ABOUT PLAINVIEW SERENITY CENTER
Located in northwest Texas, Plainview Serenity Center provides a full spectrum of treatment for men, women, and families struggling with substance use disorders. Founded in the 1960s, the center now maintains three locations. The main site, in Plainview, hosts long-term residential treatment through Recovery Solutions for men and House of Hope for women, including those who are pregnant or living with their children. Outpatient treatment is available in Lubbock and through collaboration with the Amarillo Transitional Treatment Center.
At the time of this writing, Plainview Serenity Center does not publish a website, but provides details regarding services on its official Facebook page.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Admission to one of Plainview Serenity Center’s residential programs begins with a screening either over the phone or in-person. A 2016 Plainview Daily Herald story reported that men’s intensive residential treatment in Recovery Solutions lasts for 30 days, followed by an additional 90 days of supportive residential programming. Women stay at the House of Hope for between 90 days and six months.
Treatment is evidence-based and incorporates 12-step concepts. Each week, residents participate in at least nine hours of group counseling, nine hours of weekly educational classes – which can include parenting classes – and another 11 hours of structured activities. Group counseling sessions are gender-specific and individual counseling is also provided. Topics include addiction, responsibility, and self-respect. Intensive outpatient programming follows the motivation-oriented, integrative Matrix Model.
Upon discharge from the residential program, alumni can also participate in a Plainview Serenity Center outpatient program. Case managers help alumni to locate sober housing, employment opportunities, and other community-based resources.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
A majority of Plainview Serenity Center staff members are in recovery and all counselors are licensed to treat chemical dependency, as reported in the 2016 Plainview Daily Herald facility profile. The center’s official Facebook page indicates that many staff members are also local. The CEO is a longtime Plainview resident and a master’s-level social worker. The staff also includes a military veteran peer network coordinator as well as interns in the licensing process. Recovery coaches are available to assist with transition, through a partnership with the Central Plains Center.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Involvement in the local community is a priority at Plainview Serenity Center. The House of Hope provides childcare for young children who are staying with their mothers at the facility. A 2018 Texas Department of State Health Services directory lists 20 beds at the women’s residence and 22 for men at Recovery Solutions. According to Facebook, all essential items are provided to clients, including clothing.
The Plainview newspaper reported plans for significant remodeling and expansion of the residential facilities with the assistance of a Texas State grant.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The three Plainview Serenity Center alumni polled to date by Best-rehabs.com provided varied opinions concerning treatment and accommodations. Two indicated strong satisfaction with most metrics measured, while the third would not recommend the program to others. The two positive reviewers noted that they gained useful knowledge. “I was sober over 8 yrs after this place taught me the nitty gritty about recovery,” one wrote. Ratings for the effectiveness of treatment included three, four, and five out of five stars.
Aspects of accommodations evaluated ranged from moderate ratings of three and four for the facility’s policies regarding outside communication, to two low two-star ratings and one five-star for meals and nutrition. Two agreed that the center was clean and well maintained.
The three alumni agreed on generally low opinions of the staff’s level of training and experience and the availability of counseling options, with one, two, and three stars apiece. The most critical reviewer wrote:“The employees I was with day to day were so wonderful,” but, “counseling was a joke.” They concluded that the program was “not very conducive” to recovery. Two survey respondents gave four-star ratings for the level of family participation. Alumni generally agreed the program relies heavily on the 12-Steps, however, they had mixed opinions of the facility’s exercise and leisure activities as well as holistic offerings. The three respondents gave one, two, and four stars for both metrics.
WHAT STAFF SAY
At the time of this writing, five former or current employees of Plainview Serenity Center had submitted reviews to Indeed, revealing two trends. The main concern staff shared, with which one alum concurred, was disorganization, which led to a stressful work (and recovery) environment. All but one of the five noted administrative problems. All five, however, also expressed a clear commitment to the center’s mission to support clients in recovery.[1]
FINANCING
Per a 2013 local newspaper story, Plainview Serenity Center provides treatment on a sliding fee scale based on the client’s ability to pay and receives state funds to help cover the cost of treatment. Two alumni surveyed on the facility’s affordability rated it four and five out of five stars.
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