Benefits of a Rehab Alumni Program

Running an outpatient rehab center involves many moving pieces that help everything run smoothly. If you are looking to grow your rehab center, there are certain things you want to put in place for your patients. One of those things is a rehab alumni program that patients can take advantage of for more aftercare options.

Rehab alumni programs are designed for patients who have completed their treatment but want to continue their care. It provides options for them to connect with the rehab community, engage in social outings, and find people to hold them accountable. This program also helps patients to stay connected with the center so they have access to continued care.

If you are interested in establishing a rehab alumni program, keep reading. In this article, we will discuss what this program entails and why it benefits rehab centers and their patients.

What Is a Drug Rehab Alumni Program?

The goal of a drug rehab alumni program is to help patients continue their sobriety journey successfully. Instead of sending them directly out into the world after their treatment, they will have access to continued support from the alumni manager.

The alumni program is managed by the coordinator, who is responsible for keeping in touch with patients and hosting events and meetings. Patients will be able to continue to foster relationships within the recovery community and spend time with like-minded individuals.

This program is also designed to provide patients with continued resources on their recovery journey. They will be assisted with different lifestyle changes, such as developing healthy coping mechanisms, handling stress better, and creating a healthier routine.

Top Benefits of Offering a Rehab Alumni Program

If your drug rehab center does not have an alumni program yet, this is definitely something you want to establish. Not only is this beneficial for the rehab center in terms of marketing and community relations, it is very helpful for the patients.

Here are some examples of the benefits rehab patients experience when they have access to an alumni program.

Aids in Readjusting 

Going from addiction treatment to normal life can feel like a very scary transition for many patients. They may have been in treatment for several weeks or months and now have to start their life from the ground up. An alumni program helps with this process by aiding in their readjustment period.

Many people find this program helpful, especially if they struggle with anxiety or feelings of isolation. The alumni program is designed to help patients manage triggers as they navigate everyday life, including relationships, social settings, and employment. They will learn healthy coping strategies and how to create boundaries.

Provides a Community

Sobriety can be a very difficult journey, depending on how much support the patient has and what they are recovering from. In fact, feeling isolated and alone are some of the main reasons why people end up relapsing after going through their treatment. That is why an alumni program aims to provide a community for patients.

The alumni coordinator arranges activities and events that help patients stay involved even after treatment. They will remain connected with the rehab center and have access to a growing community of those in recovery.

Encourages Resource Utilization

Drug rehab centers usually provide a wide range of resources to help potential and current patients. These resources often cover different addictions, their implications, and different tips to help patients during their recovery. But the problem is that many patients fail to take advantage of these resources or don’t even realize they exist.

The alumni program promotes these resources through things like blog posts, social media posts, and newsletters. The alumni group also engages in meetings and events that help educate patients on what recovery means. They will know exactly where to go if they need additional resources and can always get recommendations from the coordinator regarding other treatment programs they may benefit from.

Provides Accountability

Every step of the recovery process has to include accountability since this is what helps people stay clean. If a patient is only relying on themselves throughout this process, it can be difficult to avoid temptation and hold themselves accountable.

Because the alumni program provides a community, this can be used to provide accountability. The entire group can hold each other accountable, as well as individuals who may sympathize with one another more. Patients who are acclimating to everyday life will have a greater sense of motivation to stay clean since they have so many people backing them.

This also provides a good opportunity for others in the program to support members who may be going through similar difficulties. They will have the opportunity to assist others in their recovery journey, giving them confidence and a purpose.

Offers Employment Assistance

Going back to regular life after addiction treatment can feel very challenging for some individuals. This is especially true if they were battling a particularly aggressive form of addiction that had completely unraveled their life.

One of the most challenging steps after treatment is seeking employment since there is a lot of stigma around addiction recovery. Alumni programs help members by communicating with potential employers and voicing concerns.

The alumni manager will help patients through this process, negotiating with employers and doing everything in their power to provide a smooth transition. A big part of this simply includes providing moral support and an encouraging voice during the process.

Conclusion

Every rehab center should prioritize an alumni program to help patients avoid relapsing and keep them connected with the community. These are things that are very difficult to accomplish if patients don’t have something else to turn to when they have gone through their treatment program.

Having an alumni program also helps with things like referrals, positive feedback, community relations, and marketing. So, if you are interested in creating an alumni program for your rehab center, get started now. We provide everything you need to get started with your alumni program, and it is entirely free to set up!