Pritchard House

A Message From Executive Director Bertha Fontaine

"Booshoo! Welcome to the Native Addictions Council of Manitoba's inpatient program, Pritchard House. Our hope is that your treatment program will be exciting and rewarding for you and yours. Everyone who is employed in our agency is equally committed to providing the best possible care and programming for you. It is only your input that the process of healing can begin in a holistic way. The adage that 'whatever effort you put into the program is what you will receive' is true in most of our people's experience. As you have been informed, we are proud that 90-95% of our programs are culturally relevant. This change evolved from people like yourself who've contributed to the continued development of our successful programming. We wish you a productive beginning on your new journey to the balanced lifestyle that our ancestors once lived. MEEGWETCH." (Revised: February 9, 2009)

Pritchard House

The Pritchard House Treatment Program is Manitoba's longest running program comprised entirely of staff who are of Native descent, for the treatment of addictions. During the 40 years of its existence, Pritchard House has given thousands of people a start on the road to healing. By using traditional Native methods (ie sharing circles, sweat lodges, ceremonies, etc.), in combination with current addictions treatment techniques and strategies, the staff of Pritchard House provide the finest care available. The counselors have diverse dimensions of experience, education and training in various areas which are helpful to their roles as counselors.

The most predominant aspect of the program is that it provides a safe, addiction free environment where a person can concentrate on the problem at hand. The atmosphere is non-threatening and many begin the process of communicating their problems, feelings and lives in general with those around them.

Individual counseling is consistently available as well as group counseling. An element of flexibility surrounds the program sessions in order to accommodate the needs of clientele from personal growth skills, to problem solving, to traditional values and its way of life, to discussion meetings of the program and a variety of topics.

Summarily, the program has approximately 90% Native content. This includes Life Skills and Human Development, Native Spirituality, Speaker meetings, morning ceremonies, and so on. Residents can speak in their own language if they so choose. Residents are assigned a counselor for individual sessions.

The program is five weeks in duration. Admittance dates are provided upon request. Referrals are usually screened and put on a waiting list. Counselors usually get in touch with potential residents as to the time and other logistics for entering the Pritchard House Treatment Program.

The Purpose

The main purpose of the Pritchard House Treatment Program is to assist individuals from all First People communities and urban areas in the process of recovery. Our program caters to Native people from 18 years of age to as old as 75 years or older. Occasionally, young people under 18 years old may be admitted depending on the circumstances. Generally, the objective of our program at Pritchard House are the following:

To provide a safe, non-threatening atmosphere to enhance the process of recovery.

To provide information and education to clientele as to the nature of addiction and the resources available to them for continued recovery.

To provide a forum and counseling service to clientele for dealing with particular problems associted with their addiction and lifestyle.

To assist the individual through various discussion groups, presentations, films and videos, personal growth exercises and other special sessions.

To promote a positive image, self-awareness and identification of the individual for purposes of recovery through the Native spiritulity.

To promote healing for the individual affected by addiction.

Meeting Schedule

The program's meeting schedule includes, but is not limited to the following topics:

Native-Teachings and their application.

Life-Skills.

Anger Management.

Lifestyle Assessment/Problem Identifications.

Resources available - both in the additions field and in other areas.

The physical, emotional and spiritual consequences of addictions in any form.

The impact of the Residential School system on Native families and cultural traditions.

Relaxation techniques and methods of reducing overall anxiety levels.

Pride in Native identity.

Program Length

The Pritchard House program varies in length, but is approximately 35 days. While Pritchard House if funded for 22 beds per month, often times this number is exceeded with perhaps as many as 30 people attending the program. While group sizes vary, the amount of attention the group members receive and the type of service the staff provide, remains consistent. All clients receive proper care and attention at all times.

Arriving At Pritchard House

Clients entering Pritchard House are shown to the second floor waiting area of the N.A.C.M. building. There they (Pritchard House is one of the few facilities that accepts couples as well as individuals as clients) are registered and shown to one of the rooms in the residential wing of the building. Single men are housed on the third floor, single women and couples occupy rooms on the second floor.

On entering of the first day, the clients attend an orientation session where they go over the Pritchard House Rules. Following this session, the group is given a tour of the N.A.C.M. building, with the tour conducted by an N.A.C.M. staff member.

Second Day

Program meetings begin on the second day. Given the amount of the time available, we believe that group members must get to know each other as soon as possible and that we must begin the work needed to promote trust amongst the group members.

Session Schedule

A copy of the Pritchard House timetable is given to each client.

Counseling Hours

Individual counseling sessions are flexible. However, counselors are not available during regular meeting times and/or after 10:00 p.m.

Referral Procedures

Intake for Pritchard House is conducted through the Intake Office, which is open from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. A summary of these procedures follows:

Contact Intake and request a Referral Package. This package contains a Referral Sheet.

Medical Assessment form, both of which must be completed and returned before admission is confirmed.

Admission dates vary so please contact Intake to learn the start dates available.

Additional program information is available - a summary of the house rules, sample program, etc. - contact the Pritchard House Intake counselor for more details.

Upon admission, all clients are expected to read and sign a copy of the House Rules. Failure to comply with the rules will result in immediate discharge.

When the Referral Package is returned, a representative of the Intake Office will contact the referral agent to confirm an admission date.

Referral agents are expected to arrange transportation to and from the facility. Intake must be informed of these arrangements.

Applications and Admission Criteria

The basic criteria for admission to the Pritchard House Treatment Program are the following:

A desire to quit drinking and/or abusing drugs or chemicals.

Individuals must be assessed by referral sources prior to treatment.

All potential residents must have a medical checkup before admission.

Couples are allowed to enter Pritchard House together.

No outside appointments are allowed during scheduled meeting times in order to prevent distraction from the program as much as possible.

A willingness to do something about the problems in their lives related to alcohol, drugs or chemical abuse.