LIFE IN THE COUNTRY!

WHILE YOU ARE AT NEW LIFE TREATMENT CENTER…

RESPECT OTHERS – both staff and other residents.  Treat them the way you would like to be treated.  This is a challenging time for residents as you all seek change.  Have patience with one another.  The staff is here to help and one of the ways we do that is to have a structure in place to make this a productive time for all.  Please honor that structure - even when it does not appear to make sense.  Each of these rules is here for a reason.  If you do not understand…ask!  Group living can be challenging, so it is important to treat one another with respect.  Please respond graciously when reminded of the rules by a staff member, your captain or a fellow group member.

RESPECT THE FACILITY – it is not perfect but we work hard to keep it clean and welcoming! Please help us with that!

RESPECT THE PROGRAM AND THE PROCESS – TRUST IT!

There is no sure way for us to write a rule for every situation. However, if you respect the treatment process it will work!!!  The rest of this document are guidelines to follow in order to accomplish the goals of the three statements above.

When you first arrive:

1.       You may use the phone after your first three days of treatment. This break allows you to settle in, focus on treatment, and become accustomed to life here at NLTC without the distraction of the outside world.  The three days begins from the first day of detox or first day of Inpatient. For example, client admitted on Monday you would have privileges on Friday.

Important things to know about our program:

1.    You will be busy while at NLTC.  We want you to get the most out of your time with us and to contribute to the recovery journey of the others in your group. Rest periods are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday after lunch until 1:25 PM. Any clients who are ill during the day will not be able to participate in any activities like pool, volleyball, TV, and more.  They will use this time to recuperate in their room from their illness.

2.   You must be up by 7:15 a.m.  You may not go back to bed after breakfast.  During this time, you should be doing chores, preparing for group, and getting ready for the day. This is expected and not optional.

3.   Attendance and promptness at all activities is required and shows respect to the staff and fellow residents. This is important so that vital program time is not wasted and so all clients can get the maximum benefit of the treatment program.  One bell ring will ring 5 minutes before group or session starts. By this time, clients should be already heading to either group or in-group.  Leaving the group during program is disruptive and strongly discouraged.  Be sure you use the restroom, etc. before group begins. You are not allowed to leave group to fill your beverage cup during group.

4.   During programming hours the pool table, exercise equipment or other games will be off limits.  Clients may use the walking paths in between groups. The only exception on male side is the Pool/Exercise room will be open on Wednesday for family day.

5.   Group and lecture rooms are sometimes cool so you are encouraged to wear a jacket or sweater, if necessary.  Light shawls or wraps will be allowed in the group room.  Please leave blankets and quilts in your room during program activities. 

6.   Client must be respectful at all times to guest speakers.  There will be no sleeping, cross-talking, rudeness, walking out of meetings or any other behaviors deemed as disrespectful.

7.   You may only leave the facility grounds for AA/NA meeting and for church attendance (escorted by staff), or for medical appointments or court dates. 

8.   Calls to or from alumni who have left the program in the past 30 days are discouraged. These calls often become gossip and have the potential to compromise confidentiality. We want you to remain focused on your program here and allows them to transition to their support network outside of NLTC:

The following may result in immediate dismissal:

1.       If you are found using or in possession of any mood altering chemicals and/or gambling you may be immediately discharged.

2.       The men and women’s units are separate.  It is important that during your time at NLTC, you are focused on recovery and keeping the programs separate minimizes distractions.  If you behave inappropriately with any other resident, appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including immediate dismissal, will result.

3.       If you tamper with the security system or fire alarms, you may be immediately dismissed and will be fined $150.00.

4.       Any theft or destruction of property may be considered grounds for dismissal and legal charges.

Important things to know about sharing life at NLTC:

1.       Men and women are not allowed in each other’s units for ANY REASON without a staff escort.  If you wish to speak with staff on the opposite unit, you may leave a request at the nurse’s station.  The men’s unit is defined as: the men's lounge and sleeping area; the men's exercise room and chapel; the South group room; and the South smoking facility.  The women’s unit is defined as the women's lounge and sleeping area; the North group room; the North lecture room; and the West smoking facility.

2.       Telephones are available on Monday-Friday from 6:30-10:30 pm and Saturday from 4:30-10:30 pm. You may have up to 3 phone calls per day, for a total time of no more than 30 minutes per day.  On Sunday you may use the phone all day from 8:30 am-10:30 pm.  Please be mindful that the number of calls and the time limits do not change on weekends. Clients will work out a mutually agreed upon schedule.  Clocks will be visible to those using the client phones. You are expected, when making or taking a call, to note the time and hold yourself accountable to observe the posted limits.  You may NOT call any resident on the opposite unit. Abuse of phone privileges or conflict requiring staff intervention may result in the loss of phone privileges for one or more clients.

