Entering a sober living home following drug or alcohol treatment is a smart decision. The best of these locations offer continuance of care, even as they provide dramatic increases in independence and autonomy. For many recovering addicts, they are an essential stepping stone for rejoining the outside world after an intensive, inpatient rehab program has been completed. In sober living homes, clients can go to work, attend school, visit with their loved ones, and engage in many other social and personal activities.
Throughout their time in these homes, all residents must pass drug or alcohol tests, adhere to the rules and guidelines of the home, pay rent, and maintain other responsibilities. Sober living homes are affordable, safe, and ultimately secure spaces that prevent homelessness, relapse, and isolation. They also connect residents with essential services and support. When choosing a sober living home, there are a number of factors that you’ll want to consider. For instance, you should start by deciding whether your sober living home will be close to the place where you’ve received your initial drug or alcohol treatment, or if you want to move closer to your family.
If you’ve found that starting over in a new location has been the best way to avoid harmful environments and relationships, you can look for placement in a space that allows you to continue your fresh start. You should additionally consider the rules that exist in different living environments, and the level of support supplied. Many sober living homes are largely run by residents, however, others are staffed by licensed treatment professionals as well. One of the most important factors to review when making this decision is whether or not sober living homes are certified. Certified sober living homes are better-regulated and better able to provide recovering individuals with the type and level of support they need.
Certified Sober Living Homes Are Regularly and Diligently Inspected
To both achieve and maintain certification, sober living homes must operate according to a very high level of standards. These standards apply to all areas of their operation including cleanliness, strategies for ensuring the safety of residents, the implementation of drug screening programs, access to outside resources, the feasibility of rent charges, and qualified support staff. Depending upon the areas in which sober living facilities are located, each of these and many other checkpoints are inspected during annual, bi-monthly, or semi-annual inspections.
While most sober living homes are designed to offer the same range of services, certified homes meet all of the criteria that are important to recovering individuals. Best of all, they are additionally equipped to make transitioning out of sober living an easy and successful endeavor. Residents rarely leave these facilities without assured housing, solid financial plans, and detailed plans for relapse prevention. As such, choosing to stay in a certified sober living home can increase your likelihood of continued success as you continue to reclaim your freedom and independence.
Certified Sober Living Homes Can Make Referrals to Outside Agencies
When you choose a sober living home that’s certified, you’ll be staying in housing that has access to a vast network of outside agencies. This can be especially helpful for anyone who’s dealing with pressing legal, family, or financial issues. For instance, you can get assistance in:
- Resolving DUI charges and other legal problems
- Finding housing agencies to assist with evictions and other barriers to long-term housing
- Connecting with food, cash, or disability benefits
- Reconnecting with minor children and regaining custody or visitation rights
Although sober living homes that lack certification may be aware of the different agencies that can help you in these areas, they are not active parts of these networks. Certified homes have in-agency contacts and can secure appointments quickly. They can also schedule different agencies to make appearances at in-home community meetings to increase the accessibility of essential forms of aid.
Certified Sober Homes Have Certified Professionals on Staff
All sober living homes both encourage and require residents to take part in the management of day-to-day operations and overall home care. However, it is important for these facilities to have onsite professionals who can provide therapies, support, and other services when needed by residents. Certified staff can make sure that residents are not overusing essential prescription medications, that overdoses and other critical health events do not occur, and that all parties are handling their jobs and individual roles in safe and ultimately ethical ways. If you’re ready to transition to sober living and want to find a certified sober living home, we can help. Call us today at 732-392-7311.
