Grant to Provide Addicts Access to Recovery

The road of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction is a tough one, especially in the early stages. By the time they decide to become clean and sober, many addicts have burned so many bridges, they no longer have access to resources others take for granted. Sioux City, IA based Jackson Recovery Services and the state of Iowa seek to alleviate the plight of people in the early stages of recovery through a grant titled Access to Recovery.

Kimberlee Niemeyer, clinical coordinator, explained that clients enrolled at Jackson Recovery Centers can receive assistance with child care, employment and financial counseling, housing assistance, transportation, spiritual counseling, and other areas of need.

"To be eligible, you have to be eighteen years of age, you must have been diagnosed with an addiction with the past twelve months, and you must be able to demonstrate need," she said.

Eligibility is determined during an interview which usually lasts from 15 to 45 minutes, Niemeyer said.

The grant does not pay for treatment services, Niemeyer elaborated.

"The purpose is to make it possible to come to treatment," she said.

Jackson's vice president of clinical services, stated that currently some 45 clients are receiving benefits from this grant. These clients have been receiving assistance in various forms since April. Specifically, these benefits include bus transportation vouchers, lodging at homeless shelters, such as the Siouxland Gospel Mission, access to spiritual counselors and supplemental needs.

"A client may need assistance with buying a new pair of glasses," she stated. "We can help with that."

While Access to Recovery is one of the most flexible grants Samuelsen has ever seen, accountability is built into the program.

"You need to come to your groups (at Jackson Recovery Centers),"Niemeyer told clients at a workshop about the grant. "If you receive benefits, I will check with your therapist to make sure you attend."

Clients receiving Access to Recovery benefits must also submit receipts for their expenditures. In addition, they are required to attend after three and nine months of receiving benefits.