ABOUT BOISE RESCUE MISSION MINISTRIES – NEW LIFE PROGRAM
Since 1958, Boise Rescue Mission Ministries has provided services to clients in Boise and Nampa, Idaho, and the surrounding areas who are seeking treatment for homelessness and addiction. The New Life Program is a long-term, faith-based residential treatment program for adult men and women seeking treatment for substance abuse. The program is provided at three gender-specific homeless shelters. Detox is not available on site.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Treatment in the Boise Rescue Mission Ministries – New Life Program begins with completing an application and an interview with the program’s staff members. The application is extensive and covers a large segment of the client’s medical, family, and addiction history. Applications are reviewed by staff members to determine if the client has a need for the program, demonstrates a desire to participate, and could benefit from a faith-based program. Interviews begin over the phone but are finished in person at one of the designated facilities.
Treatment generally takes 1-2 years to complete. It consists of a faith-based, Bible-focused curriculum. Clients participate in a series of treatment phases that focus on different aspects of recovery. The process begins with an acclamation to treatment phase where clients attempt to transition into a structured treatment program. The program ends with a transitional phase where clients work on transitioning out of the program.
Clients enter the program in a probationary period to assess their ability to assimilate into the program. Clients attend treatment sessions which include religious services, group work, and case management by facility staff members. The period lasts up to two weeks, and any client with issues can be removed from the program.
According to the facility’s website, treatment is built around “discipleship, accountability, counseling, education, and a Bible-based curriculum.” The program consists of five phases: an initial, probationary “Candidate Phase,” Basic Training, Discipleship, Development, and Transitional Living. The probationary period lasts two weeks.
During treatment, clients participate in affiliated service groups outside of the program. While the content and makeup of these groups varies, a large proportion of them must be affiliated with Christianity or the Church in some way. Clients are given milestones to meet including personal study assignments and group activities. In the later stages of treatment, clients begin to mentor other participants while continuing their education through GED courses.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Boise Rescue Mission Ministries – New Life Program does not provide information regarding its treatment staff. In the later stages of recovery, clients still in the program begin to mentor other participants. Volunteers also participate in the program. The single alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave the facility four out of five stars for its staff’s level of training and experience.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Boise Rescue Mission Ministries – New Life Program is offered at three gender-specific shelters: Lighthouse, in northeastern Nampa, with space for 18 men; River of Life, in central Boise, with space for 30 men; and City Light, also in central Boise, with space for 30 women and their children. The City Light center also offers a children’s program. Boise Rescue Mission Ministries provides clothes, shelter, and meals for its residents. The single alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave the facility three out of five stars for its accommodations and four stars for its meals and its cleanliness.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The single alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave positive feedback, indicating that they would strongly recommend treatment at this facility.
“They had a great bible-based 12-step program,” they wrote anonymously, giving the center four out of five stars for its treatment effectiveness, counseling options, and treatment for co-occurring disorders, and three stars for its holistic offerings and family participation. The alum gave five out of five stars for affordability.
On Google, the facility earned an average of 3.9 out of five stars from 15 reviews to date. Although three reviews were negative, with one reviewer calling the facility “inhuman”, 11 of the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Most of the positive reviews described clients who got a second chance at life after successful treatment. For instance, alum Dusty wrote: “The love, dedication, and involvement from the Boise Rescue Mission family has deeply touch my heart and changed me forever.” Alum Jerrad agreed: “Powerful place of life change. People from any walk in life can come in and feel loved and receive the help they need.”
On Yelp, there were two positive reviews and one negative review. Like on Google, the negative review on Yelp criticized the facility for providing service to “ homeless / transients (many of whom are in filthy clothes and obviously carrying lice, fleas, and other outdoor pests upon their persons and in their clothing).” However, positive reviews praised the free and faith-based aspects of the program.
FINANCING
The New Life Program is completely funded by members of the community, meaning the program is provided free of charge to the participating men and women.