This summer, students from the Pharmacy Technician program at Ross Medical Education Center in Huntsville visited local organization Freedom House. Freedom House is a residential substance abuse rehabilitation facility for single women and women with children located in Rogersville, Alabama. Their goal is to bring the 12 Steps program used by Alcoholics Anonymous to chemically dependent women.
Central to their mission and goals is the holistic approach that the Freedom House utilizes in their pursuit of recovery for all of the women that seek their assistance. Their staff includes Certified Peer Support Specialists as well as Clinical Professionals and certified Case Managers. This team works together to deliver a Recovery Oriented System of Care for each of their clients. Their commitment is to help the chemically dependent woman find the road to responsible freedom from substances and become better women for themselves and mothers for their children.
The trip was a huge success! The students were given a brief presentation on how the organization operated and then enjoyed a tour of the facilities. They were also allowed to meet and interact with the clients and their children. Two clients shared their stories and expanded on how the program has really helped them gain control of their lives again. They shared personal details and experiences, and the students were extremely engrossed in what was shared.
Throughout the time leading up to their visit, the staff, faculty, and students from the Huntsville campus had been collecting toys for the children and clothes for the women at Freedom House. Each age and gender of child had a box in the hall that quickly filled with fun items. The excitement from the staff, the mothers, and the children when given their gift bags and donation boxes was contagious. Everyone enjoyed being a part of bringing smiles and laughter especially to the kids as they plowed through their boxes like it was Christmas!
To find out more about Freedom House or how you can help, visit their Facebook page!