Isabella House

Opened in 1984, Isabella House is a residential facility that focuses on women with children and pregnant women suffering from substance abuse. A part of the New Horizon Care Centers network, the center offers The Isabella House Women and Children’s Program, the only one on offer in the Inland Northwest. This six-month program helps its clients to develop and enhance their life and parenting skills.

Accommodations

Located in Spokane, Washington, The Isabella House can accommodate about 24 women and approximately 21 children aged below six in a beautiful, Victorian home.

The bedrooms are shared with other roommates. Residents take turns to maintain the house and do daily chores like cleaning and cooking. The home has a shared living room equipped with a TV, a dining room, a kitchen, a meeting room as well as a kids’ playroom.

The residents cannot access the internet or use cell phones while they are undergoing treatment. Smoking is not allowed on the campus.

Food

The residents are served healthy and balanced meals prepared by local food banks situated in Spokane. The staff also makes special brunches on Sunday mornings.

Treatment Program

A six-month residential program is offered by Isabella House, which empowers the residents and educates them about addiction and treating it like a disease. The residents have daily group therapy sessions and a once or twice weekly individual session.

Behavior modification is the primary treatment modality and utilizes CBT and Motivational Interviewing. The residents are accountable for following the rules and regulations of the house. They also have to provide peer support during the sessions.

Therapy options offered to the residents include relapse prevention meetings, anger management sessions, psychoeducation classes, as well as domestic violence treatment.

Isabella House provides on-site childcare providers to take of the children while their mothers attend the groups and classes.

Staff

Isabella House has a 24/7 team that comprises on-site house managers, therapeutic childcare specialists, LCSWs, LPCS, and case managers. The center also has an on-site LPN to assist with co-occurring disorders.

In Addition

Besides treatment programs, residents at Isabella House can enjoy movie nights, field trips, and recreational outings. Acupuncture, yoga, infant massages, and creative writing are also offered. Residents can also take GED or get training for job skills.

A notable feature of Isabella House and New Horizons is the work put in by the staff to help clients who do not have custody of their children due to substance abuse. The team also works very closely with Child Protection Services, when needed, to make sure that the mother and the child stay together while in treatment.

The program graduates can also use the transitional housing facilities provided by New Horizons Care Center.

Cost

Free (state-funded).