Communication:
How do I reach Sober College?
The Main Office phone number is (818) 274-0304. Following admission, you will also be provided with additional contact information, including a contact person. We will inform you of your child’s safe arrival if they are admitting independently.
Who is my contact person?
Within the first week of the client’s admission to Sober College, your child’s counselor will contact you, and they will be your primary contact person. This person will be in communication with you on a weekly basis and will provide updates on your client’s progress and challenges.
Who do I call in the case of a family emergency?
Please call your primary contact person and if they cannot be reached then call the Main office number at (818) 274-0304 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST or at (424) 229-4179 after hours.
How do I reach a specific Sober College faculty member?
Please see our website, www.sobercollege.com for the current faculty list. Everyone at Sober College can be emailed at firstname.lastname@sobercollege.com.
Email/Internet Usage:
Clients are not permitted to contact friends or family via email while they are in the Freshman Phase of our program. If you receive an email from your child, please inform Sober College. As with phone calls, this is a breach of trust and considered relapse-type behavior. They are also limited in their internet usage. Facebook, Twitter, and any other social networking sites are not allowed during their first 30 days and very limited during the rest of their stay.
When may I speak with my son/daughter?
If your son or daughter arrives independently, you will be contacted upon their arrival. After admissions, all new clients enter a Freshman Phase orientation and stabilization period for their initial four weeks. During that time they are permitted to call home once a week. Should you receive an unscheduled or unauthorized call from your client, please notify us so that we can handle the situation. Sometimes this is a signal of either flight or relapse. This situation provides an opportunity for the client and family to work together with Sober College and further the client’s recovery.
Following the four-week period, they will be able to call anytime, provided they have not lost the privilege to do so. Throughout their stay, you will continue to receive progress reports from your contact person. However, you should still notify us of any unauthorized calls.
Mail & Gifts:
When may we start writing to our children?
Both you and your son/daughter may begin corresponding via written mail immediately. Please use the Ventura address on the front of this booklet.
Who else may write the client?
Clients can receive correspondence from immediate family only. We may ask you to provide us with an immediate family list. Early in their stay, clients are encouraged to write letters to girlfriends/boyfriends explaining that their primary focus at Sober College is their recovery and as such, will not be in touch while in residence at Sober College. Their counselor will approve future correspondence to contacts outside family on a case-by-case basis.
Money:
May I send the client money to buy things that they need?
Clients have a student account that will take care of their needs and ancillary expenses such as weekly allowance, educational materials, athletic activities, special Sober College events and emergency items. They are typically not permitted to have more than their weekly stipend on them at any one point in time. If they have restitution to make, fines to pay, or need a particular item (i.e. gym gear) they may request that they are permitted to withdraw from their account and attend to that business. We encourage the clients to be responsible for themselves when and where possible financially.
Personal Liability:
Sober College is not responsible for a client’s personal property. Should a client leave Sober College of their own accord, Sober College will not be responsible for the return of property. If their property is packaged for return, the financial sponsor must pay the costs associated with the transportation.
Visitation:
When may we visit and what are the guidelines for special holidays, like Christmas?
Special occasions – Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Hanukkah, birthdays and graduations are times of celebration at Sober College. Clients all participate in the creation and staging of joyous celebration galas. On-campus family visits and home visits for clients are granted subject to the client’s tenure, recovery, and earned privileges. Such visit requests are assessed on an individual basis. Moderate birthday celebrations and presents are allowed if you would like to add something to their special day.
When may our children come home for a visit?
As stated prior, requests for home visits are assessed and granted on an individual basis. Home visits do not typically occur before 60 days of residency at Sober College – or until the client is stable in their recovery and has earned the privilege. The longer the client has been in our program before going home the greater the likelihood that the travel will be positive and healthy and that the client will return to Sober College clean and sober.
Family Workshops:
Why does Sober College suggest that we attend Al-Anon or Families Anon before participating in the Family Workshops?
We refer families to Al-Anon or Families Anon so that you may learn the facts about the illness of alcoholism (and addiction) and how it has impacted your lives physically and emotionally. We have found that the success and degree of healing in the workshops increases with the family’s participation in 12-step work on their own. It is important that you share a common recovery language with your child, as well as learn to take care of your own needs.
Who should attend the workshop? Siblings? Grandparents?
Siblings over the age of 14 and grandparents do participate in our family workshops as deemed appropriate by all parties concerned. Participation will depend on relationships before and after their treatment.
Talent Shows:
Sober College showcases the abilities of staff and clients alike through talent shows. Our clients, staff, friends, family and the community are all welcome to attend our live events to celebrate the achievements of the young adults in our program. Friends and family can join in the fun through live streaming online and watch the event unfold in real time. We even record our talent shows so that clients’ accomplishments can also be shared and enjoyed by others.
Legal Issues:
Will Sober College supply the courts with the reports that they need?
