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AFFINITY HOUSE

2014 RESIDENT HANDBOOK

3042 Kilbourne Avenue, Eau Claire WI 54703

715-833-0436 (office)

715-833-0705/715-855-5048 (resident phone)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Topic PageWelcome 3Orientation and Initial Tasks 4Rules and Expectations 5Sanctions 6Rewards 7Additional Information 7Budgeting 7Correctional Clients and the “Criminal Code” 7Employment 7Mail 8Medical, Court, Mental Health Appointments 8Passes 8Telephone 9Transportation 9Urinalysis/Breath Analysis Testing 10Visiting 10Primary Residential Inpatient Treatment Schedule 11Transitional Residential Treatment (TRT) Schedule 12Non-AODA Schedule 13Emergency Procedures 14Client Rights/Grievance Process Brochure 15

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Welcome to Affinity House, we’re glad you’re here! Our staff is committed to helping you make the changes necessary to improve the quality of your life. Although this may be a difficult time in your life, you have the opportunity to turn things around and to grow as a woman of strength. Affinity House is owned and operated by Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan and has been in existence since 1988, helping hundreds of women to find a new path to recovery and positive change. We are here to help you build on your strengths and discover new opportunities to make your life more fulfilling.

Our program goals at Affinity are simple and straightforward: to help women achieve and maintain lasting recovery from addiction and/or to make important changes in thinking and avoid further correctional consequences. Most women come to our program for treatment of addictions and/or correctional programming. Whether you are here for “just” addictions treatment or “just” correctional programming, rest assured that while both issues are closely inter-related, the counseling staff will individualize a treatment plan that will meet your needs.

There are 3 types of programming at Affinity House. This handbook contains information about each type of programming and you’ll be directed to the sections that pertain to your individual situation and needs.

Primary Residential Inpatient Treatment: This 21 day program will provide you with the basis to start your journey to recovery from addiction. For clients referred by the Wisconsin Department of Community Corrections, this program will also address correctional issues.

Transitional Residential Treatment (Halfway House): This programming will address both continued recovery from addiction and also correctional issues for those in need while helping you build a bridge back to the community.

Non-AODA Correctional Programming: If you do not have substance abuse issues, this program will target just the criminogenic issues that have brought you to Affinity House.

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Orientation and Initial Tasks: All New Residents

Based on your history and referral information, a counselor has been assigned to work with you throughout your stay at Affinity House. Depending on her work schedule and what time of the day you arrive at Affinity House, she will introduce herself to you today or tomorrow and will schedule an individual session with you during your first 2 - 3 days at our facility. Your first session will be spent getting to know each other a little bit and putting together your treatment plan. In order to prepare for this session, your first tasks (start working on these today!) are:

Read through the this Handbook thoroughly. Ask questions if you’re unsure about anything, any staff person can answer most questions.

Pay particular attention to the program rules, these are enforced but are relatively easy to follow if you are invested in making change.

Complete the Intake Questionnaire and have it ready for your meeting with your counselor Complete the Problem Areas/Strengths list

Each week, your counselor will set aside time for an individual session with you. She and you will first review your treatment plan and assignments from the previous week, address any problems or successes, and then you will have time to talk about any issues that are important to you. Always come to your session with some type of agenda, an idea of what problems you need to discuss.

You will be given 2 notebooks at admission. One is for your assignments and homework. The second notebook is for journaling; attempt to write in this daily to chart your personal recovery and change journey. This journal will often be the catalyst for the discussions you’ll have during your individual sessions.

The best type of format to address both addictions and criminogenic issues is in a group setting. As you look through this handbook, you will see that the majority of our services are therefore offered in a group format. You’ll be expected to not only attend all groups on your schedule but also to participate fully. This means that you’ll have completed homework each day and be ready to present if called upon, that you’ll volunteer for role plays, you’ll give feedback to your peers, you’ll share honest information about yourself and your struggles and successes, and that you’ll be open to hearing feedback from both staff and your peers.