3.       You may watch television from 6:30 AM until you go to Breakfast for morning news, spiritual content, and after the late afternoon lecture/film until 11:00 PM on weekdays and on Saturday after the last group/video until 11:30 pm.  On Sunday, you may watch television any time after the spiritual journey presentation until 11:00 pm.  Shows that regularly depict addiction and use, are known to trigger cravings, are sexually inappropriate or have questionable content of any kind may be banned or restricted at the staff’s discretion.

4.       Activities such as games, cards, etc., must be finished by 11:00 pm.  Quiet time after11:00 pm.  From 11:00pm-12:00 am, you will have time to work quietly on your individual program, such as meditation, reading, finishing assignments, getting ready for bed, last smoke, shower, etc.  Be in your own bed and lights out by midnight.  Between the hours of 12:00-7:00 am, you must notify the nursing staff when you go outside to smoke and when you return.

5.       Please respect your group by napping at appropriates times (not during programming) in your room and leaving the couches for those who want to watch TV or interact as a group.  Please respond respectfully if reminded by staff, the captain or fellow group members.

6.       Your room is to be neat and orderly.  You are responsible to keep for your own area/sleeping area clean and orderly. Please do not sit or lay down in each other’s bed.  Beds are to be made daily and personal belongings put in order before morning program begins.  This demonstrates respect for yourself and for those with whom you share the space.

7.       You are expected to be neat, modest, with good personal appearance at all times.  You are encouraged to shower daily and tend to your personal hygiene needs. No perfume or cologne allowed due to sensitivity of other clients.

(Your personal hair clippers may only be used in the detox bathroom.  Clients may not cut each other hair and you are NOT to give clippers to your  fellow peers (health code issue) . Clients may have family members cut their hair in detox bathroom if the bathroom is available. Cutting hair must be done when ALL programming is over). 

8.       Clock radios are provided, must be kept in the room and may be played quietly. No radios are to be in the bathroom.  Radios are also not permitted outside with an extension cord per Fire Marshal.  No scissors, headphones sets, cameras, cell phones, televisions, watches with internet access, or computers are allowed in residents’ rooms.

9.       Men and women are to be fully clothed during daytime hours.  No exposed belly buttons, low cut shirts, spaghetti strap, or tank tops.  Shirts are to be worn at all times. Clothing with drug and alcohol references, other negative messages or sexual innuendoes are not allowed. Shorts must be worn at a length below the fingertips of your arm when extended down by your side.  There will be no swim wear permitted. Adequate cover-up or robe must be worn at night when using the bathroom facilities. No bare feet. Shoes or slippers must be worn in the dining room and during the program day.   Hats and hoods can be worn outside, but should be taken off coming back indoors.  Hoodie sweatshirts may be worn in group or lecture with the hood down.  Sunglasses may be worn on top of head, unless noted otherwise by staff.

10.   Smoking is permitted outside the west entrance for women and south entrance for the men. Do not smoke on the east side door by the Men’s chapel.  Please dispose of your cigarette butts in proper container.   Please smoke either in the smoke shack or 20 feet away from the doors to the facility.  No smoking of cigarettes is allowed in the building. Chewing Tobacco is allowed, however do not throw or spit tobacco in garbage.  Chewing Tobacco is not allowed during any groups (chapel, groups, lectures, church etc) and in cafeteria at any time. Staff at any point can ask client that chews to spit it out.  Clients may use the tobacco roller after programming hours are completed for the day.  Please roll cigarettes in the lounge not in your bedroom, and clean this up after done rolling cigarettes.

11.     Staff can purchase cigarettes for you on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.  Please have your request into nurse’s station by 10:30 am on those days. NLTC will have rolled cigarettes for the clients that have no other options for cigarettes.  Cost is 2 dollars for 10 cigarettes.  E-cigarettes, vaping, cigars, or pipes are not allowed at the Center.

12.   No display of any sexually explicit material, including inappropriate personal photographs.

13.  No gambling of any kind is permitted. 

14.   There will be no videos except those used in the program.

15.   Vulgar and coarse language, sexual, racial or personally demeaning remarks and swearing is disrespectful and could lead to discipline actions if not corrected.  Remember, part of you making change is doing inventory of all aspects of self.  This includes making changes with your conversations.

16.   You may paint your nails only on Wednesday and Sunday. This respects the nurses’ need to prioritize their time and work. 

17.   There will be designated times for medications.  The following is the schedule:   Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 6:30-7:30 am, 11:45-1:00 pm, 5:00-6:00 pm, 9:00-10:00 pm.  Wednesday: 6:30-7:30 am, 11:45-1:00 pm, 5:30-6:00 pm (men only), 6:00-6:30 pm (women only) 9:00-10:00 pm.  Sunday: 6:30-9:00 am, 11:45-1:00 pm, 5:00-6:00pm, 9:00-10:00pm.  THE ALPHA-stim, and PRN Medications-no time constraints.  Please know that the Nursing staff will do their very best to answer the door as soon as they can.   Please knock respectfully.  Also, know that there will be times that the duties  of our job, we may not be able to get to the door quickly or even at all.  At those times we will do our best to communicate with you.

