Phoenix House > Family Support > Families and Phoenix House
 
If your loved one has entered treatment at Phoenix House, you are now part of our treatment family. Welcome! We are here to help you — as well as your loved one — by providing your whole family with the support and information you need.

 Families are an important part of the treatment process at Phoenix House. For detailed information about what families can expect during treatment, download our Phoenix House family guides or read the Frequently Asked Questions below:


>>  Phoenix House Family Guide
For families of adults in treatment (PDF)
>>  Guía Para La Familia
Para las familias de adultos adentro tratamiento (PDF)
>>  Phoenix House Teen Guide
For families of teens in treatment (PDF)


Frequently Asked Questions:
How long does treatment at Phoenix House last?
Can I call or visit my loved one?
Can I get updates on my loved one's progress?
What are the rules of the program?
What personal items will my loved one need to bring to the program?
Can my loved one come home to visit?
What happens if my loved one wants to leave treatment?
Does treatment work?
 
How long does treatment at Phoenix House last?
Time in treatment varies according to the individual, but, ideally, residents are expected to stay at Phoenix House for at least six months, although most remain at Phoenix House between nine and eighteen months. Years of experience have taught us that the longer a person stays in our program, the more likely they are to stay clean and sober. The key to successful treatment is actually completing treatment. You can help by encouraging your loved one to stick with the program, even when he or she complains about how tough it is.
 
Can I call or visit my loved one?
When your loved one first enters treatment at Phoenix House, he or she will need some time to adjust. Contact with family members and significant others is limited during the initial stages of treatment, but later becomes an essential part of the treatment process and planning for the future. Every Phoenix House facility has its own policy about phone calls, mail and packages — you can find out more when you meet with the local admissions team.
 
Can I get updates on my loved one's progress?
As a drug treatment program that receives money from the U.S. government, we are required to follow federal confidentiality laws. These confidentiality laws state that information about a person in treatment cannot be shared unless the person has given his or her permission. This means that our counselors and staff are not allowed to give you information about how your family member is doing unless he or she says it is OK. As a general rule we will ask the person entering treatment who should be kept up to date on their progress.
 
What are the rules of the program?
When your loved one begins the program, he or she will be introduced to the daily routine and schedule of the program, including some hard and fast rules:
  • We maintain a drug-free environment.
  • The use of tobacco products is prohibited for residents and employees.
  • The facility must be safe and free from violence or threats at all times.
  • Sexual relations are prohibited.
  • Residents must abide by a strict dress code.
  • Access to and from the facility is regulated by the staff.
 
What personal items will my loved one need to bring to the program?
Residents are provided with almost everything they will need while at Phoenix House. Clients should only bring very basic clothing and personal toiletries. You will be provided with a list during the admissions process.
 
Can my loved one come home to visit?
In the early stages of treatment, all our clients remain on site at the residential facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Later on in the program, day passes and home visits are regulated by staff. Your loved one will be allowed frequent family visits in the later stages of treatment.
 
What happens if my loved one wants to leave treatment?
Phoenix House facilities are not locked. Residents are free to leave the program. However, those who do leave must go through a full case review if they decide they wish to return. Research has demonstrated time and time again that the key to successful treatment is actually completing treatment. You can help by encouraging your loved one to stick with the program, even when he or she complains about how tough it is.
 
Does treatment work?
Nearly four decades of experience — and independent research — have shown that our methods work. Phoenix House residential treatment programs are highly effective at eliminating drug use, encouraging personal responsibility, re-uniting families, and teaching constructive values.
  • Long-term studies conducted at Phoenix House have found that three out of four adults who complete treatment remain drug free, crime-free and employed long after graduating from our programs.
  • Our treatment programs for teens have been endorsed by the federal government and their effectiveness documented by research of the RAND Corporation.

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