Community OutREach

Being of service in early recovery is a key component in maintaining long-term sobriety. Sober College introduces these young adults to service work early on to help them understand and appreciate its benefits, in hopes they will be willing to participate later on.

Community OuREach – The CORE Program at Sober College

The Men’s Program at the LA Food Bank

The CORE program, an experiential program developed by staff member Shane Coyle, gives our residents a multitude of opportunities to give back to the community and get class credit and any needed court-mandated hours. CORE offers a therapeutic element to the residents’ recovery process.

Transitioning back into society after a period of alcohol or drug use can be challenging. CORE offers our students a way to integrate back in through a wide range of community services while providing life skills and helping them achieve emotional growth.

Community Service is Necessary in Early Sobriety

Providing help to another, whether sharing the love of reading to kids, singing to the elderly, feeding the homeless, cleaning our coastline, or giving love to abused/neglected animals, is a beneficial part of early recovery. We at Sober College believe it allows our students to step away from their current situation and contribute to others in meaningful ways. The sense of gratitude they experience as result is invaluable.

Upon admittance, our residents are placed on a “freshmen phase”. As part of this phase, the students must complete a required amount of community service hours within their first 30 days, in order to receive certain privileges. We believe this facilitates planning ahead, commitment and following through, and scheduling.

The CORE Program and How it Addresses the Five Core Competencies

Together, the Five Core Competencies are the stem of the Sober College Program. It is through achievement in these Competencies that young adults can get and stay sober, and learn to lead successful lives. The CORE Program, and its focus on community service address the many of these Core Competencies in a unique and different way that appeals to the young adult population.

Life Skills

The CORE Program teaches Sober College clients valuable life skills, including but not limited to:

Time Management
Following Direction
Team Work
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Assertiveness

Emotional Growth

Volunteering with organizations can lead to certain discomforts. Learning how to recognize and work through these emotions is essential to a healthy recovery. We believe volunteering can also give a sense of being connected, helping residents feel that they can help change their environment; whether big or small, that has been known to assist with building self-esteem and empowerment.

Productivity

If student are talking the Health and Wellness course they can receive class credit for the work they are doing in CORE. Having our students engage in different community services could help them with deciding on future career interests. Some of our students have either been out of the work force for some time, or do not have any job experience. CORE provides skills that can be applied to a job resume. The organizations Sober College has established relationships with offer job opportunities to their volunteers. We have found that listing any volunteer participation can also assist with Universities/college applications.

Alternative Sentencing

Some of our students have required court ordered community service hours. CORE works with a wide range of non-profit organizations that are recognized by most courts, which allows our students to complete their mandated requirements while in treatment.

What Sober College Does for their Surrounding Community…Check out our CORE Program Newsletter

2013 Newsletters

January 2013

2012 Newsletters

2011 Newsletters

CLICK HERE to check out some of the other Volunteer Causes that Sober College is Involved in.

CORE Collaborators

LA Food Bank (lafoodbank.org)

Reading To Kids (readingtokids.org)

Heal The Bay (healthebay.org)

Pet Adoption Fund (petadoptionfund.org)

Project Angel Food (angelfood.org)

Tree People (http://www.treepeople.org)

Woodland Care Center (woodlandcarecenterllc.com)

Union Rescue Mission (urm.org)

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (our-redeemer.org)

Elsa at Hope Ranch Animal Rescue (elsainc.org, hoperanchanimalrescue.com)

Shane Coyle – Community Outreach Director

Shane joined the Sober College family as a mentor in December 2009. In his second year of employment, he developed the CORE (Community OutREach) program. He saw it as an opportunity to add another therapeutic element to the residents’ recovery process. Shane believes that volunteering can help shape the young adults’ future by developing life skills, building self-esteem, and enhancing emotional awareness – three major components to having a successful recovery. Shane will be a CATC II (Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor) in the summer of 2013.

CLICK HERE! To check out some other Volunteer Causes that Sober College is Involved in