Liberty House Structure Breakdown
Our structure is critical to accountability and responsibility of newly recovering alcoholics and addicts who are going about their day to day routines of living in the house while seeking employment and other sobriety related activities. Liberty House continues to produce results in the recovering community by helping the people that come through its doors get sober and stay sober.
Our
residents have taken cakes and birthdays continuously over
the last 12 years in meetings all around Los Angeles. Our facility and
its structure have fostered the creation (via graduates) of four other
sober living homes and one treatment center recently licensed in the
Palm Springs area.
Why
is it that more of our people stand up taking cakes for
sobriety anniversaries than any other sober living home? Luck? Coincidence?
We think not. We know that it is a direct result of our dedication and
our structure that teaches accountability and responsibility to each
resident. Liberty House is an atmosphere of learning about oneself and
embracing the good with the bad.
Through
its structure and directors/managers experience each resident
is provided a unique opportunity through various in house programs/structure
designed to foster, inspire and encourage change to accelerate/jumpstart
the process of recovery and changing ones life. Once residents begin
to change and see the changes in their lives they become inspired to
continue on. We have watched our young men come in and go from not wanting
to be sober, to wanting sobriety more than anything, and will do anything
to keep it. Why? What’s
going on?
Liberty
House’s structure has evolved since its beginning in December 1994, to encompass new residents and provide continual support to those who are working. The structure was somewhat in existence at a facility I got sober in and then worked at for the next four years, and you’ll read about that in a few minutes.
Liberty
House’s recovery program is one of love, commitment and strength to do the right thing no matter what. The inspiration and willingness to change and to bring about a new life is cultivated, encouraged and promoted. Residents embrace the 12-steps and their philosophy in ways that other homes and individuals do not understand. Sobriety is about change. Liberty House is about teaching its residents what to look for and then provides insight into alternative courses of action, thus bringing about change and a different perspective for its residents and their family members. No other sober living home in Los Angeles or treatment center takes the time to do this because of the level of involvement it takes to do it.
In
order for a sober living home to be effective it must be
structured. Otherwise it is simply a hotel, and while some operators
are content with running hotels the staff at Liberty House is not and
never has been. Our commitment to each other and to our residents dictates
that we do everything we can to see our people make it using our experience
with the 12-step program as a guide. Liberty House’s structure has been implemented into sober living homes in Los Angeles in one form or another. We’ve been copied but never duplicated. There are even facilities in the Orange County area and in the State of Florida that call themselves Liberty House.
Our
structure produces results continuously over and over,
again and again, year after year. Young men sober and moving on with
their lives, sponsoring other young men in their respective 12-step
program and coming back to the house sponsoring other residents. We
create an atmosphere of recovery not only amongst our residents and
graduates, but with their family members as well. We started an in-house
Al Anon meetings that became so large that we had to move it offsite.
It has now split into three different meetings with over 60 people in
attendance each night in two different cities.
Facilitating,
cultivating, inspiring, promoting recovery from alcoholism
and drug addiction is one of the things Liberty House does real well,
and we also teach our house members that their goals and dreams can
be fulfilled and inspire them to go back to school, start a company,
and to basically do what they’ve always wanted to. Those things are now possible because they are sober and as time goes on gain the support of family and friends, employers and doors start opening.
Our structure includes but is not limited to:
- 12 Step Meetings
House members
attend a 12 step meeting of their choice (A.A., N.A.,
or C.A.) everyday. If they are not working, or
going to school, noon meetings are attended in addition
to night meetings.
- Peer Meetings/RapsOne
night a week we have a peer meeting to discuss individual
performance and behavior. Various issues are discussed
and plans of action are outlined using the 12 steps as a guide. Relapse
triggers are identified and alternate actions are discussed.
- Daily Goals- Each
morning residents are asked to share about a particular
goal or goals they are going to work toward that day. In the resident
Family Meeting after dinner a follow up is conducted to
evaluate the results of the daily goals. Residents read out of the
24 hour a day book and share on how they are going to work that days reading
into their lives that day.
