How do the clients get to Advent?
Clients are normally referred to us by the Probation Department (some referrals may come from Social Services). Prior to acceptance, our social workers interview them to determine whether or not they are appropriate for our program.

What is the typical background of a Recovery kid?
Our kids come from many different family settings. Lower to upper class, educated to illiterate, involved to abandoned. The key ingredient is that they have reached a place where their addiction has overtaken their lives.

Where do you get your funding?
This varies. 80% comes from the counties that place youth in our program; the other 20% comes from foundation grants and donations from individuals and churches.

How many staff work in each home?
Four. There are two who live in the facility and two who live out of the home. Along with these staff work the Program Supervisor, Addictions Counselor and Social Worker.

How many people work at Advent?
Advent has three departments: Recovery Homes, Foster Homes, and Clinical. Combined there are about 60 employees.

How long do kids stay in the program?
The typical stay at Advent lasts from 9-12 months. Some kids stay longer depending on their situation outside of Advent. Others may stay for only a couple of months, dependent on the decision of their Probation Officer.

Where do the kids go when they graduate the program?
Many kids return to their families; other kids go to foster homes, sober living environment homes, or community programs for young adults, Still others may get a job and live on their own.

Do you only focus on drug and alcohol addiction? What about other issues?
All of the kids who come to Advent have issues besides drug and alcohol addiction, such as physical, emotional or sexual abuse, mental illness, neglect, poor schooling. At Advent they participate in individual and group counseling and life skills groups. They attend an on-site school that provides a quality education in a clean and sober environment.

What kinds of services do you have for the clients?
Advent's program includes many treatment components, including Milieu Therapy, Individual, Group and Family Counseling, NA and AA meetings, Life Skills Group, Recovery Education, Special School programs, Recreational Activities, Church activities, and Bible Studies.

Do the kids participate in NA and AA meetings in the community?
Yes. Each home attends 5 meetings a week. This gives the chance for the kids to interact with others outside of the home who share in the same struggle.

Why is there an on-grounds school? Do they go year round?
Education is an important part of the program for these kids. It is vital for them to learn in a clean and safe atmosphere where temptations with drugs and alcohol aren't present like it could be in the public schools. Yes, the kids go to school year round. Many of the kids have stopped attending school and thus have little high school credit. Attending school year round enables them to catch up on credits.