Merit Resource Services

The Basics

Merit Resource Services is an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment facility with locations in Yakima, Sunnyside, Toppenish and Wapato, Washington, though their flagship location is in Ellensburg. In July of 2015, an organization formerly known as ADDS merged with Merit Resource Services to create the Ellensburg facility as it exists today, though the staff and services have remained the same. Because Merit had been consulting with ADDS for more than a year before the merger, all operations are running smoothly, as they have for over 40 years at ADDS prior to Merit’s involvement. MRS offers three levels of outpatient care; an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), an outpatient track and a mild substance abuse group.

Treatment and Staff

Treatment begins with an in-person evaluation taken during the facility’s walk-in assessment times on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at noon during which individualized treatment plans are developed. Generally, IOP lasts six to eight weeks wherein clients attend group therapy three days per week. There is currently one IOP group that meets from 6 to 9 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The facility is also in the process of developing a second group to meet at 4:30 pm on the same days to allow more flexibility for clients and to keep group sizes low.

IOP clients must also attend a minimum of three 12-step meetings per week in addition to group therapy. MRS does not hold on-site meetings, but their therapy program highly emphasizes the 12 steps throughout treatment and gives clients all the necessary information for local meetings.

Those in the regular outpatient program and the mild substance abuse group meet for group therapy twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 pm. Individuals enrolled in these programs are highly encouraged to attend 12-step meetings, though attendance is not mandatory. The duration of these programs varies greatly from person to person, and is largely determined by the initial assessment.

MRS has three counselors on staff, two of whom are certified through the Washington Health Department as chemical dependency professionals. The third counselor is a trainee who is qualified to see clients and run groups, but must have everything signed off on.

Extras

Tuesday nights are family nights for those in IOP, and having family members attend is mandatory. If family members cannot attend, clients must fill out a “meaningful person” questionnaire, which explains why the visitor should be treated as a family member. Significant others and close friends generally fall under this category and are usually approved pending a discussion with the client’s counselor.

Many guest speakers come in to run educational sessions for clients, some of whom are recovering addicts themselves while others are professionals from Washington state’s health department. There are also visiting professionals who educate and discuss topics surrounding domestic violence. For those covered by state insurance, there is no charge for care at this facility.

In Summary

Merit Resource Services provides simple and straightforward outpatient care with different intensities to accommodate clients’ needs. The MRS programs are highly individualized in terms of duration and frequency, so all participants can expect to be heard should they want to make adjustments to their program.

Merit Resource Services
507 N. Nanum #111
Ellensburg, WA 98926

Merit Resource Services Cost: Sliding scale. Reach Merit Resource Services by phone at (509) 925-9821. Find Merit Resource Services on Facebook

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