Department of Alternative Sentencing (DAS) Support in Treatment, Accountability and Recovery (STAR)

Should you choose to leave the program prior to completion, either voluntarily or through administrative discharge, Life Changes, Inc. will pack and label your property. It is your responsibility to ensure your property is retrieved within 5 days. Should you leave your property over 5 days, it will be considered abandoned and will be donated. You must designate a trusted individual to retrieve your property below which gives Life Changes, Inc. your permission to release your property. 

Full name of the person your designate to retrieve your

Phone number of your designee authorized to retrieve

 

By accepting residency at Life Changes, Inc. you understand and agree that you are residing in a shared housing model, you are responsible for your own health and well-being and as a resident of Life Changes, Inc. You are required to abide by all CDC and Life Changes, Inc. guidelines to protect myself and my fellow residents. This includes but is not limited to the practice of social distancing, wearing masks and gloves in required locations, frequent hand washing and complying with other safety protocols as they are presented. If you are feeling ill or have symptoms of COVID-19 (such as those listed above), or have been exposed to COVID-19, please immediately reach out to Life Changes staff to inform them of your concerns while practicing all safety precautions.

Please answer all questions thoroughly.

Your Rights as a Resident

• You will not be abused, neglected, or exploited by any other resident or any other person visiting the facility.
• You are not prohibited from speaking to any person who advocates for your rights.
• You are treated with dignity and respect. The facility environment will be a safe and comfortable haven for you.
• You are not prohibited from interacting socially with other residents.
• You have the right to make your own decisions consistent with facility rules.
• You are allowed to vote

Notice of Non-Responsibility

Life Changes, Inc. operates a sober living facility in a shared housing model and does not have a safe for safekeeping, or other safekeeping areas for storage of personal items, articles of value, or cash; you are encouraged not to bring large amounts of cash or items of value onto property. By accepting housing with Life Changes, Inc. you agree that you will bring any cash or other valuables into the facility at your own risk and that Life Changes, Inc. is not responsible for loss, damage or theft. Further, Life Changes, Inc. provides both refrigerated and dry storage for food items. However, Life Changes, Inc. is not responsible for loss of food by any means, by theft, mechanical breakdown, missing food, weather, acts of God or otherwise.

By accepting residency in a Life Changes, Inc. facility, you release Life Changes, Inc. and their affiliates, managers, members, agents, attorney, staff, volunteers, heirs, representatives, processors, successors, and assigns, from any and all liability of any kind whatsoever, claims or causes of action. You further agree to pay Life Changes, Inc. any related costs if litigation arises. By accepting residency with Life Changes, Inc. you indicate your awareness and agreement that this is a release of liability and a contract.

Resident Grievance Policy

It is the policy of Life Changes, Inc. to treat each resident with due respect, courtesy, and dignity. However, if a resident has concerns about the services they are receiving, they have the right to voice their concerns through the grievance process and shall not be subject to retribution or any other adverse consequences for doing so.

1. Resident is to speak to the facility resident house manager and explain the problem. If a solution acceptable to the resident is not found, the resident is then to submit a signed written grievance to the Life Changes, Inc. CEO at LifeChangeslnc@yahoo.com with the words "Client Grievance" in the subject line. The grievance will be presented at the next regularly scheduled staff meeting. The response will be submitted to the resident within five days of the staff meeting. 
2. If the response does not resolve the matter to the resident's satisfaction, resident may have a personal interview with the CEO or her designee within three days of requesting the interview.
3. If the interview does not resolve the grievance to the resident's satisfaction, resident may have an interview with the Board of Directors Programs Committee for discussion at their next regularly scheduled meeting. The resident may be asked to attend the meeting and discuss the grievance with the committee.
4. The Programs Committee may discuss the merits of the grievance with Life Changes, Inc. staff, including the resident manager, and shall act on the grievance in the form of a board resolution, which shall be communicated to the resident. The decision of the board of directors and/or is committees is final.
5. Should the resident have further concerns, they may address this to the following state entity. Nevada Department of Health & Human Services/División of Public & Behavioral Health/HCQC 72 Fairview Dr., Suite E, Carson City VV 89701

 

YOUR FIRST 30 DAYS

During your first 30 days in the Life Changes, Inc. program you are expected to adhere to a strict set of guidelines. Your initial 30 days is an assessment period where your activities and movements are highly monitored. This period will be as short or as long as is needed to ensure your stability. Please keep in mind, expectations are unique to you and are developed and monitored to ensure you are able to maintain your established schedule, attend to any STAR program requirements, employment, family reunification activities, etc. During this period both you and the Life Changes team will assess if your stay with Life Changes is beneficial - we will be assessing your willingness to comply with program rules, your level of motivation and your proven determination to create a new way of life. We trust you would assess if the services offered in the Life Changes program will support you in reaching your own unique goals and if you are willing to comply with program requirements.

