North County Serenity House, Escondido, California

San Diego, California, USA
1341 Escondido Blvd
Escondido, CA, 92026

Harbor Village Overview

Located in the city of Escondido which is in the North County region of San Diego, North County Serenity House is a non-profit treatment center which provides evidence-based treatment for women and mothers dealing with mental health, behavioral and substance abuse problems in a trauma-informed environment. The center was founded by six recovering women in 1966 to help other women struggling with addiction issues attain long-lasting recovery. The facility joined the HealthRIGHT 360 in 2014, a group of programs which provides integrated care, medical support, and substance abuse treatment for people in need. The center provides a customized treatment plan for each patient, which works to address the woman’s needs holistically—mentally, emotionally, and physically. The center emphasizes a secure and safe environment for women to receive treatment and provides various levels of care for its patients. Some of these include a residential treatment program for women (and children) dealing with substance abuse conditions and co-occurring illnesses, a transitional housing program for women and mothers which opened in 2007, and a comprehensive outpatient program. Additionally, the facility operates a child development center for children called the Discovery Center. The center is open to the public and caters to children with unique challenges.

Accommodation And Food

The residential treatment center at the facility is a former hotel in Escondido capable of housing up to 120 women and 20 children. Clients usually stay at the facility for up to 4 months although the maximum length of stay for a patient is 12 months. The center has rooms which can accommodate up to four residents, common areas, and group rooms. The Serenity Village Transitional Housing location has 8 houses with each of the houses having three baths and bedrooms, living areas, dining, and kitchen. The maximum length of stay for residents is 24 months. Chores are shared between clients at the facility.
A member of the on-site staff acts as the kitchen coordinator and prepares the menu every week for clients. In the mornings, a continental breakfast is available which consists of fruit, coffee, cereal, and juice. Lunch and dinner are usually healthy meals and salad bars are made available throughout the week.

Treatment & Therapy

The center offers various therapy options depending on the unique needs of the client. Some of these are:

  • Residential treatment program
  • Transitional living program
  • Outpatient treatment program

Residential Treatment Program

The residential treatment program offered at the facility offers gender responsive, person-centered modes of treatment for women seeking recovery. Services are available to clients dealing with co-occurring disorders and participants are also educated on relapse prevention, coping skills, and conflict resolution.

Outpatient Treatment Program

The facility’s outpatient program is a comprehensive level of care which involves clients in therapy, counseling groups, and emotional development groups. Additionally, the center offers an on-site daycare, psycho-education classes, and homeless supportive services.

The following are a list of conditions treated at the facility:

  • Substance abuse disorders
  • Co-occurring disorders

Therapy Options

The facility offers various options of therapy which include:

  • Individual counseling
  • Relapse prevention
  • Group counseling
  • Drug and Alcohol treatment
  • Support groups

Pricing

North County Serenity House costs vary greatly depending on the type of treatment being offered or the group activities offered. Clients are advised to contact the facility as qualified finance professionals are available to answer any questions regarding fees and finances.

Accreditation

The facility is accredited by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities).

North County Serenity House Advantages

The organization offers child services which consist of developmental centers (two available currently) for children 5 years and older. The facility’s population is made up primarily of women and children, as they provide support to female clients who are struggling with substance abuse or mental health issues.
North County Serenity House readily provides care to clients who have fallen greatly and are experiencing hard times, accommodation and childcare are also included in the care provided. The program offered at the facility is focused greatly on the 12-step treatment program and not an evidence-based treatment approach. Clients looking for a more focused evidence-based approach to treatment might find it hard to adapt to the facility’s method of treatment.
In its entirety, North County provides clients an opportunity to rebuild their lives while guiding them slowly through the journey to long-term recovery and living a life of sobriety.

Staff

Vitka Eisen– CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and President

Vitka holds a Master’s degree from San Francisco State University where she majored in Social Work and then furthered her education by going on to Harvard Graduate School where she earned a doctorate degree. Living in sobriety for 30 years, Vitka having experienced firsthand the damage substance abuse can make in one’s life found treatment at HealthRIGHT 360, a facility which she now leads. With over 30 years’ experience in the substance abuse treatment and human services; Vitka is passionate about supporting individuals struggling from substance abuse issues.

Tony Duong – Chief Financial Officer

Tony holds a Bachelor’s degree from Golden Gate University where he majored in Business Administration (concentration in finance) and a Master’s degree in Accounting from the same university. He is in charge of human resources, finances (reporting and planning), food services, and more at the facility and also has over 10 years’ experience working in the substance abuse and behavioral health sector. Tony worked at Asian American Recovery Services serving in the position of Executive Director before joining the staff team at HealthRIGHT 360.

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