Families struggling with addictions across the province and country can now access a new program to support them during their recovery journeys.
Based in Moose Jaw, the Ranch Ehrlo Society’s Family-Centred Addiction Program is an innovative residential addictions treatment program that supports the person struggling with substance abuse and his or her immediate family. According to a news release, this new program is an extension of the Family Treatment Program (FTP) that Ranch Ehrlo started 15 years ago.
Families in the program have an apartment within a secure building, which offers 24/7 on-site staff support. The program’s unique feature is that children do not need to be separated from their parents and can attend programming as well.
“We’re looking for families who are struggling with addiction, but have been medically detoxed prior to coming into the program, and ready to work on their treatment needs,” said Patti Petrucka, Ranch Ehrlo’s family program director. “We opened our doors in November and the community and surrounding community response has been phenomenal.”
Individuals entering into recovery attend daily structured programming that combines a holistic treatment approach, achieving sobriety and relapse prevention, and understanding areas such as trauma, mental health, and co-dependency, the news release explained.
“This program was created (because) over the years in the Family Treatment Program, (it) has seen increasingly complicated addiction and mental health concerns fragmenting families,” said Petrucka. “Too often, these families are separated from their children and are not offered the opportunity to heal as a family. Many parents have not parented sober for a long time or ever.”
Participants will focus on understanding their addictions and work through their recovery daily with treatment staff on areas of family functioning and parenting.
Staff with the program work to enhance child safety, no matter what problem parents are struggling with. If parents are struggling with substance misuse cravings at 2 a.m. when their children are sleeping, they can contact program staff and come for a visit or review their relapse plan so staff can provide immediate support.
The Family-Centred Addiction Program is open to families across Canada and has space to serve six families.
For more information, visit https://ehrlo.com.
