco in and outside the facility is prohibited.
Clients are expected to remain tobacco free during their entire time
in treatment including when on passes at home. The possession of tobacco
by clients is a major infraction. We are aware that many of our clients
have developed an addiction to nicotine as well as to other substances
and that the desire and demand to smoke cigarettes or use other forms
of tobacco may become an issue before and during treatment. Our policy
is to treat our clients for addiction to all harmful substances and
behaviors. Our experience has been that clients who do not sneak tobacco
have very little problem with this transition. We ask that parents who
use tobacco refrain from use while visiting their children on the Daybreak
campus.
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PHONE CALLS
Clients may make and receive phone calls unless calls
are restricted because of behavior or other problems. We do keep them
(and ourselves) very busy and parents who call may find that they are
involved in an activity when they call. The best times to call during
the week are: VANCOUVER – Daily, 4:30-5:15 PM SPOKANE –
Daily , 3:30-4 PM and 6-7:15 PM; Weekends, 1-3 PM.
Clients can sometimes make outgoing calls during the days, activities
permitting. Phone calls are limited to 10 minutes and are loosely monitored
by staff members. All long distance calls made by clients must be collect
or on a client's calling card unless other arrangements are made with
the Primary Counselor. If there are family emergencies or unpleasant
news, please let a staff member know before we put your child on the
phone.
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VISITORS
All visitors must be approved by parents/guardians
and Daybreak staff. Visiting time is from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturdays
and 2 to 5pm on Sundays, unless an alternate time has been set up with
the Primary Counselor. In Spokane, after visiting hours on Saturday
is Parent’s Group, from 11:00 am to 12:30 p.m., which all parents
are encouraged to attend. Until the client is on Phase II, only family
members may visit. Non-family visitors must be approved by the Primary
Counselor and the parent.
To maintain security and in deference to the privacy of
all the clients, we ask that visitors observe certain guidelines:
Please do not give your child pop, snacks or candy.
Daybreak will provide these items at appropriate times and phases.
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TREATMENT PASSES
Building in a little time with parents and
guardians outside of the treatment environment is sometimes an important
part of inpatient treatment. The Primary Counselor will work with parents
and clients to arrange such outing when it fits with the treatment plan.
Clients and parents will alwayus have some ‘homework’ to
do together during the pass. We ask that parents maintain close observation
during passes. We see passes as a time to work on reuniting with the
family and not as a time to spend time with their friends.
Clients with problem behavior are not allowed to
go on a pass. The timing and advisability of a trip home or out with
the parent is discussed and arranged early in the week. We try to schedule
the return from passes very carefully so that adequate staff is available
to chat briefly with the parents and the client. The time out with parents
(and the return to treatment) can sometimes be more emotionally charged
than it seems. It is important that the child to Daybreak at the time
specified. It is also important that parents enter the building with
your child, sign in, and turn him or her over to a staff member. Sometimes
our children try to sneak contraband into the building, so we must maintain
a level of security.
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MONEY
Clients are not supposed to have money in
their possession while they are in treatment. Their money should go
into their account, which is taken care of by the Business Office. An
initial amount of $20 or so is normally sufficient for most client’s
needs. They only have access to this money during business hours, Monday
through Friday. They can access the money (with Primary Counselor’s
consent) to give donations at meetings and also when they are going
on pass. Daybreak keeps specific personal hygiene products in stock
so that clients with funds on record may purchase items such as shampoo,
toothpaste, over-the-counter medications, etc. A list of items carried
can be requested from the business office. The cost of these items is
deducted from their account. If they bring money back after a pass,
parents should make sure that it is given to a staff member to be put
in an envelope having the client sign it and put away in the lock box
in the business office.
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STEREO/TAPE USE
Personal music devices are allowed subject to program guidelines. This
is a privilege that staff may withdraw if it interferes with treatment
or there are problem behaviors.
