The Jean Frances Home

The Jean Frances Home Review

The Jean Frances Home is a women’s only sober living facility located in Helena, Montana. This program caters to those who have recently left a treatment program or been released from jail. Throughout their stay clients adhere to a structured schedule and 12-step participation along with maintaining a strong connection to the home and other residents.

Accommodations and Amenities

The sober home is a triplex that is divided into three large two bedroom apartments. Each of the units offer their own kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, bathrooms and washer/dryers. The units have hardwood flooring, and lots of natural light. There is also a fairly large backyard.

There are televisions in each of the apartments, and every one of the units are fully furnished.

Clients are responsible for their own food, and are able to have their own cell phones, use the computer at their leisure, and have a personal car.

Rules and Regulations

First and foremost, clients have to commit to remaining sober. Bringing any sort of addictive substance into the residence will result in immediate dismissal. The facility requires that between the hours of 9 pm and 6 am clients have to keep the noise level down. Submitting to a drug screen at any time is required.

Clients are encouraged to attend AA or NA meetings every day, though three meetings per week are mandatory. Staying for the duration of the meeting is also a requirement. There are also mandatory AA house meetings on Sunday and Thursday, as well as attending a house Al-Anon meeting once per month.

Every client needs to have a sponsor and be actively communicating with them. Within six to nine months they should have worked their way through the 12-steps. In addition within a couple of weeks of moving into the house they must be employed full time. If they lose their employment they have to find another job within a certain amount of time before they are dismissed from the program.

New clients have a 9 pm curfew for the first 30 days. After that initial period the curfew moves to 10 pm during the weekdays, and 11 pm on weekends. There is no dating in the residence, and every individual is required to keep their personal areas clean and free of debris. Guests are also not allowed in the house at any time.

When clients are brand new to the house they are required to stay on the premises for three days, with the exceptions for doctor’s appointments, therapy or meetings with a probation officer. They also have to commit to an act of service within the community.

Extras

After living at the house for a while without any rule violations, clients are able to request weekend passes. These are authorized by the house manager.

In Summary

The Jean Frances Home is a very safe place for women in the beginning stages of recovery to find themselves again. The facility is not fancy, but it is comfortable and offers a new lease on life to those who reside there. This is a place that offers a good head start for those who are ready to commit to a new life.