If you are here to find recovery from addiction, your addiction has most certainly impacted your family. If you are involved with the criminal justice system, this has also had an affect on your family. At some point during your stay at Affinity House, you and your family or significant other(s) will be involved in the Family Connection Program. Your counselor will discuss this in detail with you. Now is a good time to begin thinking about who you would like to invite. Your counselor will ask you to sign a release of information for this purpose.

Staffings are a time when you, the Affinity House staff, and your referral source will get together to review your progress in treatment, make decisions about passes, and problem solve any difficulties you are having. For DOC residents, these occur at least twice monthly or more often if needed. While in primary treatment, staffing occurs weekly and may or may not include DOC or your county referral source, depending on their availability.

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Program Rules and Information

AFFINITY HOUSE EXPECTATIONSExpectations are designed to promote positive routine and structure into your daily living and to maintain a recovery/change-orientated atmosphere.

1. Attend all scheduled activities on time, with assigned homework complete.2. Attend a minimum of 2 Community support groups per week. Your counselor can assist you in

choosing activities that will meet this requirement. Activities that are solely directed toward your recovery efforts are strongly encouraged, most easily accessed, and free: AA, NA, Rational Recovery, church-based recovery groups, etc. If you are non-AODA client, your counselor will assist you in identifying appropriate community supports.

3. Residents are to keep their rooms neat & orderly every day, including beds made. The rooms must be cleaned, dusted and vacuumed every week; you need to wash your bed linens and towels weekly.

4. Residents are allowed only the items which will fit neatly in dressers and the closet. 5. Residents must complete their assigned daily chores at the designated times and/or as directed by

staff. 6. There is no smoking in the Affinity House. You are to use the outside designated smoking areas. This

includes electronic cigarettes.7. Residents are to be out of bed, showered, dressed and meds taken by designated times (see schedule).

Weekend hours apply to holidays.8. Residents may have a small radio/boom-box. No full sized stereo systems are allowed. These will be

played at a low volume at all times and must be turned off when you are out of your room. Headphones can be used during free time after 8 pm weekdays or during non-program times on weekends. .

9. No food or beverages are allowed on the carpeted areas or in your bedrooms.10. Residents may NOT have cell phones, personal computers, handheld video games, full sized gaming

systems, personal TVs/DVDs etc. while living at Affinity House. If you come with a cell phone you must turn it in at the office.

11. Residents must be fully dressed, including footwear. Shoes or slippers must be worn at all times when outside one’s bedroom.

12. There is no gambling of any type while residing at Affinity House. This includes, but is not limited to, casino gambling, poker, lottery tickets, pull-tabs and betting.

13. Borrowing or lending money between residents is not allowed. Borrowing your personal items to another resident is at your own risk and is discouraged by staff. If the item is broken, damaged or not returned Affinity House is not responsible.

14. Residents will show staff all receipts for new purchases. 15. You may NOT enter or go into another resident’s room to visit.16. Residents are expected to be in their rooms and ready for bed as noted on the program schedule.17. Residents are expected to treat staff, peers and guests respectfully. Residents will comply with staff

directives respectfully.18. Residents will not get any new body piercings or tattoos while residing at Affinity House.19. All personal items will be put away before you leave the house.20. If you are too sick to go to work or attend programming, you will need to remain at the house for the

day (unless you go to the doctor), and you will need to remain in bed/room for the day and no visitors will be allowed on that day.

21. Sign out properly anytime you leave the property. You’ll need to provide address of your whereabouts as well as a correct time-frame and the time you will return. Sign back in upon your return.

22. Furniture re-arranging and making nail holes or taping things on/in the walls is not allowed. You may place pictures on bulletin boards, dresser and nightstands.

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AFFINITY HOUSE RULES

Breaking the following rules implies a disregard for your personal recovery/change and may interfere with the efforts of other residents. Breaking these rules also indicates a lack of motivation to invest in change.

1. Residents may not possess, use or sell alcohol or other drugs. Any resident with knowledge of another resident’s use must inform staff.

2. The purchase of any and all over the counter medications must be pre-approved by your counselor prior to the purchase. You will need a physician’s prescription in order to take OTC medications.

3. All medications (both prescription and over-the-counter) will be kept in the staff office. You must come to the staff office prepared to take your medications with a beverage. Staff will monitor and log your medication use.

