How It Works
The Perpetual Rehabilitation Fund
is a program based on an age old premise that by helping the one, you help
the many, meaning
take one person from a poor uneducated village with no medical facilities,
train them to be, let’s say a doctor, and you’ve helped an entire community
to live a happier healthier life. The idea is then, that they will be in
a better position to help others if their own lives are not a constant source
of worry, thus enabling the individual(s) to donate back to those who helped
them, thus beginning the cycle all over again.
The PRF works in very much the same way, by taking an individual who has made the conscious decision to turn their life around, they are then put in a safe environment where they are given the chance to heal, and are taught how to live their life without the crutch of drugs and alcohol, then slowly reintroduced to a new life using job training and placement, aftercare fellowship programs, and housing if necessary, in other words a complete program which teaches them how to live their life’s with a disease which will remain with them for the rest of there lives. This is all done at no cost initially, however once the individual has adapted to their new life, they are encouraged to donate a portion of their earnings at their discretion, so as to continue the cycle.
As a recovering addict and alcoholic myself, I know the importance of helping others after ones self has been helped, in fact it is the final and continuing step in the progression of the 12 step program which is the basis used in any successful recovery program. I use the term ‘recovery’ of course, only as to differentiate between that of someone just starting the process of turning their life around and someone who has, because of course, a addict or a alcoholic will never truly be recovered and will always live with the knowledge that if they where ever to return to their previous way of life, chances are it would probably kill them. It would me, and there has been many I know who have succumbed and lost their lives.
The PRF does not deal directly in the service of rehabilitation, but sponsors those individuals which are most in need of assistance to go from addict/alcoholic to contributing member of society. An individual will first be assessed on the following criteria;
Desire to Recover
Family Support Network
Financial Status
Child dependants
Legal Status and Obligations
It is important to know that this list is merely a guide line, and that the PRF will treat and asses every case individually, after all, we are here to help however and whomever we can……..
Desire to Recover
No one individual will ever succeed in the process of addition recovery
without the utmost desire to change. For example; Individuals who have been
forced into recovery plans against there will by family or employers or
even legal entities, in most cases would not qualify for funding through
the PRF.
Recovery entails hard work and study, for many individuals it will require them to learn to deal with feels and emotions from a very primary level which can often be a very traumatic process, often resulting in the individual being medically, and/or psychologically treated. Therefore it is imperative that the individual being focused and committed to his or hers own recovery.
Family Support Network
While not impossible, it is extremely difficult for an individual to continue in successful recovery after treatment without the support of those who have the best interests of the individual at heart. There will be emotional and trying times, lifestyle changes, new friends, and probably new employment, all things which would any of us even in the best of times, let alone during recovery. The support network will need to be there to support the individual during those times when he or she would have used drugs and/or alcohol do deal with the stress of everyday life.
Often times however, we find that it is the family members themselves which have had a negative influence and in some cases even encouraged them. Of course in these type of circumstances an individuals well being will be placed above other considerations and support would then be provided from outside sources trained to deal with such circumstances.
Financial Status
Of course if an individual is in a position to cover the costs of the
recovery process, they would not be eligible for funding. Having said that,
each case is looked at on a case by case basis, and an individuals well
being would always be our first consideration. Sometimes it may be a case
that individuals have completed a rehabilitation program but lack the funds
for aftercare, in these cases it would be likely that an individual request
would be granted and the individual would then be sponsored until such time
it was deemed that the individual was ready to go it alone.
Of course in order to help the greatest number of people possible, the PRF would always encourage individuals and family’s to make every effort to help in anyway they could. The twelfth step of the 12 step program states that “ Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics/addicts and to practice these principals in all our affairs“(http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/)
Child Dependants
All too often children pay the price of an addict’s illness. Pain, anguish,
discouragement, and loneliness can be a high price for a child to pay, even
worse can be that of both mental and physical abuse. Oddly enough, through
care it all, children can be the most forgiving and supportive of an individual
who is suffering from an addiction, especially when the individual is a
parent of the child. This can present a huge challenge to any organization
dealing with these issues, when it comes to weighing the needs of both the
child and the parent and how to help in sustaining the relationship while
at the same time making sure that the safety and wellbeing of the child
is first and foremost at all times. This can be particular challenging in
a single parent home where the parent has no family support network, and
the parent pass the point of being able to reasonably care for the child.
It for this reason the PRF extends itself to this end by enabling a child of a sponsored individual to receive the care required while the individual/parent is recovering until such time it is deemed that the individual is ready reasonably care for the child under strict supervision, working closely with both private and government agencies to assure the care and the welfare of both the individual and the child.
While it is the policy of the PRF to help as many individuals as possible,
we realize that due to shear scale of helping those with addiction problems
that we won’t be able to get to everyone, we therefore make it a priority
to help those who are presently in a family setting, have realize the situation
they have put both themselves and their family in, and are ready to do anything
to resolve the problem and try and keep their family together.
Legal Status and Obligations
Unfortunately it seems that illegal activities often go hand in hand with drug and alcohol abuse, and while we understand the reasons behind this, nothing can justify that which causes harm or injustice to others. Having said that however, this does not necessarily preclude an individual from being considered for sponsorship, if an individual has made arrangements with the courts with regards to fines, judgements and /or incarceration, so as not to interfere with treatment, sponsorship may still be obtained. PRF will not sponsor individuals who have order by the court to seek treatment as part of their release! The number 1 criteria for sponsorship is that of desire and commitment on the part of the individual, until that can be established a sponsorship will not be granted……..
The Perpetual Rehabilitation Fund believes that a firm family foundation with that of love and support will do more then any organization, no matter how good their intention, expertise, and accreditation, to bring an individual through the recovery process, to a productive and fruitful life!