NEW ADMISSIONS:
Almost all admissions are through the word of the mouth, NGO s’ who know us, social workers, ex-inmates & their families, opinion leaders from drug prone areas, peer institutions etc.
REACHING OUT:
Based on grievance calls from families/well wishers of an addicted person, a team visits for an on the spot counseling and remedial measures. In case the family/well wisher so desires, necessary arrangements are made to get the person admitted at the center.
FAMILY MEETINGS:
Thrice a week the families of selective inmates are called personally for a meeting with our Dr.Deshpande (Psychiatrist cum Medical advisor), for exhaustive discussions to review the progress made by the concerned inmate.
Prior to the meeting, experienced counselors brief Dr.Deshpande with the latest facts and figures on the mental and physical conditions of each inmate, whose family has been called.
After such a meeting, a collective decision for the welfare and progress of each inmate is arrived at and implemented for further review after a fortnight.
DR.DESHPANDE VISITS
the center every fortnight and ensures to interact and examine all required inmates, to monitor progress and advises medico-psychic corrective measures if any. The details of this interaction are informed to the family/guardian.
HOME VISITS:
Depending on the progress of the inmate towards set norms of rehabilitation and subsequent discussions with the family/guardian, an inmate is sent on a home visit for 2/3 days which happens approximately 6 to 8 weeks from the date of admission. An action plan is given in writing about the “do’s” & “don’ts” during his visit. Family is well briefed as to how to behave with him during his stay at home. Once the inmate is back at the center, a comprehensive feedback is taken from the family on his general behavior encompassing specifically on the inmate’s qualities like impulsive reactions, anger, resentment etc. during his stay at home, and also whether the inmate adhered to the written action plan, which helps simulating a behavioral pattern about how the inmate is likely to behave in the outside world, once he is discharged from the center.
It also helps in assisting the inmate by highlighting his shortcomings, about how a continued lack of control over his emotions and feelings could be detrimental to his very purpose of staying in a rehabilitation center and lead him back to his customary addiction. In the process, the inmate gets an opportunity to introspect afresh on the basis of facts that hitherto no one made him aware and work on his shortcomings conscientiously.
In our experience, after a few home visits, with outside world interaction in an absolutely sober state of mind augmented by family feedbacks, we are able to provide the right guideline for recovery to the inmates.
As a matter of stress relieving measure, those inmates who have duly completed the program to our satisfaction and taken discharge / given send off are encouraged to come and stay with us free of cost off and on at their own will as a follow up for the sustenance of therapeutical inputs they gained during their rehabilitation program.
This gives them the opportunity to share with their respective counselors the problems they face in reality and how they are coping with it or they are unable to manage their own affairs smoothly with craving for escapism through addiction cropping up regularly.
Due diligent advice is given on practical terms to face up to the challenges, by the counselors through their own experience as well by group sharing with other peer inmates. The feedbacks received from the inmates and their families after such follow up visits have been so encouraging that we are planning to start an exclusive “AFTER CARE” unit, which subject to availability of funds and priorities, is one of the several upcoming and envisaged projects in our expansion plans.
CARE AND CONCERN:
All sundry requirements affordable by the inmate is provided, with a well thought out strategy, that the lack of such a provision may be exploited by some inmates, to pave the way for discontinuing from the therapy, much against the wishes of the family. This will also have a contagious and cascading effect on the other normal inmates. The families/guardians of each and every inmate are apprised regularly of significant developments, lest they miss the inmates dearly at home. However, as a matter of policy, we seldom allow any family to be in touch with the inmate directly at least for a month from the date of admission, as our experience reveals that casual contacts, leads to the inmates’ emotional blackmailing of the family and taking advantage of the “ENABLER” status of the family. In rehab parlance enabling is an attribute where the inmate gets away with whatever he wants at the expense of the family, which is a major factor that encourages inmates to continue indulging in addiction.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR:
While a regimental daily time-table, that varies from season to season, is strictly followed from “Wake up” in the morning to “Lights OFF” in the night, the inmates enjoy games like volley-ball, cricket, chess, carom etc., while some prefer to work out in the gym daily. However over the weekends the successful completion of 90/180 days of respective inmates and biological birthdays are celebrated with felicitations from one and all in house along with sweets and savories. A couple of DVD movies are shown. In-house tournaments are held during festive occasions and prices distributed, as a token of appreciation and recognition, besides scouting talents in singing, drawing, sketching etc. These things help inmates develop a strong sense of belonging and boosts their self confidence and generally provide a literal first step towards rebuilding their shattered lives. This is a big relief for any addict, who has been ostracized by the family and society due to his addiction.