Ridgecrest, North Carolina, United States

FIRST at Blue Ridge is a North Carolina Licensed Peer Led – Peer Driven, 12 Step Based, Modified Therapeutic Community with an Intensive Clinical Overlay.

Admissions The Admissions Department is responsible for the initial intake evaluation of clients seeking substance use treatment at FIRST at Blue Ridge. Clients may be self-referred or referred from various sources in the community, including local hospitals and clinics, the court system, attorneys, homeless shelters, case managers, employee assistance programs, and other substance use professionals. The circumstances involved in a client’s decision to seek treatment can be complex and multi-dimensional, and it is the role of the Admissions Department to facilitate a smooth transition of the client into treatment. During the initial contact with a client, Admissions staff members focus on the immediate needs of the client and work with the client, the family, FIRST Case Managers, and referral sources to determine the appropriate level of service for each person. Upon admission, a clinical interview is conducted by a professional substance use counselor who utilizes standardized measurement tools that provide a comprehensive assessment of the client’s substance abuse problem and history. The Admissions Department also can help direct clients who require assistance with various psycho-social, legal or medical issues prior to admission. The Admissions Department operates Mondays to Fridays from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Appointments are necessary as there is information required prior to admission which helps speed up the process and can help ensure an appropriate placement. The Admissions staff are available to provide information about FIRST at Blue Ridge, the various programs available, and admission procedures at 828-669-0011 ext. 1106 or 1111. * All applications information must be faxed to the Admissions Department FAX at 828-669-0596 or emailed to Lindsay Jackson: [email protected] Applications FIRST Application Pack (Men) FIRST Application Pack (Women) Client Treatment Agreement Items To Bring Directions To FIRST Medical – Over the Counter Medical – Self-Administration Orders Medical – Physician Orders About Us: FIRST at Blue Ridge is a North Carolina Licensed Peer Led – Peer Driven, 12 Step Based, Modified Therapeutic Community with an Intensive Clinical Overlay. FIRST is a residential therapeutic community for individuals with chronic substance use disorders that provides transitional housing, group counseling, self-help meetings, case management, job-placement assistance, and other services to individuals struggling with addiction, homelessness, unemployment, and involvement with the criminal justice system. The program’s mission is to provide opportunity, guidance, and education to those with addictions and assist them to make positive life changes, in order to become responsible and productive members of society. FIRST at Blue Ridge, Inc. is a licensed therapeutic community in the State of North Carolina. We are a non-profit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The program is located in Ridgecrest, NC which is east of Asheville, NC on Interstate 40. The campus is comprised of a five story residential building with the capacity for eighty-five men, a sixty-five bed women’s facility, and other administrative, mechanical, landscaping, and transitional housing residences. Each transitional house is self-contained and is reserved for individuals who have completed their specific program’s curriculum. Eligibility to live in the transitional houses is determined by FIRST staff. Applicants for our long-term program, who are accepted through our Admissions Department, are required to pay a modest program fee upon admission. There are no additional fees required for the long-term program component. Residents of the community make a commitment to participate in program-contracted jobs while they complete the clinical curriculum and program requirements. Scholarships are available for those who do not have the means to pay the program fee. The Clinical Department provides various groups on life skills and recovery such as: Anger Management, Relationships, 12 Step Study Group, Relapse Prevention, Motivation for Recovery, Matrix, Thinking for a Change, Personal Finance, etc. The FIRST program recommends active participation in self-help recovery groups including Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery, SMART Recovery, and Refuge Recovery. FIRST has 12-step meetings on campus everyday, and also sends clients to off-campus meetings in the community. During their stay, residents are exposed to the day-to-day issues that are commonplace in society. Facing these issues together and overcoming challenges helps residents develop a sense of self-respect within the community. Whether it is with an internal FIRST at Blue Ridge position, or with one of our vocational training partners, residents learn job skills and work habits as they earn their way through the program. Additionally residents have the opportunity to establish a twelve month job history to add to their resumes, including positive references. FIRST strives to be a reality-based program and seeks to instill its clients with “real world” responsibilities. To that end, having assigned duties and responsibilities on a daily basis and having the opportunity to learn new skills and a work ethic are an integral part of the therapeutic process. After graduating the long-term program, residents are eligible to apply for admission to a transitional house. Residents accepted into a transitional house may remain at FIRST for up to one additional year, or until they establish a firm foundation for transitioning into independent living. FIRST at Blue Ridge, Inc. is primarily funded through vocational training partners and other local employers. FIRST also receives support through grants and contracts with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. FIRST at Blue Ridge, Inc. strives to admit only those who are committed to making positive changes in their lives. These individuals come from all walks of life and are referred by many sources including family members, friends, former graduates, other treatment programs, the judicial system, and probation and parole. However, they all have two things in common: the knowledge that they cannot go on using drugs and alcohol and the desire to get help. That journey to recovery begins with the FIRST step and we are here to help.