Sober College works very closely with probation officers and other court personnel. Should a client under the court’s jurisdiction make a decision that puts them in non-compliance with our program, or the conditions set forth by the court, we will make this information known to the court appointed professional as required. Clients who are on probation with community service to complete, fines and restitution to be made, are given the opportunity, resources, and encouragement to accomplish these objectives while at Sober College.
What happens if the client needs to make an appearance in court?
When possible, deferral of court appearances is advised – the longer the client has been in our program prior to a court appearance the greater the likelihood that their court appearance and their travel will go smoothly.
Can the client earn money to pay court fines and/or make restitution?
After 90 days at Sober College, yes they can. Clients can earn the privilege to hold a job, when this can happen varies by client and necessity. However, if the amount of the fine and the timeline by which it must to be completed are such that it necessitates they be working relatively full time, this would not be compatible with the Sober College program. This type of work schedule would take them out of the program’s day-to-day, stall their recovery and pull them away from the community. If the time frame and amounts are reasonable, they can earn money and pay off their fines while remaining a client.
Can they complete court-ordered Community Service hours?
As mentioned previously, provided that the time frame in which they need to complete the hours is such that they can continue to participate in the Sober College program they can work community service hours through several organizations in the Los Angeles Area. We have our Community Outreach (C.O.R.E) volunteer program which will aid students in finding places to complete their hours.
Medical Care:
How does Sober College handle medical emergencies?
In the event of a medical emergency, our staff will, depending on the urgency, call 911 or transport the client to the emergency room of the local hospital. Once the client is safe, the staff will notify you of the situation.
Prescriptions:
A copy of your insurance card is supplied to our local pharmacy ensuring that you are charged co-pay amount only. If your insurance does not cover prescriptions, the charges can be itemized on your monthly statement.
Can we (the parents) make arrangements to supply prescription medications from an alternative source?
Yes. The only caution is that shipping prescriptions to Sober College may result in treatment delay or interruption. It is important that your child stays consistently on their medication to maximize treatment efficacy.
Billing:
There is an item on my invoice that I would like explained, who do I contact?
Please direct all billing inquiries to Michelle Kemmer, Controller, at (818) 963-5582.
Will my statement have costs itemized (as required by insurance companies)?
We charge one fee for all services and do not itemize costs of each service.
When will I receive my invoice?
Your invoice will arrive approximately two weeks before the due date.
When is my invoice due?
Please refer to your contract for payment details.
Where should I send payments?
Sober College
Attn: Michelle Kemmer
15300 Ventura Boulevard Suite 226, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
United States
Is there a refund if my son/daughter leaves prematurely?
It is our policy that there is no refund given if the client leaves prematurely or is discharged. We will hold the remaining tuition as a credit if the client is readmitted.
Does Sober College accept credit cards?
Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Simply fill out the credit card authorization form that was given to you during admission. If you do not have the form, please call the Finance Office at (818) 274-0304 or email accounting@sobercollege. com.
What is the $3,000 student account for and will it be refunded?
The student account covers their weekly stipend and any other ancillary charges that a student may incur. The outstanding charges will be subtracted from the deposit, and the remainder will be refunded. Refunds usually take a minimum of 30 days to process (to make sure all charges have been submitted).
Insurance:
What type of insurance plans cover Sober College?
Sober College works with most PPOs (Preferred Provider Organization plans) that have OON (out-of-network) benefits available to the insured.
What if I don’t have a PPO plan?
No need to worry! We can always run your insurance information for valid verification to determine what the next steps will be.
What if I don’t have insurance but want to sign up with a new carrier? Can Sober College help?
Yes, of course! Sober College connects parents with Applefield-Hughes Insurance Solutions to provide your family with different options for insurance coverage. They help with completing the application and can answer any questions that may arise.
***Please keep in mind that Sober College and Applefield-Hughes Insurance Solutions cannot guarantee authorization, payment and/or secured rates with new insurance carriers.
These services are only provided to suggest insurance policies in the hopes that they will cover Sober College clinical services (or medical expenses – depending on your preference here).
What happens when I get a check and/or correspondence from my insurance in the mail?
In certain circumstances, your insurance provider may forward payments to you, explaining the services that were facilitated by Sober College and required that you remit those payments to Sober College. Simply put the checks in the mail to Sober College with the explanation of benefits. No need to endorse checks.
Please mail all checks and EOB’s to Sober College Environments
Attn: Britney David
15300 Ventura Boulevard
Suite 226, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Any EOB’s (explanation of benefits) or additional correspondence your insurance provider sends to you are very important because insurance companies will use medical codes, remarks or descriptions explaining why they might deny a claim – or to explain what information may be missing. We ask that you forward all EOB’s that are received by mail, email or fax to the attention of Britney David. This is to ensure that our third party billing company receives any of the information available, so they can, in turn, appeal any denied claims.