EXPECTATIONS

Life Changes, Inc. operates with a person-centered system of care. What this means is each resident has restrictions, expectations and guidelines that are unique to their personal needs. However, as a resident, you are expected to comply with the following expectations. At Life Changes, Inc. you are expected to:

• Maintain a crime free lifestyle.
  • Criminal activity of any type will result in immediate discharge.
• Reconnect with family members or children wherever possible.
• Access behavioral and physical health services as required.
• Adhere to all program rules, including requirements of the STAR program.
• Willingly engage in recovery services as defined and required by STAR.
• Comply with your unique established schedule and curfew.
• Do not accept employment working graveyard shift.
• Each resident may have additional restrictions to be determined on an individual basis.

RULES OF RESIDENCY

1. All residents shall remain alcohol, drug and gambling free at all times.
2. No weapons of any type, violence or threats of violence are allowed on the premises of any Life Changes facility.
3. Approved prescription medication is allowed. However, all medication, change in prescription or new medication is to be kept in a locked area and recorded on individual resident medication logs. 
4. Racial, LCBTQ-phobic comments, sexual slurs and sexual harassment will not be tolerated.
5. Residents are to use the sign in/sign out log every time they leave or return to the facility. 
6. Residents must engage in proper cleanliness of the facility and will be assigned chores each week.
7. Residents must engage in services as agreed with their care team and must submit their weekly meeting sheet to the resident manager.
8. No visitors are allowed on premises before 8 am or after 10 pm. Visitors are only allowed in communal areas. Residents may not accept visitors who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 
9. Residents must maintain any and all spaces they occupy in A healthy, clean, orderly, and safe condition. 
10. Excess property will not be allowed at Life Changes as this is a transitional living facility and there is not space for residents to store excess property.
11. No fraternization, dating, intimate and/or sexual contact or relationships are allowed between residents of any Life Changes facility or between residents and staff.
12. Residents will respect the privacy and confidentiality of all other residents and will not disclose to anyone outside the household the names or other information about anyone residing in a Life Changes facility.
13. Pets or animals are only allowed with prior written permission of the CEO.
14. All resident vehicles must be registered and insured and a copy of both, as well as resident's valid driver's license must be provided to management. Vehicles that are inoperable are not allowed on Life Changes property. There is to be no vehicle maintenance or repair activities performed on Life Changes property at any time.
15. No property of Life Changes is to be removed from the premises.
16. Life Changes facilities and property are to be respected at all times. Vandalism and damage are to be reported and residents that willfully damage Life Changes property will be subject to dismissal.
17. Resident agrees to comply with all health and safety protocols as implemented by the company.
18. Food is not to be eaten or stored in any area of the premises other than the kitchen, pantry, or dining area. At no time is a resident authorized to have food in the sleeping quarters.
19. If, during the course of their stay, new company rules are implemented, residents agree to abide by all rules as implemented.

 

PERSONAL HYGIENE AND HOUSE CLEANING

• Residents are required to shower regularly, wash their clothes, brush their teeth, and keep their personal living areas neat. This means, pick up your clothes, make your bed, empty your trash, and keep your personal area free of any obstacles that could impede movement and walking.
• At NO TIME are food or open food containers authorized in general sleeping quarters.
• Life Changes facilities do not have maid service. Residents are responsible to clean up after themselves and complete their assigned chores. In general:
  • If you sleep on it - make it.
  • If you wear it - hang it up.
  • If you drop it - pick it up.
  • If you eat out of it - wash it.
  • If you step on it - pick it up.
  • If you open it - close it.
  • If you empty it - fill it up.
  • If it rings - answer it.
  • If you turn it on - turn it off.
  • If you make a mess - clean it up.
  • If it belongs to someone else - don't touch it.
  • If you move it - put it back.
  • If you don't know how to operate it - don't mess with it.
  • Treat others how you want to be treated.

ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE SHARED HOUSING AGREEMENT

Life Changes, Inc. has developed a set of rules and guidelines for the structure, safety, growth, and healing of all who reside in the organization's housing programs. We will help and support everyone with their customized approach to recovery for their specific needs. We believe that a large part of recovery is learning to be personally responsible and accountable for ourselves (thoughts, feelings, and behaviors) The rules and expectations are part of taking personal responsibility and becoming more accountable.

Residents of the program are alcohol and drug free individuals who reside in congregate housing of their own free will and operate as a member of a recovery community with other members who have various and unique challenges. Residents of the Life Changes program understand this is a congregate housing situation and no resident occupies an exclusive unit or space. As a member of this community, the resident agrees to abide by the established rules and guidelines and to make their best efforts in supporting other members of the community in their recovery and goals.

IMMEDIATE DISCHARGE PROTOCOL

It is the policy of Life Changes, Inc. to provide each resident with an alcohol and drug-free living environment. In collaboration with the STAR care team, random drug screens and breathalyzer tests will help in achieving this goal. If a resident is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, creates a disruptive or unsafe environment, engages in violence or threats of violence on premises, the residents care team will be contacted, and discharge criteria will be followed. At no time will Life Changes tolerate any individual who puts the recovery, safety or well-being of its residents or staff in danger.

ORIENTATION

By signing below, I attest and acknowledge that I have been oriented to the facility, the emergency evacuation plan has been communicated to me and I fully understand the emergency evacuation procedure. 

I further certify that I have reviewed all material in this document and by signing below, I agree t abide by all rules and expectations that come with being a resident in the Life Changes, Inc. shared housing program.