4. Residents may not be in bars, eating establishments that serve alcohol or head shops for any reason.5. Residents must comply with urinalysis or breath analysis upon staff request. Failure to comply will be

viewed as a positive test result. 6. Violence or threats of violence are not allowed. This does include all forms of verbal/physical threats

and verbal/physical harassment.7. Your priority is to strengthen your recovery from addiction and criminal/negative behaviors. You are

not to enter into any new or exclusive relationships (sexual, romantic or dating) while a resident of Affinity House.

8. There will be no sexual acting out in any form or with another individual on Affinity House property or during scheduled outside activities.

9. Residents may not possess weapons of any kind.10. If a resident’s whereabouts are unknown to staff, that resident will be considered to have absconded

from the program. If a resident does not return from a pass on time, that resident will be considered to have absconded from the program.

11. Residents must comply with all rules of their supervision with the DOC (correctional clients) treatment court, referral source..

12. Residents will comply with employment expectations during TRT programming and per DOC or referral source requirements.

13. You may NOT give callers any information about any other residents. You are allowed to take a message or phone number only. Residents are required to respect the confidentiality of all other residents at all times.

14. Furniture re-arranging and making nail holes or taping things on/in the walls is not allowed. You may place pictures on bulletin boards, dresser and nightstands.

15. No open flames or burning of candles or any substance is allowed. 16. Residents in Primary Residential Inpatient Treatment may not leave the property without staff.

Sanctions: As noted previously, residents with a desire to make positive changes have no problems with the house rules. When any staff person notes that you have broken an expectation or a rule, she will notify you. Sometimes, particularly when you are very new to the program, you may be given a warning which will be noted in your chart. Affinity House uses graduated sanctions, which means that breaking more serious rules, multiple expectation/rule violations, or repeatedly breaking any one rule will lead to more serious sanctions.

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These can range from giving you an assignment to write and present, removal of privileges, cancellation of passes, up to discharge from the program. Note that some rules may be grounds for immediate discharge from the program; examples are violence, selling/providing drugs to others, bringing drugs into the facility, new legal charges, etc.

Rewards: In the same way that staff are paying attention to negative behavior or disregard to rules, staff are also on the watch for your progress and success. As you make strides in your recovery/change process you can expect to have this noted as well, and depending on your particular situation and progress, may be given additional privileges.

Additional Information

No obscene posters or clothing are allowed, nor are posters or clothing or accessories which glorifying a drug or criminal lifestyle allowed.

If you miss the bus or have to work late or have another situation which will cause you to be late returning to the facility, you’re required to call and notify staff.

Hygiene needs and medications need to be taken care of before 7:45 a.m. Monday - Friday and by 8:45 a.m. weekends and holidays.

All disposable razor blades, sewing needles, straight pins and so on are considered “sharps”. Don’t throw them in the garbage - - bring them to the office for disposal.

Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. residents are not to be in their bedrooms without permission, except to quickly go in to change clothes or gather needed items.

Laying on the couches or putting feet on the furniture isn’t allowed. Sunbathing is not allowed on the property.

Budgeting

All residents will create an individualized budget with their counselor and will be required to adhere to this budget. Being completely honest about your income and your overall financial situation is absolutely critical. Residents referred by the Department of Corrections will be budgeting for paying down fines, paying supervision fees, taking care of court obligations. Residents referred by a County Department will be budgeting to pay the county back for the cost of their treatment. All residents will be budgeting for a savings program to assist with the costs associated with setting up a home following successful discharge from the program.

Correctional Clients and the “Criminal Code”

There is really no such thing as the “criminal code”, some kind of ethical behavior and moral high ground among people who are in trouble with the law. We read hundreds of packets from correctional entities; everyone “rolls over” on their partners when push comes to shove and they are facing stiff penalties and jail or prison. Please leave any notions about this at the door. Confronting peers with the truth is not to be confused with “ratting someone out” or “snitching”. If you are here to make positive changes, you’re going to have to change your thinking about this and right now is a good time to start. Gang signs, street slang, stories about your drinking/drugging/criminal activity and escapades - - all have no place here.

