Fostering Sobriety in Grand Rapids
Emily
Experience Information
Employer: Sanford Behavioral Health
Job Title: Resident Support Specialist
Major: Psychology
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Sanford Behavioral Health was established by Rae and David Greene in 2015. The company's addiction treatment operations were originally based in two stunning Heritage Hill mansions, one on John Street for men and the other on Cherry Street for women. In the years following COVID-19, Sanford moved into a larger, co-ed facility in the quaint town of Marne, 15 minutes north of Downtown Grand Rapids. In this facility, Sanford now also provides drug detox and comprehensive eating disorder treatment services. New CEO Tracy Rogers leads a team of 140+ mental health professionals in compassionate, trauma-informed care.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
As a Resident Support Specialist (RSS), I play a consistent and active role in our clients' treatment plans. Sanford's RSS staff are responsible for driving clients to off-site excursions and recovery meetings to foster social inclusion and build community. From detox to discharge, the RSS must provide a judgment-free environment, active listening, and emotional co-regulation skills. RSS staff are the liaisons between clients and other facility staff. We are the first people the clients greet in the morning and the last people they wish a good night. RSS are also to hold clients accountable by assigning simple chores, providing occasional behavioral redirection and intervention, and administering routine drug screenings.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
My experience at Sanford has taught me how to more effectively set boundaries and enforce rules with my clients, my family, and more. I have realized that, when people are at their lowest, there's a certain power in someone else remembering their name and asking how they are feeling. I've watched with amazement at the way a room full of strangers can come together to support each other, how people from all different walks of life unite in their search for sobriety.
Favorite Part of the Experience
Sanford's clients fill me with hope and joy for the future. They've taught me that even the most highly educated and esteemed members of our society may be privately struggling with something unbearably heavy. I've loved watching clients celebrate big sobriety milestones, regain their lust for life, and embrace all-new possibilities. I've been given handwritten notes and homemade art pieces from clients who appreciate the role I've played in their recovery, and that makes all of my hard work so worthwhile.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
My work at Sanford Behavioral Health has further cemented my desire to work in human and public service. I would like to go to graduate school for a Master's of Social Work so I may work in more residential settings such as this one.
Internship Format
In Person