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Corporate Headquarters
(610) 239-9600
FAX: (610) 239-9195
106 West Main Street
Norristown, PA 19401

ACCESS
Broad Street
Centro De Vida
Centro Primavera
Chambers Hill
    Adolescent Program
Common Ground
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Corporate
    Headquarters
Concept 90
Cumberland
    County Prison
Daniel Snow Halfway
     House
Elsie Shenk Outpatient
Family Alternatives
FIR-ST
Focus House
Fountain Springs
Fresh Start
Gaudenzia Erie, Inc.
    (Crossroads)
Gaudenzia at
     Owings Mills
Gaudenzia at
     Park Heights
Gaudenzia at
     Park Heights
      Outpatient
Gaudenzia at the
    Women's Detention
      Center
Harrisburg Outpatient
Joy of Living
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New Beginnings
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Northumberland
    County Prison
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     County Outpatient
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SCI Chester
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The Bair O'Malley House
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     Men’s Program
Together House
     Women’s Program
Together House
    Short Term 
Vantage
West Chester House
West Chester
     Outpatient
West Shore
    Outpatient

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Gaudenzia's Forensic Intensive Recovery - State Program or FIR-St Program is a 20 bed residential and transitional program under contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. The program provides 24 hour supervision to mentally challenged offenders returning to the Philadelphia region on parole or pre-release. Although many of these men are also drug and alcohol involved, this is not a requirement in their acceptance into the program.

The Gaudenzia FIR-St Program was established to serve men from the Department of Corrections and the PA Board of Probation and Parole who are parole eligible, misconduct-free, stabilized and willing to participate in a community setting. It is Gaudenzia's intention to operate a program that coordinates and provides rehabilitation activities during the day as well as in the evening. Time is also scheduled for recreational and leisure activities.

Many individuals who are seriously mentally ill and who have illegal drug involvement or abuse alcohol may not benefit from traditional mental health services. In order to provide the maximum service potential, Gaudenzia coordinates the drug and alcohol and mental health support services. Substance abuse for a person with a mental disorder leads very quickly to decompensation and disruptions in treatment which, in turn, leads to homelessness, hospitalizations and incarceration. A significant portion of the daily activities are directed toward life skills and stress management, drug and alcohol education and relapse prevention. To further address the mental health disorder, residents practice self-management skills such as making and keeping doctor appointments, taking medications as prescribed, renewing prescriptions and learning as much as possible about their medications and the side effects. A resident of the FIR-St Program will receive at least one hour of individual case coordination daily and be involved in daily process and support groups. Peer groups are also available and facilitated on-site.

CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION:

• Adult Male
• Parole Eligible
• Misconduct-Free for at Least One year
• Medically Stabilized
• Primary Diagnosis of Mental Illness/Personality Disorder (No Mental Retardation)
• Willing to Participate in a Community Setting
• Medication Compliant

SERVICES OFFERED:

• Individual and Group Counseling
• Psychiatric Evaluation & Consultation
• Process & Support Groups
• Peer Groups
• Case Coordination
• Service Coordination/Planning
• Medical Monitoring
• Education Remediation
• Chemical Dependency Education
• Mental Health Groups & Education
• Medication Management
• Life Skills Management
• Stress Management
• Recreation Activities