Employment

Residents in Primary Residential Inpatient Treatment are involved in treatment tasks from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. and do not look for work or obtain employment during this time.

Residents coming directly into the TRT programs may begin work search approximately 1 week after admission, provided all orientation tasks are complete and this is approved by the counselor.

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Your main reason to being at Affinity House is to obtain treatment and assistance for issues which have negatively impacted your life. Employment is not the top priority; however, most women will need to have a job in order to provide housing, food, utilities and such in a safe environment following treatment. Your counselor will help you find a good balance between work and treatment.

Once you are placed on work search status, you are given approximately 3 weeks to find employment; this is a very reasonable period of time for any individual who is truly looking hard to find work.

You’ll need a plan in order to go out on work search. During your first week, you will be allowed to go to Job Service one or two times but Job Service will not be an ongoing destination. Use your resources to plan out your job search each day. You’ll be required to provide proof that you were at each destination in the form of a business card, brochure, etc.

Residents are not allowed to work at any establishment that sells or serves alcohol or sells drug paraphernalia.

Talk to your counselor about which shifts you are allowed to work. Remember that treatment is your priority.

If necessary, you may be loaned a small amount of bus tokens during your work search efforts. These will be paid back to the program when you receive your first paycheck, at which time you’ll also be required to purchase a bus pass.

Note that you will need to sign a release of information to any employer so that we can verify your hours worked and your schedule.

Once employed, you are not allowed to just quit a job. If you’re having difficulties, discuss this with your counselor. If you are fired from a job, you may face additional consequences at the program depending on the circumstances.

Mail

Correctional clients are not allowed to send or receive mail to or from any correctional institution or program.

Mail is delivered Monday through Saturday. Staff will retrieve the mail from the mailbox and will distribute it to residents. Residents are not allowed to open the outside mailbox, retrieve mail or put mail into the mailbox. Give any outgoing mail to staff.

We do not open mail that you are sending or receiving. If we suspect contraband in any package or envelope, you’ll be asked to open it in front of staff.

Envelopes and stamps are available in a limited supply from staff until you begin working and have a paycheck or other means to pay for these items.

Medical, Court, Mental Health Appointments

If you have a court date that will occur during your stay at Affinity House, let your counselor know immediately. If your court appearance is from outside the Eau Claire/Chippewa Falls area and you do not have transportation arrangements, it may be possible to get a postponement.

It is absolutely critical that you take care of your physical and emotional health during this process of change and recovery. Let your counselor know about any upcoming medical or mental health appointments, particularly any that are not in the Eau Claire/Chippewa Falls area. She can help you to figure out a plan for transportation.

Passes

Overnight and/or weekend passes are allowed at various times to qualified residents. No passes are allowed during the first 30 days except in emergencies.

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Passes are earned by being current with treatment goals, making positive changes in your thinking and behavior, avoiding expectation and rule violations, and displaying an overall recovery/change oriented attitude.

If you are going home for a pass, you are expected to be at home. You’ll be required to call the center each morning and night (the pass request form will explain this in detail). You’ll also need to provide staff with a landline phone so that we may call you to verify your whereabouts at any time.

If you will be leaving the Eau Claire area following discharge, your counselor will discuss a pass during the week in order for you to secure employment, look for housing, etc. toward the end of your stay with us.

If you are not at your designated home when we call or you miss calling into the program, staff on duty may require that you immediately return to the center.

If you are on a home pass and you are having difficulty, always call Affinity House. Staff on duty will help you, including helping you to strategize a way to get back to the facility.

Telephone

As noted previously, cell phones are not allowed at Affinity House. A resident phone is provided for the use of our residents. You may purchase a phone card to make

long distance calls. If you cannot afford a phone card and need to contact a family member, an attorney, a medical provider where there are long distance charges, discuss with your counselor. In most cases a staff phone will be made available to you.

Guidelines for the resident phone:o Limit all calls to 15 minutes. There are many other women who may also want to use the

phone.o Don’t plan to make back-to-back phone calls; give your peers a chance at the phone.o Keep your tone of voice at an appropriate level when on the phone. If you are hollering or

swearing at someone on the phone, staff will instruct you to immediately terminate the call.o We strongly encourage you to limit the number of calls you make and receive. Treatment is

very short-term when compared to your entire life. Take this time to work on yourself and avoid outside distractions.

