When the COVID pandemic hit, Alpha Home, like many other nonprofit agencies, had to act quickly to develop a plan to continue operations while keeping their clients safe. The residential and outpatient drug treatment facility for women switched to a plan they call Casa Nueva Vida — House of New Life — to meet those needs.
They designated one of their two residential buildings as the sole intake facility for residential clients. A 2016 High Impact Grant from Impact San Antonio funded the renovation of the building they are using for intake.
Intake groups are now limited to eight to 12 women, and instead of going from one building to another to access services, all are offered in the one building. The small group of clients stays together in Casa Nueva Vida. They are tested for COVID, and the small group is isolated from the rest of the clients to prevent any potential spread. Alpha Home has had no cases of COVID since the program started in July.
Alpha Home Chief Procurement Officer Melissa Dobbertin reports the new system is working really well. With the new protocols in place, staff have observed a lower rate of clients leaving early against professional advice during the first 14 days of treatment.
The reason, Dobbertin believes, is that the smaller intake groups allow clients to bond with each other and with counselors and other staff.
In the Casa model, clients are with each other for two weeks. They stay in the same building and have all the classes, group meetings and counseling sessions there. Dobbertin says this cohort model allows clients to develop stronger bonds with each other and, for many who are coming in after a really dark time, the ability to lean on each other more closely is highly therapeutic.
Previously, she said, incoming clients would be assigned to one of the two residential sites and had to negotiate a larger group of women who they didn’t know and who already had formed bonds with each other. The noise and other distractions could be overwhelming.
The residential caseload has dropped a bit, from 42-47 before COVID hit to 32-35 now, Dobbertin states, but the outpatient program has steadily grown.
Outpatient numbers have increased from 32 percent (of total clientele) to 54 percent, Dobbertin reports, with fewer people leaving that program early.
Why has the outpatient caseload increased? COVID stress is a big part of it. More individuals are experiencing isolation and relapse triggers and the support that treatment offers has been more valuable than ever during these uncertain times.
The entire Alpha Home staff are especially grateful to Impact SA for the grant that allowed for the renovation and makeover of the Camden site. Thanks to Impact SA, Camden was renovated in a way that created a comfortable and welcoming environment, and that has made all the difference in the development of Casa Nueva Vida.