18.   No pets allowed in the building or on the property unless it is a service dog or specifically approved by Executive Director.  Please do not feed the wildlife or stray animals.

19.   You must be in the building by dark, except for program activities such as AA/NA meetings or church attendance.

20.   Your responsibilities and phone schedule are completed on Sunday evening at the in-house meeting with a Tech.  The designated “captain and co-captain” are responsible for reminding clients of assigned duties.  Captain and co-captain are those who have seniority while at New Life. If duties are not being completed, the captains will let either the Program Director or counselor know.

21.   No eating, drinking, or storing open foods in residents’ rooms. No energy drinks, microwave popcorn, or foods that require shelling allowed.

22.   Your friends & family members may make purchases only for you.  Purchases may not be made for other clients in treatment.

Sober Activities and Service Projects:

1.       There will be an opportunity for structured sober living activities and/or service projects in the evenings and on weekends.  During these times, you are expected to be where your group is.  You are expected to participate as you are able.

Visitors & Family Day

1.       Family Day is on Wednesday from 9:00 am-4:15 pm.  Visitors are encouraged on Sunday for men from 12:30 - 3:00 pm and for women from 3:15 - 5:45 pm. 

2.       All visitors must check in at the nursing station and have staff check in all items brought for client.  Items that is not appropriate will be given back to visitor to return to car immediately.   Visitors must leave cell phones and all bags and purses in their vehicles. You may not go to any visitors’ vehicles during visitation.  Any visitors who act inappropriately and/or appear to be under the influence will be asked to leave.  We also may need to also call appropriate Law Enforcement Agency due to inappropriate behaviors of any kind.

3.       Visitors are encouraged to protect the privacy of the residents by staying out of the bedrooms.  Please ask your visitors to respect the confidentiality of the other residents, just as you would want your confidentiality respected.  No inappropriate displays of affection.

The Kitchen and Dining Room:

1.       Kitchen is off limits.  This is a health regulation.

2.       You must attend all meals, unless excused by staff.  Appropriate clothing is required.  Please do not wear sleepwear or pajamas in the dining room at any meal.  Please do not bring blankets or quilts to the dining room.

3.       For breakfast, ALL clients must meet for prayer in either the gym for the women or the hallway by the cafeteria for the men.  Breakfast will be served as a COME AND GO meal, which means you may eat and leave without waiting for the next person to finish.  This will give clients ample time for showering, chores, and preparing for the day ahead.  All other meals will be 20 minutes long, beginning when the last person in line sits down.  We want you to enjoy and appreciate the meal in front of you.  Lots of planning and hard work went into it.  We want you to enjoy the people around you.  We want you to enjoy the down time in your day that mealtime brings. Relax!

4.       Women may use the pop machine/vending machine/dining room from breakfast until lunch.  Men have access to dining room after lunch until the women’s evening meal and after 6:30 pm. Clients will only have access to the vending machines during the times that have been set. During meal times please purchase your snacks and drinks to hold you until your designated time.  There may be designated times for the women to go to the vending machines as a group after the program day, at the discretion of the tech/nursing staff.  On Sunday morning, men and women eat in their respective lounge areas. 

5.       Coffee is available in Men and Women Lounges.  No other coffee may be brought in to our Facility, please drink the coffee provided by NLTC.  The strength of coffee is at maximum level for caffeinated coffee. 

6.       Please bring any dirty dishes to the cafeteria when you come for meals. Men should also bring any dirty dishes at bedtime.

7.   Food being served during meals or stored in the kitchen may leave the cafeteria only with approval of kitchen staff, please talk with kitchen staff about the directions needed to be done before food is allowed to leave cafeteria.

 The Exercise Room:

1.       You may play staff-approved music or watch television at a respectful volume in the exercise room.  If staff asks for you to turn the volume down, please do so.  Remember the staff is working and may need for the level of volume to be lower.  Please be respectful of the noise level in these rooms, due to the close proximity to nurses station, and client phones. 

2.       Please treat the equipment with respect. No sitting, standing or lying on the pool table.  Pool cues are to be used to play pool and for NO other purpose.

The Gym:

1.       No dodgeball or kicking ANY balls (i.e. basketballs, volleyballs, etc.).

2.       Please close all doors when you are in the gym.  If they are open, please close them before you begin to use the gym.

3.       You may play staff-approved music at a reasonable and respectful volume in the gym.

4.        Gym times are posted on the doors outside of the gym at specified times.  Men:  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 6:50-8:00 pm, Wednesday from 7:30-8:30 pm.  Also will have Gym Availability from 9:50-10:30 pm  Women:  Monday & Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6:00-6:45 pm & 9:00-9:45 pm, Wednesday from 6:00-6:55 pm Sunday from 9:00-9:45 pm.