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MEALS
All meals at Daybreak are prepared by staff. We attempt to insure that
well-balanced, nutritious meals are available and they will receive education
regarding proper nutrition. We encourage the clients to take what they
want, but eat what they take. Staff supervision is important at mealtime
and staff members sit in the dining room with the clients and monitor
their behavior. We pray before meals but this is not a requirement. Clients
not wishing to participate in meal time prayers are asked to sit quietly.
Please inform the Intake Counselor at the time of
intake of any special dietary needs or allergies. We do everything we
can to accommodate these needs. Parents are requested to not give their
child food, candy, gum, soda pop, etc. We try to keep sugar intake at
a minimum during treatment and the Department of Health does not allow
any food in the client rooms.
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MEDICAL CARE
All residents should have physical exams before their entry into Daybreak.
In Spokane, if physical complaints arise, we generally will have clients
see the staff nurse on either Tuesday or Thursday. The advice of the
nurse is taken into consideration and request for physician visits are
made according to the nurse’s recommendation. In Vancouver, clients
with physical problems are transported to the appropriate clinic. All
staff are trained in basic first-aid and CPR.
Parents of local clients are encouraged to transport
their children to their family doctors, although we will take them in
emergencies or if the parent is not available. Please consult with your
child’s Primary Counselor at the time of intake regarding special
medical needs. We are not allowed by Department of Health rules to give
over-the-counter medications not on our standing orders without written
authorization of a medical doctor. As clients are not allowed to share
bottles of medications, clients who are taking over-the-counter medications
with parent approval (such as non-aspirin or Pepto-Bismal) should bring
these items in an unopened container to the facility. OTC medications
which are on our standing orders may also be purchased at Daybreak and
deducted from the client’s account.
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RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE
The right of our clients to observe their religious faith is respected
and encouraged within the boundaries of State and Federal law. Prayers
before meals are part of Daybreak’s daily routine. These prayers
are voluntary and no one is pushed to participate. Parents are encouraged
to take their children with them to the church of their choice. Because
of staffing limitations and the relative brevity of treament, it is
normally the responsibility of the parents to transport their children
to and from church. There are two Bible Study groups offered during
the week for clients who are interested.
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12 STEP MEETINGS
The philosophy of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous is strongly emphasized
in our program and we believe participation in these and similar support
groups both during and after treatment is important to a total recovery
program. Your child will have the opportunity to attend one or two 12-step
meetings every week in and outside the facility. At times a child may
be restricted from outside activities, such as 12-step meetings if their
behaviors are problematic.
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WORK ASSIGNMENTS
The general maintenance of the facility is the responsibility of the
staff. Clients are assigned daily household chores as part of the treatment
plan and to encourage development of responsibility and caring for their
environment. Clients with community service hours to complete can sometimes
be assigned special work assignments during the clients free time.
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RUNAWAYS
Many clients will want to run from treatment at some point, usually
early on in their stay. The use of drugs has kept them from learning to
cope with their emotions, and it quickly becomes apparent to them that
they will have difficulty avoiding confronting their many conflicting
feelings during treatment. Running is normally either an impulsive or
a manipulative attempt to convince their parents to allow them to return
home.
When a client decides to run, every effort is made
to dissuade him or her. All external doors are equipped with alarmed,
time-delayed locks to delay impulsive running and allow staff time to
intervene. If the client leaves the premises, we may attempt to follow
them and encourage them to return.
Police may be dispatched to apprehend clients who are court ordered
into treatment, depending upon their availability. If a client does
run away, Daybreak will file a run report with the local police. The
client's family, caseworker, and/or probation officer will also be contacted.
If the parents are not home, repeated efforts are made to contact them.
The client's belongings are bagged up, labeled and stored in an attempt
to keep them from becoming lost or stolen. However, Daybreak will not
be responsible for items lost.
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COMPLETION CEREMONY
Completion ceremonies are our formal goodbyes. We form a circle
and take turns giving the graduating client feedback and well wishes
as we say our goodbye. Parents are encouraged to attend. It is a very
real (and sometimes difficult) accomplishment for our kids to complete
the program. It honors the clients who have made it to graduation and
it reminds all of us of the sometimes enormous changes that have occurred
with the clients who are completing.
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SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR CLIENTS
TO BRING
