Introduction

We would like to start this meeting by thanking all members of the clinical staff in attendance for allowing us to address a few issues that we have within this program. Our goal in this meeting is to help strengthen this program in ways that we feel will be most beneficial to all current clients and clients of the future. We have come up with various areas of concern that we feel staff really needs to address to enhance the overall morale of the client community. We understand that some measures have been taken due to our own behavior defects and the behavior of failed experiences with clients in the past. All we ask today is that staff take our request seriously and consider the spirit that these topics have been brought up in.

Outside NA/AA Meetings

Outside meetings are very important to us. They allow us to get a real feel for the AA/NA world. We see people who have a lot of clean time and get to hear what steps they've taken to control their addiction. We also see people who are struggling to stay sober, which some of us can relate to and realize either how far we have come and how far we still have to go. Even though it's rarely expressed verbally, we struggle with not using on a daily basis. With the repetition here daily of the same groups over and over, a lot of clients claim they're bored and get complacent. This is when the chatter, jokes, games, and playing enters the groups which distracts others and hinders our treatment process. The nights we are allowed to go to outside meetings serves as a breath of fresh air for us. We have the opportunity to build our recovery network, find sponsors, establish a home group and meet people who have found a new way of life. Opportunities for employment, service positions and recovery housing after treatment can all be found while attending these meetings.

We don't feel that it is fair when the women are deprived of the meetings and the men are only allowed to go. When women are allowed to go, it is not fair to remove the men who have been alleged of being with one of the women to separate the two. Understanding the desire and need to prevent rehab relationships, we are asking for two outside meetings weekly for the men and one outside meeting weekly for the women. These meetings should be consistent and transportation to these meetings should always be available. When our meetings are canceled for whatever reason we experience feelings of anger, frustration, confusion, discouragement and defeat. Attending these meetings regularly is extremely important to us. We have created a page for the clients to describe how they felt in the meeting and it can be found in your paperwork.

Part of this program is having levels for the clients to achieve things as it is believed they become more responsible. Along with the ability to go to the outside meetings we also would like to go to some of the NA and AA events. There is a print out that shows the most local events such as conventions, dances, etc. As we become more responsible men and women that are being integrated back into the world we need to be getting used to going to events like these so we can build up our recovery network with people that are our age. Also we need to be shown and made to believe that we can have fun without the use of drugs because to any of us that do not know anything but getting high that does not exactly sound believable.

In-House NA/AA Meetings

The clients would like to change the daily AA/NA meetings to an earlier time in the day. Clients are not taking these meetings seriously and there are many games being played and distractions while the meeting is going on. People are watching the clock, wishing that the meeting would be over faster so they can work out, watch TV, use the phone and end a day filled with attending groups. We are stuck in between a rock and a hard place, maybe a staff member is needed to monitor the play and chatter going on during the meetings. Most clients are not comfortable sharing where they are at and what they are truly feeling out of fear that what has been shared will get back to staff. The purpose of the meetings are to gain some support from your peers who are struggling just like you but with a different staff member each night it is hard to share comfortably. We need help addressing this issue.

We have developed a schedule and format to bring some structure to our in house NA/AA meetings. We have included a speaker meeting, step meeting, open topic meeting, and a living sober meeting. We believe that this format will help prepare level one clients for outside meeting when those privileges arrive. It also brings a variety to the meetings so that we do not have to listen to the same people share their story repeatedly every night.

Clients may be interested in the Celebrate Recovery Program. The Celebrate Recovery Program integrates the bible and recovery based materials. This program is more focused on the spirituality part of the NA program but also does address the program as a whole. A couple people have shared their interest in this program and we thought it should be brought to your attention.

Community Involvement

Community involvement is a very important part of our recovery process. Seventy-five percent of the Jude House clients came here from prison and our first experiences back into society happen here. Helping us integrate ourselves back into the community in various ways will be beneficial to us. As of right now we have outside meetings and three home pass opportunities. Having regular access to a community library and volunteering opportunities could help strengthen our recovery.

The clients would like to attend the library more frequently. As stated in the Client Handbook on page 22: Under Level 2 privileges.: All levels 2 and 3 clients are allowed to go to the community library. At this point clients are unsure if going to the library is an option and have chosen not to take advantage of this opportunity because staff does not provide us with this option. We would like to have scheduled trips to the library twice a month. Clients should be encouraged to get library cards, check out books, cds' and videos. Also the computers at the library offer a wide variety of options to research, look for jobs, and many other things.

