ABOUT GANDARA ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAM (GARP)
The Gandara Center aims to improve the lives of minorities in Massachusetts by providing preventative and educational services at 45 locations throughout the state. Gandara Addiction Recovery Program (GARP) in Springfield is one of the state’s 127 (35.8 percent) residential recovery homes and is designed exclusively for Spanish-speaking males struggling with a chemical dependency. Detox is not available on-site.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Individuals must be abstinent from drugs at the time of admission. Though clients may admit themselves, most receive referrals from community organizations, corrections departments, or detox units.
While specific details concerning treatment models and therapies for this program are not currently available on the facility’s website, residents may participate in educational groups, counseling sessions, and participate in recovery skills workshops. To most effectively treat its clients, programming is tailored to address the concerns and difficulties common among Spanish-speaking males in recovery.
The average length of stay is six to 12 months, after which clients may utilize outpatient counseling as aftercare.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
At the time of this writing, Gandara Center had not published details about its treatment staff; however, 97.2 percent of all substance abuse treatment facilities in the state of Massachusetts have continuing education requirements for staff. The sole alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date awarded the staff’s level of training and experience three out of five stars.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Details about living conditions and amenities at this facility are currently limited on its website; however, this center has high-availability, offering 42 beds, while the average number of clients in a residential facility at a given time was 18 individuals as of 2016.
The sole alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date provided GARP with perfect five-star ratings for its accommodations and amenities, meals and nutrition, and cleanliness and maintenance.
REVIEWS
At the time of this writing, the single review of the facility submitted to Best-rehabs.com was from alum M.R., who reported a mixed experience. Low ratings of one and two out of five stars were given for the inclusion of holistic treatment modalities, connectivity and visitor policies, the level of family participation, and the staff’s ability to treat co-occurring mental health disorders.
However, the alum gave a four-star rating for the facility’s counseling options, and M.R. reported that they’d recommend the treatment program to others. “Is easy to locate and near a lot of counselors,” he praised, but still felt that it was “all about money.”
The single Google reviewer to date offered three out of five stars for the facility,[1] and the sole anonymous CiteHealth user gave the facility just one out of five stars, writing: “Property needs improvement. Staff need more training.”[2]
FINANCING
The network accepts many private insurers and MassHealth, and those who qualify may be eligible for financial assistance. At the time of this writing, the single Best-rehabs.com survey respondent provided three out of five stars for the center’s affordability.
[1] GoogleReviews
[2] https://citehealth.com/rehab-centers/massachusetts/cities/springfield/gandara-center-inc-based-at-33-arch-street