ABOUT BIG ISLAND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNCIL
Since 1964, Big Island Substance Abuse Council (BISAC) has been offering substance abuse programs delivered within the context of Hawaiian culture. Headquartered in Kea’au in the southeast of the Big Island, the organization has outpatient facilities in Hilo and Kailua Kona. It provides outpatient care, an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and sober-living facilities for adults struggling with substance abuse, as well as school- and community-based treatment for adolescents, and outpatient care for adults and adolescents struggling with mental health disorders.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
In general, treatment programs consist of individual and group counseling, family/couples counseling, relapse prevention work, and recovery skills training. Clients are given an opportunity to work on the land, and to learn about traditional Hawaiian values and practices, with plenty of time spent outdoors.
The Therapeutic Living Program, BISAC’s residential option for men, provides 24-hour supervision and support. Residents are expected to seek employment and regularly attend self-help meetings. A specialized women’s residential program provides support for pregnant and parenting women and their children. At both facilities, clients participate in a vocational program that encourages them to have a vision and set goals. The centers also offer a culinary program, parenting classes called STEPS, and family education sessions.
Outpatient substance abuse programming for adults includes an intensive outpatient program (IOP), general outpatient care, and a continuing care program. The IOP includes 9 to 15 hours of treatment per week, including one hour of individual counseling every week. General outpatient care includes up to eight hours of treatment per week, including a monthly individual counseling session.
For adolescents, there is an intensive outpatient program and school based treatment. The facility works with 31 high schools, middle school, and charter schools to provide prevention education and treatment.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The treatment staff at BISAC includes a clinical psychologist, a psychiatrist, licensed therapists, and certified substance abuse counselors. The single alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave the center four out of five stars for its staff’s level of training and experience.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
There is currently no information provided by the facility regarding its living arrangements and related offerings. However, the single alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave the center four out of five stars for its accommodations and its cleanliness, and three stars for its meals and its exercise/leisure opportunities.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The single alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave very positive feedback.
The alum the center five out of five stars for its treatment effectiveness and four stars in most of the other evaluated treatment metrics, including its family participation and treatment for co-occurring disorders. The reviewer gave the center a single one-star rating, for its holistic options. The anonymous alum wrote: “Friendly surroundings and positive attitudes. They had great class sessions. The only downfall I found was the location of the facility.”
At the time of this writing, the center had six exclusively perfect five-star ratings on Facebook (where Big Island Substance Abuse Council can manage its own page). [1] “Good job,” alum R.Z. wrote, and alum B.J. added: “An Awesome Team to Help the Community. So many services are offered thru BISAC. Mahalo.”
WHAT STAFF SAY
On Indeed, the facility received one three out of five star review and one five out of five star review. [2] A receptionist wrote that the job was “stressful but rewarding.” Another staff member wrote that “This the most positive place for our clients because we take them out of there negative environment. We as counselors help them meet the sobriety goals and follow up with them after treatment.”
FINANCING
There is currently no information provided on the facility’s website regarding its costs, but BISAC accepts donations to subsidize the cost of treatment. Additionally, some private insurance and alternative funding options are accepted. The single alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave the center three out of five stars for its affordability.
[1] https://www.facebook.com/pg/BISAChawaii/reviews/
[2] https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Big-Island-Substance-Abuse-Council/reviews?id=5607c97e6b720bb8