Transitions

The Basics

Transitions is an organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota, that provides substance abuse treatment and post-treatment housing for men and women. Founded in 2007, Transitions operates four different therapeutic living environments—transitional living with the Cornerstone Program,  a sober living program, a Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) program and the Group Residential Housing program (GRH).

Accommodations and Amenities

Transitions operates a group of ten individual sober homes all located in an upscale neighborhood of St. Paul. Three of these houses belong to the Cornerstone transitional living program and the other seven house are reserved for clients enrolled in the structured sober living program.

Cornerstone’s gender-specific program has two houses for men and one for women. All homes can accommodate 10 residents with a mix of single and double-occupancy rooms. Clients share a kitchen and bathrooms. Wi-Fi and cable are available throughout the houses as well as free on-site laundry facilities.

Food is provided and meals are prepared for clients in the Cornerstone program; an outside chef prepares dinner Monday through Thursday and serves meals on-site family style. Lunches and weekend dinners are provided at Arches, the Transitions cafeteria and hub for meetings and their GRH program. Residents prepare their own breakfasts in their homes. Transitions provides on-site staff 24/7 in the Cornerstone program.

The Transitions sober living program’s seven sober homes are clustered within close proximity to each other—all within walking distance. The houses range in size with anywhere from five to 14 residents in both single and double-occupancy bedrooms. Décor is comfortable and contemporary, with large common spaces and landscaped yards and pleasant outdoor living spaces.

Rules and Regulations

All incoming clients must have completed residential, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or outpatient treatment programs and have at least 30 days of sobriety—however, Transitions does accept residents who have recently relapsed.

The Cornerstone program is a structured environment that requires a minimum two-month commitment for new residents. They are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of productive time a week—which might include working, attending school or participating in an IOP. Clients receive breathalyzer tests three times a week and drug tested twice a week.
Cornerstone operates a strict daily schedule. At 8:30 am Monday through Friday residents are expected to have left the house for a 9 am group relapse prevention meeting led by an LADC. At 10:30 am clients attend a vocational meeting discussing career options and job-hunting skills. From noon until 4 pm residents are required to work, attend school or do recovery work in IOP.

Cornerstone residents are also required to complete weekly house chores to help with the upkeep of the houses. There is an evening group meeting on Thursdays and Sundays for discussing goals and recovery struggles. Residents are required to attend a minimum of three AA/NA meetings per week and must find a sponsor as soon as possible. A 10 pm curfew on weeknights and 12 am on weekends is enforced.

The Transitions sober living program is less structured and ideal for clients who are highly motivated with strong recovery in AA and already working with a sponsor. Sober living clients are required to spend up to 30 hours a week being productive with work or recovery. There is no curfew, but residents need to check in with their house manager by 10 pm if they are expecting a late night. Overnight passes are permitted at both Cornerstone and sober living, but only with family members.

Transitions’ MAT program is designed for residents with opiate addiction who need medication-assisted therapy. MAT clients begin their recovery in the Cornerstone program then step-down to a sober living home. The GRH program offers state-subsidized housing for adult men with co-occurring disorders. This 90 day program accommodates clients at the Arches facility. Residents receive health care education, group therapy and attend study groups devoted to vocational and community volunteer opportunities.

The staff members are a mix of both LADCs as well as recent alumni of Transitions programs. There is also a full-time registered nurse who provides health support for clients.

Extras

Transitions offers programs such as life skills education, job search assistance time management and both short and long-term goal planning as well as instruction for completing small household tasks—like running a dishwasher.

Transitions does not have a formal family program, but they do offer group counseling. Families are also referred to outside counseling services as needed.

The organization occasionally arranges group outings for clients like camping trips and tubing at a nearby lake.

Summary

Transitions provides a wide variety of sober living programs which accommodate early recovery, long-term recovery, clients in relapse and individuals with co-occurring disorders. The upscale living environments and easy progression path from transitional to sober living programs make Transitions a good choice for men and women with their eye on long-term sobriety.

Transitions Business Office
1956 Feronia Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55104

Transitions cost: Cornerstone $3,000 (30 Days), Sober Living $750 (30 Days). Reach Transitions at (651) 493-6683 or at contact@transitions.pro. Find Transitions on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn

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Photo courtesy of Transitions

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