ABOUT UNION GOSPEL MISSION (UGM) – ANNA OGDEN HALL
Union Gospel Mission (UGM) – Anna Ogden Hall, located in Spokane, Wash., offers long-term, residential treatment to adult women struggling with substance abuse disorders. It is one of the 9.3% of Washington facilities to offer long-term residential treatment.
UGM is a Christian-based, non-profit organization that aims to break the cycle of homelessness, abuse, and addiction in the Inland Northwest. The organization, as a whole, provides food, clothing, and shelter to homeless men, women, and children along with the opportunity to participate in recovery programs and re-enter society as a contributing member. The organization was founded in 1951 and has since grown into four homeless shelters, two thrift stores, an automotive department, and a camp for at-risk youth.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
The treatment program provides long-term residential care for women and typically lasts for approximately 18 months. During that time, women receive individual and group counseling, vocational training, and addiction recovery care. Mothers are allowed to have their children with them in the facility during treatment, placing it among 2.1% of Washington facilities to house children of clients.
Women in the program are introduced to the belief that God loves them and wants to save them from “the brokenness of their lives”, according to the facility’s website. Residents may participate in worship services, devotionals, Bible study sessions, and spiritual counseling.
Aftercare is available for women who complete the treatment program to facilitate the transition from the facility back into society. The program pairs Christian couples or individuals with alumni to provide mentorship and support to continue to become “God-dependent” as the facility’s website describes.
Aftercare continues for up to two years. All mentors are trained in the recovery process and also receive other ongoing training and support as they mentor the recovering alumni.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
UGM’s executive staff includes a director who has a master’s degree in Theology and a ministries director who has a master’s degree in education. The director of women’s recovery at Anna Ogden Hall is nationally and state-certified in addictions counseling.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
There is currently no information provided by the facility regarding its living arrangements and related offerings. However, the two alum polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave the facility five stars and three stars for the facility’s overall cleanliness and upkeep, respectively.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
At the time of this writing, the two alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com offered mixed opinions of the facility. One alum, Michael, gave a perfect five-star rating for the likelihood they’d recommend the facility. Citing “GOD, length of recovery, coursework classes, the counselors,” as facility strengths, she added: “Incredible program.”
The other anonymous alum gave mediocre scores of three stars in almost every category, including treatment effectiveness and the likelihood that she would recommend the facility to others. She listed “structure” amongst the facility’s strengths and, somewhat paradoxically, cited “too many rules” as a facility weakness.
On the facility’s Google review page, the facility received a rating of 3.5 out of five stars based on six total reviews.
On the facility’s Facebook page, which it may have the ability to manage, the facility has an average rating of 4.6 out of five stars based on 180 total reviews.
Alumni left mostly positive reviews. Alum P.M., who gave the facility five stars, wrote: “This organization has been a huge blessing in my life, and I am encouraged to see how you are a light in this world helping the broken and forsaken out there who have nowhere else to go…I am very thankful that I found UGM.”
FINANCING
There is no information on the facility’s website regarding the cost of treatment. The facility is primarily funded through grants and donations, and the facility operates 100% free of government funding. Some of the funding for the facility comes from a pair of UMG-owned thrift stores in Spokane, from which all proceeds go to the facility.
[1] Google Reviews
[2] https://www.facebook.com/UGMSpokane/