Volunteering is an important part of community involvement and growth not only as an addict but as a human being. Volunteering allows us to connect with other people, increase our social skills, and change selfish behavior. Volunteering will give us the chance to feel emotions such as to promote pride and self-worth. It is good for the mind and body. Self-confidence will be increased, depression will be combated, and it will help us to stay physically fit. Volunteering can also be used for employment experience. It can provide us with contacts and teach us job skills and experience will be provided. Volunteering can benefit the community reputation of the Jude House in a positive way.

Potential volunteering opportunities for us are to clean up after a Blue Crabs game, Adopt a Highway, Homeless Shelter, Animal Shelter, Goodwill, Clean a Beach. Currently Jameika B. is working with Pastor John Lewis and the Community Service Department for the clients to have community involvement.

Employment

We would like more support with trying to find employment before successfully graduating the program. Having a job upon completing this program will help motivate clients to stay clean. We are positive that there are second chance employers that are willing to partner with the Jude House and provide jobs to clients who qualify. Once a client gets close to 80 days in and has completed the Job Readiness Class, some of their treatment should be focused on finding employment. Possibly twice a month we could load the van up with Level 3 clients and go out and look for jobs. A suggestion would be to go to La Plata and to the mall to put in applications.

Client Behavior

We appreciate the support staff holding us accountable for our actions. In order for us to change for the better. We have to first recognize our stinkin thinkin and figure out how to change that thought pattern. We believe that negative behavior should be addressed on an individual basis. Staff has tried to punish the community as a whole in the past and nothing changed, those who chose to do wrong continued to do wrong. Now that we have a point system for those that get in trouble and want to gain their levels back faster, we should start rewarding positive behavior as well. We know that the staff is already developing a system for this purpose so here are our suggestions for some rewards: extra home passes, extra family visits, clients being transported to the store to shop, client to go and see a movie, ability to attend an extra NA/AA meeting or possibly have the ability to go see a Blue Crabs baseball game.

In-House Activities

There have been some suggestions of outside activities but there are also some in-house activities that we would like to be incorporated into the program. We believe that the clients need to have the opportunity to learn new skills while here at the Jude House. We have come up with a few ideas for in-house classes that can show the individuality and creativity of the clients. These classes will not only help us gain life skills but also should improve our self-esteem.

The first would be an art/sewing class. There are plenty of art supplies that can be used for a variety of art projects. A sewing machine has just been purchased for community use and is located on the female side. If any male or female would like to sew there is a client that is very good with the machine and would be able to show them how to use the machine.

Ms. Regina has spoken to us and agreed to teach any client that would like to learn how to cook. She stated that the client could work in the kitchen and learn whatever they would like.

It is felt that this next opportunity is substantially important. Many of the clients do not have the ability to use the computers. There are many programs that can be downloaded for free and taught to the clients. I am sure there are clients that would be willing to take on the challenge of teaching these other clients. The Mavis Beacon typing program for instance is a free online downloadable program. The client could also be taught how to use the internet, e-mail, and how to job search..

In-House Suggestions

Clients get hungry throughout the day as well as in the evening. Clients would like to have a very simple meal or snack available at all times in the kitchen. Some suggestions were bananas, peanut butter and jelly and/or cereal and milk.

Since this is a treatment facility, the clients would like to have NA and AA books available to us at all times. We would also like the How It Works and Why and copies made out of the Step Working Guide available. It is felt that these are necessary to our recovery.

Many of our regular books were taken from the Women's Community Room and sold. There are quite a few of us here that love to read. There are many places that donate books and We would like to get some donated to us.

Clients would like to have a late night with a movie every other weekend as long as their behavior has been appropriate. Clients would be in their separate community rooms. We would like to order a movie and if the clients can pay for it to order in food. We believe that this would build community morale and give clients a chance to bond with one another.

A Community Residents Meeting is being requested regularly. Clients need a meeting without staff involvement where the interpersonal issues as well as any other problems within the community can be addressed. Sometimes clients get nervous when stating problems in front of an authoritative personnel.

We truly feel like there are no phone privileges here. On the mens' wing there are 26 clients with phone privileges trying to use two phones in a hour and a half. The ten minute phone slots only leave us with five minutes to talk once the phone call goes through. Calls home to our families only having enough time to ask for cigarettes and money has a tendency to resemble addict behavior. Is there any way that a block can be placed on the phone so that the pay phones can not call each other? Having both time slots would be very convenient to clients with young children. Clients are fully capable of setting up our own schedule for phone use. The monitors should not be interfering with the clients using the phone unless there is some type of problem. When the monitors start trying to time calls and figure out who is going after who, it always creates unnecessary problems.

Conclusion

We appreciate the time and focus that you are putting into this matter. We hope that you are truly considering the client issues and you will keep an open mind. We understand that all matters may not be met but our hope is that you will help us strengthen the community. Thank You