Transportation

As noted previously, a city bus is the primary means of transportation for most clients. Staff can assist you with the bus schedule and a senior peer may be available to ride the bus with you on your first outing if you’d like.

You are allowed to have a vehicle at the program. You’ll need to provide:o Proof of valid driver’s licenseo Proof of current registrationo Proof of ownershipo Proof of required insurance

The DOC Liaison Agent (for DOC residents) and your counselor will need to approve your request for a vehicle; be sure to get that permission before you start gathering all the documentation.

If you have a vehicle on the property, you must have permission to give rides to any other resident. Likewise, you need permission to get a ride with another resident.

A family member or friend may be allowed to provide you with transportation at times. The individual needs to be approved by your counselor and the DOC Liaison Agent (for DOC residents) and needs to have the following documentation on file at Affinity House:

o Copy of valid driver’s license

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o Vehicle license plate numberThe person providing you with transportation will need to come into the program and sign you out, and then come in for signing in when you return.

For local appointments, plan to take the bus to your appointment. Again, let your counselor know about appointments, even local ones. In some cases staff may be able to assist with transportation if we are notified far enough in advance and you have no other means of transportation.

In emergency medical or mental health situations, 911 will be called. You will be responsible for any medical bills.

Urinalysis and Breath Analysis Testing

In order to maintain a drug-free environment, residents can expect regular testing using either a hand-held breathalyzer and/or on-site urinalysis kits.

All urinalysis testing conducted at Affinity House is observed: this means that a staff person will enter the bathroom with you and watch you provide the sample. Follow staff instructions when you are asked to provide a urine sample for testing.

Any non-negative tests are presumed to be positive and will be sent to our provider laboratory for confirmation. You will be responsible to pay for the confirmation testing at the current rate per non-negative panel. If the confirmation test comes back negative, this fee will be returned to you.

Please note that our goal is not to “catch you using”. Our goal is to catch you NOT using. We are well aware that there are a variety of means available to you to try to beat a test. We are in the business of helping people to make positive changes in their lives, to achieve lasting recovery. We’re not wardens, jailers, detectives or guards and we don’t aspire to be any of those. You may beat a test but please keep in mind that you won’t beat addiction, it will beat you. If at any time you decide that the sober lifestyle is not for you, let us know. We’ll help make arrangements for you to return home and/or for you to just deal with your legal consequences, and we’ll part ways on good terms. We will, of course, make every attempt to help you think more clearly about the direction your life is going, but ultimately it’s your life and your decision.

Visiting Hours are noted on your schedule. Please let your visitors know that they will need to present identification and sign in at the office when they arrive. Visitors are not allowed on the property except during the times listed on the schedule. Staff will generally search items brought into the facility. If you have children, they are encouraged to visit! Remember that if your children are here, you need to be with them and supervising them at all times. Visiting is only allowed in designated areas of the facility: living room, dining room, basement living room area. If you would like to have a visit with more privacy, talk to your counselor and she may agree to make a more private area available for you.

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Affinity House SchedulePrimary Residential Inpatient Treatment - 21 days

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday6:45 am

Wake up – breakfast, shower, ready for dayChores need to be completed before 7:45 am

7:45 am

Meditation

8:00 am8:15 am

Group: ORSPro -social thinking andBehaviors

Group:Women’s Issues

Group:AODA/Recovery

Group:Anger Mgmt

Group:Pro-Social thinking and behaviors

Wake up – breakfast, shower, ready for day

8:30 am9:00 am

Meditation

9:30 am

Free time – TRT residents leave for work search Free time or church - see counselor for approval

