Since 1969, Walden House has offered a variety of adult residential, outpatient, and prevention services to clients in the San Francisco area. Most of these programs are open to the general public, but some are designed for special populations such as clients who are HIV positive. Whether you need long term or short term residential care for a serious substance abuse problem, outpatient counseling for a less urgent or intensive need, or simply some information, click here and call the San Francisco phone numbers.
Residential Care
Walden House has provided residential programs for behavioral health disorders since it's beginning in 1969. All persons served have a substance abuse disorder while many also experience psychiatric problems as well. Residential programs are organized and staffed to provide the availability of psychosocial services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to address these behavioral health disorders. These services include assessment, case management, counseling, and support groups as well as house and vocational counseling to name a few. Today, Walden House has 4 adult residential program sites in San Francisco that have different phases of service. In addition, programs are designed as a Dual Diagnosis Capable environment, so that persons with psychiatric problems may participate. Residential service may be anywhere from 3 days for stabilization up to 1 year for long-term treatment. Walden House's residential programs are unique in that special populations are serviced through specialized services at different residential program sites. Special populations receiving residential services include:
- Persons ages 19-24 (young adults);
- Persons in need of stabilization (medical and psychiatric);
- Persons who identify as transgendered;
- Persons with extensive criminal backgrounds;
- Persons with HIV/AIDS;
- Persons with multiple diagnosis; and
- Women with children.
HIV and Health Services
Walden House has specific services for persons with HIV. Walden House provides specific residential treatment on a short or long-term basis, as well as a crisis stabilization program specifically for persons experiencing withdrawal. In addition, Walden House has "Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS" (HOPWA), which provides permanent living in community housing to eligible persons. Walden House also provides prevention / diversion services about risky behaviors associated with contracting or spreading HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's). Lastly, Walden House provides case management for persons who are HIV positive in the community, which is the first contract of its kind.
Crisis Stabilization
Walden House's HIV services include a multi-diagnosis and stabilization program (MDSP), which includes a social model detoxification. Although provided at a residential treatment site, this is a crisis stabilization program to help HIV positive persons through detoxification and to re-enter into the community. The length of stay for this program lasts from 1 week to 6 weeks. This program provides integrated addiction and psychiatric services for each person served while they receive medical care both on site and in the community. Case management to community resources is also provided to ensure the best care possible. This program is funded by the San Francisco CARE Council.
Community Housing
This program is in partnership with each person served. Community housing includes both permanent and transitional living environments in facilities such as HOPWA and Coleridge, which allow the person served to live independently and have services provided if needed. Many permanent residents receive support services with dedicated staff to ensure they can remain in their residence. Transitional living or "Sober Living Environments" (SLE's) provide a safe and secure environment while providing services and moving persons served into the community. Persons served actively receive services to assist in their transition into the community and independence. These services include case management, counseling, education, and other services that are available at Walden House residential sites.
Outpatient Services
Walden House has provided outpatient programs for behavioral health disorders since 1985. All persons served have a substance abuse problem, but may also benefit from mental health services. Outpatient Services provides at a minimum one individual session a week along with one group a week. The program is open for 12 hours a day six day's a week so a client can be in a situation where something clinical is going on all the time. There are several different programs that a client can fit into one being the abstinence based program and the other being the Harm reduction program. This program is designed as an option for a client who is trying to manage her/his behavioral health problems while receiving outpatient services.
Intensive Outpatient Program
The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is designed to avoid more restrictive levels of care, such as Residential Care, while providing a range of outpatient services including assessment, case management, counseling, education, as well as vocational services. IOP provides at least nine hours of services each week to meet the client's needs.
Day Treatment Program
Day Treatment has been provided at Walden House for over a decade. This program provides services a minimum of 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. The program is designed to avoid higher levels of care for persons failing in an outpatient level of care or those who need more structure after leaving Residential Care. Service plans are designed according to the needs of each client. Assessment, case management, counseling, education, as well as Re-Entry Services are all available in this program.
PROP (Methamphetamine/HIV Prevention Services)
The PROP program operates as an incentive program or 'contingency management' program to help clients stop using methamphetamine. The target population for this program is men who have sex with men. Contingency management consists of a client coming in three times a week and testing for methamphetamine use in the form of a urinalysis. This is done for a twelve week period and a client can earn up to $450 in items such as Safeway or Walgreen's gift cards.
Prevention/Diversion Programs
Services such as community outreach, formal health, HIV, and STD prevention have always been provided by Walden House. Health promotion and disease prevention information and interventions are available. In 2005 Walden House was awarded the first contract to provide Case Management to HIV positive persons in need of service.
Homeless Services
Walden House works with a multitude of populations in San Francisco. Many of the persons served in San Francisco are homeless or indigent before entering a Walden House program. In response to the homeless, Walden House has developed community outreach activities to engage this difficult to reach population. Walden House also actively participates in the Major's "Homeless Connect" project in connecting people to much needed resources, as well as providing prevention services. And, Walden House has engaged in a project with the Treasure Island Housing Development Incorporated (TIHDI) to provide Residential Care for formerly homeless persons on Treasure Island while they receive services at Walden House's San Francisco Multi Service Center. The program specifically assists these clients with services through Walden House Re-Entry Services.
Transgender Services
Walden House provides an entire service track specific to the needs for persons who identify as transgendered. Walden House has a dedicated therapist and support counselor who provides specific intervention and support that includes advocacy, case management, counseling, education and support groups that meet client needs in a culturally competent manner. These transgender services may be provided anywhere within the Walden House continuum of service from Residential Care to Outpatient Services. In addition, these staff members also provide consultation and training not only to Walden House staff members, but to other San Francisco agency staff as well.
Family Services
Walden House provides clients with parenting skill development and assists persons served who have minor children in the custody of the state or other guardians. A client's relationship to the family is a major point of focus in the client's treatment program.
In the Female Offender Treatment & Employment Programs (FOTEP), family services provides a daycare learning center where persons served learn to care for their children and those of others. Bonding, visitation monitoring and other services to meet the needs of the person served are also available as needed in FOTEP.
