Recovery Brands, LLC
📍 12 S Terrace Ave., Columbus, OH 43204
📞 6149910131 Full profile & reviews Claim this listing
<p><strong>ABOUT THE REFUGE MINISTRIES</strong></p> <p>Founded in 1999, the Refuge offers a gender-specific, <strong>residential Christian discipleship program for men aged 18+</strong> who are struggling with problematic substance use and homelessness. Over more than a year of treatment, men progress through four facilities owned by the Refuge. At the time of this writing, the Refuge's website indicated that planning for a separate program for women was underway.</p> <p>The Refuge also partners with other well-known Christian discipleship programs such as Teen Challenge, through its Refuge Network.</p> <p><strong>TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT</strong></p> <p>The Refuge's goal is to take residents "from homelessness and hopelessness to hope and homeownership" in the course of its <strong>13-month program.</strong> The program revolves around committing to God, developing a work ethic and a sense of stewardship, improving relations with others, and cultivating the qualities of honesty, authenticity, gratitude, courage, and faith. Treatment is offered via encouragement, <strong>Bible study, and work therapy,</strong> rather than clinical or medical support.</p> <p>Residents begin by spending 30 to 45 days on a farm in rural Vinton County, where they commit to sobriety, participate in <strong>personal development groups and individual mentoring,</strong> and put together a "comprehensive, individual plan for personal growth based on biblical study." Next they spend four months in the city of Lancaster, where they focus on their relationships with God, themselves, others, and God's creation, while participating in individual counseling, continued Bible study, and the beginnings of work therapy. In Phase Three — four months spent in Columbus — <strong>residents work 35 to 40 hours per week, engage with churches and the local community,</strong> start putting some money in savings, and begin to make monthly home visits. In the final four months of treatment, men live in <strong>sober-living homes,</strong> help men with less time in the program, continue to work and be active in their churches and communities, and make arrangements for work, transportation, and accommodations once they leave treatment.</p> <p>Residents are also encouraged to commit to helping other clients on the program in a variety of capacities after they leave, as a form of <a href="http://www.recovery.org/topics/extended-recovery-programs/" target="_blank">aftercare</a> through service to others.</p> <p>For families, the Refuge offers a family support network of other loved ones who have previously been through the process.</p> <p><strong>STAFF CREDENTIALS</strong></p> <p>There is currently no information provided by the Refuge regarding its treatment staff, however, the single alum polled by Rehabs.com to date gave the facility five out of five stars for its staff's level of training and experience.</p> <p><strong>ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES</strong></p> <p>Between its four locations, the organization serves <strong>more than 75 men at a time.</strong> The farm where Phase One is hosted is set on 100+ acres, and during this phase of treatment, no contact with the outside world is permitted. The single alum polled by Rehabs.com to date gave the Refuge five stars for its cleanliness and meals/nutrition and four stars for its accommodations and exercise and leisure offerings.</p> <p><strong>WHAT ALUMNI SAY</strong></p> <p>The single alum polled by Rehabs.com to date would strongly recommend The Refuge. "Builds confidence," they wrote anonymously, describing the center as welcoming but overcrowded. They gave the facility four stars for its family participation and ability to treat co-occurring disorders, three stars for its treatment effectiveness and counseling options, and one star for its holistic offerings. </p> <p><strong>Secondary sites yielded mostly positive coverage at the time of this writing:</strong> a 4.7-star average rating based on 100 reviews on Facebook (where the facility can manage its own page), and on Google, a one-star, a three-star, and a five-star rating from alumni.<small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-1"><sup>[1]</sup></a></small> <small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-2"><sup>[2]</sup></a></small> Of the few reviewers who left negative commentary, one complained about the remoteness of the facility and the lack of contact with the outside world, and J.P. wrote on Google: "After deciding I was interested in this treatment program, I was informed I wasn't allowed admittance due to the fact that I'm a homosexual."</p> <p>However, positive reviewers <strong>repeatedly credited the facility with changing their lives.</strong> "The Refuge Ministries has completely turned my life around. Just 14 months ago I was homeless on the streets, at my bottom point... God has blessed me in so many ways since I finished my commitment to him. I have actually met true and life long friends through the ministry. And I am 100% a better person than I ever thought I would be," T.C. wrote on Facebook in a representative positive review.</p> <p><strong>WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY</strong></p> <p>Loved ones posting on secondary sites had left <strong>mostly positive feedback</strong> at the time of this writing, repeatedly thanking the Refuge for their family member's successful sobriety. "Through Christ and The Refuge my son was able to surrender to his addiction after other attempts now 14 months opiate free," M.B. wrote in a typical review on Google. However, on Facebook, J.U.H. wrote that her husband left on an authorized visit and was not allowed to return.</p> <p><strong>FINANCING</strong></p> <p>The program is offered free of charge, with costs covered in large part by the proceeds from work therapy assignments completed during treatment. </p> <p><small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-1"><sup>[1]</sup></a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheRefugeOhio/reviews/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheRefugeOhio/reviews/?ref=page_internal</a></small><br /> <small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-2"><sup>[2]</sup></a> <a href="https://goo.gl/UkFTvU" target="_blank">https://goo.gl/UkFTvU</a></small></p>
— Ellie Robins · 2018-01-05 11:10:51 PST
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