Westminster House, Recovery Centre for Women
Women do Recover

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Intake time is between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday. If you are on any medications, please arrive with new written prescriptions so these can be bubble packed by our pharmacy. The use of unauthorized medication is prohibited.

What to Bring:

CLOTHING

Pack a supply (one suitcase or bag) of comfortable, casual, weather appropriate clothing, including a jacket or sweater for outdoors, socks and underwear, swim suit, workout attire, and gym shoes. Please note that laundry facilities are provided.

Clothes NOT to Bring:

  • Revealing, tattered and/or torn clothing
  • Clothing that depicts drugs, alcohol, sex, violence or gambling
  • Clothing with offensive slogans

PERSONAL EFFECTS

  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Toothpaste, toothbrush, & other personal toiletries
  • All prescribed medication
  • Personal Health Care Number
  • Ipod/MP3 player
  • Journal/Pens/Pencils
  • Walkmans - they may be used when writing on step work, working out at the gym, and as meditation at bedtime only.

Clients must take all of their belongings upon discharge.

NOT PERMITTED AT THE CENTRE:

  • Computers, laptop, personal digital assistants
    (After step nine, clients are permitted use of the Internet at the library only).
  • Cell phones
  • Ghetto blasters
  • Cigarettes/Tobacco
  • Lottery Tickets
  • Recreational reading materials
  • Products containing alcohol (i.e., mouthwash, aftershave, perfume, perfumed lotions, etc.)
  • Laxatives
  • Mood altering drugs, non prescription medications
  • Sharps of any kind (scissors, penknives, straight razors, etc.)

Clients must take all of their belongings upon discharge.

The program Director or staff may ask to check purses, packages, pockets and rooms at any time during the program.

MEDICATIONS

It is important that clients advise the admissions staff of all medications they are taking. Include the name of the medication, the dosage and frequency administered, as well as the name of the prescribing physician. Bring all prescribed medications in their original containers. During admission you will be asked to turn in all medications (prescription and non-prescription) in your possession. Replacement medications will be blister packed through Safeway and kept locked in the office as per our licensing requirements. Westminster House deals with Safeway Pharmacy only. The use of unauthorized medication is prohibited.

VISITORS/PHONE CALLS/LETTERS

For the first 14 days of treatment, clients will be on retreat in order to stabilize within the program and connect with peers; no visitors, letter writing, or phone calls will be permitted. Clients will be on the buddy system. Clients who have children less than 18 years of age will be allowed to have one 15-minute phone call per week. Other exceptions include: Alcohol & Drug Counsellor, Mental Health Worker and calls related to funding. Following the first 14 days of treatment, daily visiting hours are between 1:30pm – 3:30pm and 7pm – 8pm, except Tuesday evenings due to speaker meeting. Please inform your peers in group who will be visiting.

TOBACCO USE

Westminster House is a tobacco free zone; clients are required to abstain from using tobacco products while in residence.