ABOUT MCALISTER INSTITUTE – KIVA LEARNING CENTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Founded in 1977, McAlister Institute is a renowned substance abuse treatment provider in California. The Institute offers comprehensive treatment and prevention programs throughout the state. In the community of Lemon Grove, Calif., the Institute operates a short-term, non-medical detox program for adults (East County Adult Detox) and the Kiva Learning Center for Women and Children, a long-term residential program. The center is one of the few Californian facilities to accommodate clients’ children.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
If necessary, women may undergo detoxification before admission into the Kiva Learning Center. Treatment at the East County Adult Detox typically lasts five to 14 days. In addition to non-medical detox services, the program provides clients with addiction education, treatment planning, an introduction to 12-step principles, as well as case management. When clients finish the program, they have access to referral services.
The four- to six-month program at the Kiva Learning Center provides women with supportive housing and childcare, mental health counseling, and recovery support services. Clients may also attend educational workshops and receive parenting classes, vocational training, and community resource referrals. Clients may also receive assistance with recovery from domestic violence; the center is one of the facilities nationwide to offer this service.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
With more than 150 employees on staff at the Institute, the treatment team of Kiva Learning Center consists of alcohol and other drug counselors (AOD), case managers, outreach coordinators, mental health therapists, and licensed social workers.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
There is currently no information provided by McAlister Institute regarding its living arrangements and related offerings. The three individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com to date rated the facility’s cleanliness with one, four, and five out of five stars.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
At the time of this writing, the two alumni reviews for the Kiva program are mostly positive. Both alumni rated the facility four and five out of five stars for its affordability and the staff’s level of training and experience. Holistic treatment offerings received three and four stars, and counseling options received only two and three stars. Both alumni rated the facility only one out of five stars for the level of connectivity with loved ones.
Despite reporting various pros and cons, one anonymous alum polled by Best-rehabs.com considered McAlister Institute “a good place to go to get your kids back.” On a more positive note, the second alum celebrated the supportive counselors, fondly recalling: “Their stories and experiences were inspiring.”
On the program’s unofficial Facebook page, 20 Facebook users to date collectively rated Kiva an average 4.8 out of five stars, with 18 perfect reviews.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
To date, one loved one has submitted mostly negative feedback about this facility to Best-rehabs.com. The anonymous loved one gave the facility one out of five stars for its exercise and leisure options, cleanliness, and family involvement. “It was more like a modified jail facility (or so I’ve heard), and they were more concerned with complete behavioral compliance that focusing on addiction treatment,” the loved one wrote.
FINANCING
According to its website, “McAlister Institute keeps its doors open to all those who seek help. High-quality, low-cost services are provided with dignity and respect, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.” McAlister offers a sliding fee scale.