- Dinner- Dinner is
provided by the house. All members
attend unless they are working or have a prior commitment. Save
plates are available for those individuals if requested. Members
can cook their own food if they choose.
- After-Care Programs- House
members can participate in their Hospital after Care
Program for as long as they wish and the program allows. Liberty
House feels any and all support toward sobriety is a common
goal.
- Professional Services- At
extra cost, provided by licensed and experienced professionals
who are associated with the house.
- Resident Family Meeting- Held
nightly at 5:30p.m. After dinner and consists of two
parts: (A) Family
Business: Common issues pertaining to the house are discussed regarding
meal planning, house purchases, etc. If there are any issues that
need to be addressed in respects to an individual, they
are dealt with in this forum, and (B) Personal
Business: Any individual issue or need is addressed such as coordinating
rides to doctor appointments, passes or trips, etc. When appropriate an individual’s fulfilling of
commitments is discussed. The housemembers acting as counsel will
recommend the individual fulfill commitments or find another place to
live.
- One On One Rap- The
Manager will discuss problem areas and bring to light
behavior patterns, using the 12 steps as a guide. A
distinctive course of action is outlined. House members
can initiate a one on one if they are concerned about
someone who appears to be having difficulty.
- Alcohol Awareness- Members
are encouraged to learn as much about alcoholism and
addiction as they can. Video and Audio tapes are
provided for viewing.
- Family Raps- We
feel that the restoration of the family is very important. One
day a week the members & their families participate
in a rap session followed by a potluck. The rap session is designed
to build and strengthen existing support, and to introduce
family members to Alanon, Naranon, etc. This discussion is facilitated
by a volunteer with a professional background in alcohol/drug
related
problems.
- Newcomer Group- This
twice weekly session is led by a graduate or senior resident. It
gives residents who are new in the house special attention
and focus on what they are feeling and general well being.
- Senior Member Group
Implemented in 2007, this group focuses on house members with at least six months of residency and is run by a graduate of the house. The focus is on graduation, work, college, and preparation for transition to life outside of Liberty House.
- Exit Plans- Notice
is given to the Manager 1 month in advance. At
that time an Exit Plan is completed. The plan is read by the manager
and then brought to the Peer Meeting and Family Rap. It is discussed
openly, bringing to light any relapse situations.
- Graduate Status- After
completing the exit plan and re-entry into mainstream
society, the individual is a graduate of Liberty House. He is welcome
at anytime and can participate in any house function.
The structure described above is always flexible and
able to bend. It can encompass most individuals and their work schedules. It
is highly effective and is geared toward the changes residents need to
make in order to attain long term sobriety. Larry & Perry worked
hard at making this structure encompass individuals and surround them
and their every move. It fosters surrender, open mindedness and
willingness (Steps 1, 2 & 3). It also encourages change by getting
individuals to look at themselves, (Steps 4 & 5) and then to seek
alternative courses of action which is what we learn in Steps 6 & 7.
Since individuals are living and learning how to interact
like a family and care about one another, when harm is done a resident
wants to make restitution (Step 8 & 9) to the other house member,
and finally family members, co-workers and employers. Essays help
the residents to work Step 10 by getting them to look at their individual
conduct and behavior each day. The morning goal group helps the
residents focus on Step 11 and implementing that days reading into that
days affairs. Step 12 is also worked daily by residents in supporting
one another on outings and personal business, one on one’s and commitments
at 12-step meetings. Sponsorship comes after graduation.
Liberty House's unique and specialized structure has helped thousands of people overcome addiction to drug and alcohol addiction. Our tree of success has now branches off a our graduates have opened fived additional sober living homes in the Los Angeles area. We are honored that our graduates have worked so hard to achieve sobriety for not only themselves, but others as well.
If you are ready and serious about turning your life around, you have come to the right place. We may not have been your first choice, but we can be your last.
Sincerely,
Larry Luttrell
