Alumni Program
Valley Recovery Center is dedicated to ensuring that our clients achieve long-term recovery. Aftercare is a very important component of this. Learn more about our alumni program!
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Valley Recovery Center in Agua Dulce is here to help those who are addicted to alcohol and their loved ones. Once you receive treatment at Valley Recovery Center, we are a resource for you for life.
If you need help now, please call 866-986-2486 to speak with a counselor.
Aftercare at Valley Recovery Center
Our Alumni Program
At Valley Recovery Center, our alumni program is a vital part of any drug rehab program. After completing your treatment program, we encourage all alumni to stay connected with fellow alumni. Many treatment facilities offer alumni programs and benefits, yet each is unique to the environment and location of the program. Our program consists of different ways to help alumni stay connected including alumni meetings, remote outpatient care services, virtual and in-person alumni events and a weekly alumni newsletter that helps you stay up to date on upcoming alumni events, news, and stories from other Valley Recovery Center alumni. We also take the time to celebrate important anniversaries, milestones, and accomplishments by our alumni. Although each person’s path to sobriety is unique, each is filled with amazing and noteworthy accomplishments that should be shared.
Alumni programs like our program at Valley Recovery Center are designed to help you stay motivated and excited about your recovery and sobriety while encouraging participation in sober activities. Interacting with other alumni can help you rebuild and solidify your independence and freedom from alcohol and drugs. Other alumni can provide a source of support during hard times. Many members of alumni groups remain connected long after treatment ends through email, exclusive member only Facebook groups and other online and in-person forums where you can interact and plan upcoming events and group outings.
Meetings (whether online or in person) also provide a safe and open space where you can feel comfortable discussing your fears and challenges as they relate to recovery. Alumni programs are an essential part of your immediate post-treatment care. If you would like to learn more about our addiction treatment and alumni programs at Valley Recovery Center, reach out to our admissions team today.
VRC Agua Dulce provides the following aftercare for our valued alumni:
- Alumni Newsletter
- Monthly Virtual Events
- Milestone Celebrations
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Why Alumni Programs Are So Important
The decision to seek addiction treatment is the first, and often the most challenging step on the road to sobriety. However, it is not the last in many cases. Successfully completing a drug or alcohol treatment program is essential to achieving sobriety, learning about relapse prevention, and improving your chances of maintaining long-term recovery. During your individualized treatment program, you will work with your treatment team to explore the struggles that lie at the root of your addiction. You will also learn and practice safe and healthy ways to manage and reduce the effects of triggering situations. Significant progress towards a sober, healthy future is a primary goal of the treatment process; however, what happens after treatment?
Aftercare vs Alumni
How Alumni Programs are
Different from Aftercare
Aftercare and alumni programs are essential parts of the post treatment process. Aftercare (sometimes referred to as continuing care) occurs immediately after completion of your treatment program. During aftercare, you will still participate in continued therapy, medical appointments and group therapy or support groups. Some aftercare programs also include the option to stay in sober housing, assistance with employment or educational applications and other programs to help you transition safely from the supportive treatment environment back into your home setting. Most aftercare programs continue to provide a certain amount of structure and expectation to help you through the earliest and often challenging days following treatment.
Alumni programs are different. Most alumni programs do not include ongoing therapy and other appointments related to ongoing treatment. Participation in alumni events is entirely voluntary. Events and peer support meetings provide you an opportunity to continue interacting with like-minded peers who influenced you during and after treatment. Also, alumni events provide a safe and sober outlet to participate in fun and exciting events where the potential for triggers is vastly reduced as everyone shares the same sobriety goals.
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Alumni Programs Can save a life
Why Alumni Programs Matter
Alumni programs help someone recovering from addiction continue to transition back to their day-to-day responsibilities after treatment has ended. The goal of an alumni program is to help you continue living in sobriety without feeling isolated and “alone” as you leave a supported treatment setting. Alumni programs provide a way to continue learning and practicing skills learned in treatment to help reduce the possibility of relapse after treatment. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse as many as sixty percent of people who complete an addiction treatment program experience at least one incidence of relapse. Participating in an alumni program can help you avoid this all-too-common part of recovery and keep you motivated to continue your new healthy, sober lifestyle.
Alumni programs help to keep you connected with staff and peers you formed relationships with during your treatment. Alumni program members meet regularly throughout the year. This frequent peer interaction helps keep you active in your community and engaged with a group of like-minded peers who share similar recovery goals. Often, the peers you interact with as part of an alumni program are those individuals who had a significant impact on your recovery during your rehab program. Therefore, maintaining these positive relationships can provide a source of support during challenging times. They also provide an outlet to share successes and struggles with someone who is walking or has walked a similar path.
Like many aftercare programs, alumni programs may consist of ongoing therapy options including 12-step support group meetings. Other events may include sober activities such as movie nights, potluck dinners, hikes, bike rides, bowling nights, etc. These events and many others provide a way for you to network with and maintain your relationships with sober peers. During events, you can talk about common struggles, experiences related to addiction and learn new ways to manage stress and other challenges.
Different than aftercare programs, alumni programs offer services for as long as needed or desired. Aftercare programs generally have a scheduled “end date.” At that time, you are (typically) no longer required to participate in scheduled therapy, stay in a sober living environment or other planned aspects of your aftercare plan. Alumni programs are available for as long as you need or want them. Not only does ongoing participation in alumni programs benefit you but provides a way for you to help others who are newly sober.