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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
Community House
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
Kindred House
Metropolitan Transition
    Center (MTC)
Nelson Education
    Center
New Beginnings
New Destiny
New Image
New View
Northumberland
    County Prison
Outreach I
Outreach II
People with Hope
Philly House
Prince George’s
     County Outpatient
Progress House
Recovery House
Re-Entry
SCI Chester
SCI Dallas
Siena House
Sunbury Outpatient
The Bair O'Malley House
Together House
     Men’s Program
Together House
     Women’s Program
Together House
    Short Term 
Vantage
West Chester House
West Chester
     Outpatient
West Shore
    Outpatient

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Fresh Start is a long-term residential drug and alcohol treatment program for young adults (Ages 18-25). Fresh Start utilizes a Therapeutic Community (TC) approach to treatment. This approach develops the resident's capacity to maintain a productive and substance-free lifestyle through positive alternative coping techniques. The program combines therapeutic, educational and motivational methods to foster the rehabilitative process.

The program is structured in three phases: orientation, intensive therapy, and re-entry. During orientation, the client is introduced to the TC philosophy and rules. The intensive phase includes individual and group counseling, drug and alcohol education, work therapy, support group involvement and vocational and educational guidance.

After successful completion of the intensive treatment, the resident begins to prepare for transition into the community. Strong emphasis is placed on developing a comprehensive support system and a continuing care plan. This plan is followed through in a cooperative effort involving the client, Gaudenzia staff and the continuing care provider. The resident can then move into the re-entry phase in which he/she continues to live at the facility while working and/or attending school in the community.

The resident continues to receive individual and group therapy, and attends AA and NA meetings. Prior to discharge from the program, arrangements are made for the resident to be enrolled in a halfway house or outpatient program in his/her area of residence. An integral part of the continuing care plan requires that the client also obtain an AA/NA sponsor within 30 days after discharge.

EDUCATION

Educational goals will be developed for each client and obtaining higher education is strongly encouraged. A G.E.D. Specialist works with residents who have not graduated from high school. In other instances, tutoring is conducted at a level appropriate to the resident's academic achievement.

RECREATION

Exercise and recreation are a regular part of the daily program. On and off site recreation services are offered.

SERVICES OFFERED: