Empower. Restore. Recover.
MARR’s Right Side Up (RSU) offers long-term, residential drug and alcohol treatment for women with dependent children under the age of 13. Women need a stable and safe environment to develop the skills necessary to achieve and maintain lasting recovery. Our services are designed to help women obtain employment; restore relationships with their loved ones; retain and/or regain custody of their children; give birth to drug-free infants; and become valuable, productive members of the community. Right Side Up is a six-month addiction treatment program for individuals struggling with substance use disorder (formerly called chemical dependency), giving them ample time to make and sustain healthy lifestyle changes.
Founded in 2001, Right Side Up was designed to help indigent women have a safe place to recover from alcohol and drug addiction. While Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) was created in 1996, the need in the community to help women with dependent children grew more and more precedent to address. Right Side Up is made up of three different phases that focus on taking care of the women herself, as well as learning how to take care of her children.
Right Side Up is accredited by The Joint Commission and fully licensed under the laws of the State of Georgia.
Treatment That Works
Right Side Up’s mission is to provide compassionate care, holistic treatment and services which empower chemically dependent women with children and help them to lead a healthy, successful, and drug-free lifestyles.
Right Side Up is a Ready for Work program that is a state and federally funded program contracted by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to provide services for homeless or low-income women and their dependent children. RSU collaborates with the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), which provides Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), food stamps, Medicaid and childcare certificates for eligible clients.
Right Side Up is based on a community model, which promotes accountability, responsibility and acceptance. Clients reside in apartments, generally comprised of two to three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room/dining room. Women entering drug and alcohol addiction treatment with children will receive their own room, and those entering RSU without children may share a room with another unaccompanied client. Each apartment is equipped with its own washer and dryer. Clients are eligible to bring up to two children age 13 and under. RSU collaborates with licensed day care centers in the community, and school-aged children will attend the local public schools.
Phases of Treatment
Phase I (10 weeks)
Incorporates individual and group therapy — including psycho-educational groups, spiritual life groups, and health education groups — on topics related to parenting, trauma, domestic violence, and stress and anger management. The client is required to attend regular 12-Step meetings.
Phase II (4-6 weeks)
Requires attendance to 12-Step meetings while incorporating employment (30 hours per week) into the recovery process. Participation is required in evening and weekend groups and activities. The client meets with a counselor for individual sessions.
Phase III (2-4 weeks)
Maintains the requirement for 12-Step meetings and 30 hours of work each week. The client works with a counselor to identify housing options and move toward independent living. The client must be employed in order to successfully complete the program.
What We Offer
Services
Individual and Group Therapy
Family Addiction Education
Drug-free Environment
Medical Services
12-Step Recovery Group
Trauma Recovery
Relapse Prevention
Job Skills Training
Psycho-education
Health and Nutrition
Therapeutic Child Care (provides services for children and parenting education and assistance)
Priority admission for pregnant women and IV drug users
What’s Included
Gender-specific addiction treatment for women that addresses issues such as relationships, sexual and physical abuse, parenting, education and job skills training
Individualized treatment plan
Clinically intensive treatment services by licensed and certified clinicians
Therapeutic Child Care, whereby each child has his/her own individualized treatment plan and is engaged in activities that provide structure, guidance, discipline and fun
Referrals for specific medical care
Individual case management and transportation to ensure clients and their children have access to vital services
A safe environment where women in addiction recovery can learn to interact in a nurturing, constructive and healthy manner with their children
Eligibility Requirements
Resident of Georgia
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients with a diagnosis of substance abuse and/or substance dependence
Women with active Child Protective Service cases with DFCS
Pregnant or postpartum women, or women with children age 13 and under (no more than two children allowed into treatment with mother)
Low-income women and/or indigent women without children (limited beds)
Admissions Requirements
Negative PPD (TB) test (completed within six months before entering addiction treatment)
Valid picture ID
Social security card
Birth certificate
For children:
Social security card
Birth certificate or confirmation of birth
Immunization record that is current
School records
All incoming children ages 5 and over must have a negative PPD (TB) test (completed within six months before entering RSU)
Why is Community Important for Treatment?
Clients live in a community setting, sharing a residence with other clients of the same gender. Together in this home-like environment, they learn to live healthier lives through a connection with others, self and a Higher Power.
Maintaining a balance between the day-to-day activities of work, groups, addiction treatment and home life offers clients vital life skills in early recovery.
