Advantage Behavioral Health Systems – Women’s Services

Advantage Behavioral Health Systems - Women's Services Athens Georgia

Advantage Behavioral Health Systems provides client-centered, community-based services to individuals and families suffering from mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse issues. The rehab offers a variety of programs and resources, including detox, crisis stabilization, residential treatment, and outpatient programs, as well as job training and school-based treatment. Treatment is offered to children, adolescents, and adults.

ABOUT ADVANTAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEMS — WOMEN’S SERVICES

Advantage Behavioral Health Systems (ABHS), based in Athens, Ga., is a publicly funded organization that offers a comprehensive menu of behavioral health, mental health, and addiction and recovery services. The center offers CARF-accredited residential and outpatient services for substance abuse. This review focuses on the Women’s Services location, which provides residential substance abuse treatment for pregnant women and women with children.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

According to the center’s website, the first step of treatment at ABHS is an assessment as the basis for a treatment referral. The assessment addresses life stressors, attitude, emotional stability, and alcohol and/or drug use. Then the results of the assessment are used to determine a treatment plan for the patient. Treatment recommendations are based on the guidelines from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Level of Care.

The Women’s Services Program strives to help residents identify and reach their recovery goals, as well as meet any objectives set by external agencies. It also assists clients with developing parenting skills, finding housing, and obtaining employment.

The main treatment modalities are group counseling and education, geared to address the needs of women in recovery. 12-step principles are also introduced. In addition, the facility offers a PEER Recovery Program.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

Advantage Behavioral Health Systems’ website indicates the managerial staff includes a master’s level counselor, a Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist, and nurses. The PEER Recovery Program uses peer coaches.

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

According to the center’s website, children under 12 may stay on-site with their mothers during treatment, but alumni reviews indicate that other visitors are not allowed.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

Of the five alumni surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing, four provided mostly positive reviews. The four alumni who left positive reviews indicated they would recommend the center, and many praised the “caring” and “great” staff. Alum Ashley, for example, enjoyed the treatment overall but would have liked more visiting options. Those polled on family participation gave the facility exclusively four- and five-star ratings.

In the sole negative alumni review sourced by Best-rehabs.com to date, the alum wrote: “I am APPALLED at the level of disrespect and apathy the people who work here exhibit.” She described being in a waiting room for hours and spending a week and a half unsuccessfully trying to get a prescription refilled.

On Advantage Behavioral Health Systems’ Facebook page, which the facility can manage and which covers the entire scope of the organization in addition to Women’s Services, Advantage Behavioral Health Systems received 3.1 out of five stars from 15 reviews to date. [1] Alumni praised the effectiveness of the treatment program and the staff but mentioned poor administrative practices.

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

At the time of this writing, the three loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com provided mostly positive reviews. The loved ones provided four- and maximum five-star ratings for the facility’s treatment effectiveness.

They rated the center highest for the staff’s level of training and experience with a four-star rating and two five-star ratings. Yet, they rated the center just two out of five stars for its exercise and leisure options.

WHAT STAFF SAY

On Indeed, the facility earned 3.5 out of five stars from 13 reviews. [2] Former and current employees liked their co-workers but felt unsupported by management and thought their pay was too low.

FINANCING

According to the center’s website, there’s an $85 fee for an initial assessment. The facility accepts insurance, including Medicaid, Medicare Part B, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Heath Care. Additionally, on-site financial counselors can help incoming residents identify all available financial resources.

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Advantage Behavioral Health Systems – Women’s Services Reviews

  • Treatment Effectiveness
  • Accommodations & Amenities
  • Meals & Nutrition
  • I graduated in 2010 from this program. Just like with anywhere else in the world there were things I didn't like but as far as for recovery YES this place helped me very much. I was able to have my children there with me I had an apartment i shared with one other female. I am not sure how things are now but I do know the same counselors are there because I still talk to them. Some of the staff members are a little rude but if you follow the rules and do what you are supposed to do then you don't have to deal with that as much. This place changed my life, i hope this helps.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
  • Accommodations & Amenities
  • Meals & Nutrition
  • The counselors are caring and understanding. They needed a different location . And some of the staff is rude and also need more training. They need more ways of adding more things to do with there program. You will share a room with another lady. They have on site child care. There were options to go to church just down the road and you also can go to the AA meetings down the road as well. They take you as a group to other meetings and also to the grocery store.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
  • Accommodations & Amenities
  • Meals & Nutrition
  • Clean environment they let u smoke they let u use the phone and u get to attend meetings everyday Food isn't all that good After the 7 day detox females go to a apartment shared by other females and its almost like living in your own him plus there is a house parent on duty
    • Treatment Effectiveness
    • Accommodations & Amenities
    friendly,fast. appointments were poor.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
  • Accommodations & Amenities
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  • closeness of it was nice. cost of living was high.
    • Treatment Effectiveness
    • Accommodations & Amenities
    Caring. More transition services.
    I am APPALLED at the level of disrespect and apathy the people who work here exhibit. They don't seem to take anyone with mental health problems seriously at all. I have been left in a waiting room for 2 hours because different people kept forgetting about me (despite me checking in every 20 minutes to see what was going on) and I have been calling them for a week and a half because I accidentally let my prescription run out and need a temporary. Not only was the first appointment not available for 3 weeks but now I can't get anyone to return my calls (despite the voice mail saying they'd respond in 24 hours) and everyone at the front desk just transfers me to different voice mails or disconnects the call. Does anyone even work there?!? This is appalling to me because of the level of need of the people who walk through their doors. Do they do this with people who have much more severe issues than me? I sure hope not.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
  • Accommodations & Amenities
  • Meals & Nutrition
  • The workers were great; however, they should lower the cost of the facility.
  • Treatment Effectiveness
  • Accommodations & Amenities
  • Meals & Nutrition
  • I did learn a lot there the office staff was amazing. It's really cool you can have your kids there but you only get to make one personal phone call a week after being there 30 days and no visitors are allowed on site and you have to wait 90 days before you can go on a home visit. It helped me, maybe it could help another.