10:00 am

Group:Recovery tools

Group:Recovery Tools

Group:Recovery Tools

Group:Recovery tools

Group:Recovery tools

FAMILY GROUPOr Free time10:30

am11:00 am

11:30 am

Free time Chores

12:00 pm

Lunch / Visit Lunch

12:30 pm1:00 pm

Group:Healthy Relationships

Group:Change Readiness

DOC Staffing / work on assignments / individual sessions

Group:Change Readiness

Group:Employment readiness and skills

VISITING Visiting

1:30 pm2:00 pm2:30 pm3:00 pm

Free time, individual sessions

Free time Free time, individual sessions

Free time

3:30 pm

*Group: Money Mgmt/budget

Group:Change Readiness4:00

pmFree time

4:30 pm5:00 pm5:15 pm

Supper / Chores

6:00 pm

Group: Recovery Maintenance

Group:Developing healthy peers and relationships

Group:Recovery Maintenance

Free time

Community Group

6:30 pm7:00 pm7:30 11 pm

Free time

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11 pm Curfew/bedAffinity House Schedule

Transitional Residential Treatment (Halfway House - Addictions)Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

6:45 am

Wake up – breakfast, shower, ready for dayChores need to be completed before 7:45 am

7:45 am

Meditation

8:00 am8:15 am

Group: ORSPro -social thinking andBehaviors

Group:Women’s Issues

Group:AODA/Recovery

Group:Anger Mgmt

Group:Pro-Social thinking and behaviors

Wake up – breakfast, shower, ready for day

8:30 am9:00 am

Meditation

9:30 am

Free time – TRT residents leave for work search Free time or church - see counselor for approval

10:00 am

Work search or employment Family GrouporVisiting

10:30 am11:00 am11:30 am

Free time Chores

12:00 pm

Unemployed residents return to lunch

Employment search resumes at 1 p.m., unemployed residents to return to facility by 4 p.m. at latest

Lunch

12:30 pm

1:00 pm

Work search or employment DOC Staffing /homework /individual sessions

Work search or employmentSupervised Recreation

Visiting

1:30 pm2:00 pm2:30 pm3:00 pm

Free time

3:30 pm

Free time, individual sessions Free time, individual sessions

Group:Change Readiness4:00

pmFree time

4:30 pm5:00 pm5:15 pm

Supper / Chores

6:00 pm

Group: Recovery Maintenance

Group:Developing healthy peers and relationships

Group:Recovery Maintenance

Free time

Community Group

6:30 pm7:00 pm7:30 - 11 pm

Free time, community support groups

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11 pm Curfew / bedtime

Affinity House ScheduleNon-AODA, Correctional Only TRT Schedule

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday6:45 am

Wake up – breakfast, shower, ready for dayChores need to be completed before 7:45 am

7:45 am

Meditation

8:00 am8:15 am

Group: ORSPro -social thinking andBehaviors

Group: Women’s Issues

Group:Anger Mgmt

Group:Pro-Social thinking and behaviors

Wake up – breakfast, shower, ready for day

8:30 am9:00 am

Meditation

9:30 am

Free time – TRT residents leave for work search or employment Free time or church - see counselor for approval

10:00 am

Visiting10:30 am11:00 am11:30 am

Free time Chores

12:00 pm

Unemployed TRT residents return for Lunch and afternoon groups as assigned by counselor

Lunch

12:30 pm1:00 pm

Group:Healthy Relationships

Group:Change Readiness

DOC Staffing, homework, individual sessions

Group:Change Readiness

Group:Employment readiness and skills(3 weeks or until employed)

Supervised Recreation

Visiting

1:30 pm2:00 pm2:30 pm3:00 pm

Free time, individual sessions

Free time Free time, individual sessions

Free time Free time

3:30 pm

Group: Money Mgmt/budget(3 weeks)

Group:Change Readiness4:00

pmFree time

4:30 pm5:00 pm5:15 pm

Supper / Chores

6:00 pm

Group:Developing healthy peers and Relationships

Free time

Community Group

6:30 pm7:00 pm

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7:30 -11 pm

Free time, community support groups

11:00 pm

Curfew / bed

Copy of emergency procedures document

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DHS BROCHURE regarding client rights and grievance process. Please note that I’m the Client Rights specialist. Information which needs to be inserted into the brochure is as follows:

Laurie Lessard, DirectorAddictions and Restorative Justice Programs715-552-2430

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