Dawn Farm, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Overview of Dawn Farm

Dawn Farm is a non-profit organization that provides treatment services against alcoholism, drug addiction, substance abuse and detoxification. The facility also treats patients suffering from co-occurring disorders. It was built in 1973 as a farmhouse and continues to expand its services while still holding on to its humble roots. Dawn Farm offers a continuum of care where patients are provided with residential services, detoxification, outpatient treatment, transitional housing and many more programs and services. The treatment programs use historically proven and new therapies such as 12-step facilitation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, EMDR and more. Family members and friends of patients can participate in therapies with their loved ones and witness their transformation for the better. The mission of Dawn Farm is to identify and remove barriers that hinder addicts and alcoholics to embark on the road to recovery. This mission is materialized in the form of treatment programs and services that are based on core values such as compassion, selflessness, respect, care and love towards patients. Dawn Farm has a set of skilled and dedicated staff that work hard to carry its mission forward. Dawn Farm also offers a six-month aftercare program which ensures that patients are enabled to secure housing and employment after leaving the facility.

Housing and Food

Dawn Farm was founded in 1973 over 64 acres of a working farm. It is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and offers a complete rural experience to its residents. The vast land of the facility includes an organic garden and areas where animals such as pigs, goats, lambs, cows and chickens are kept. Their philosophy is to provide a complete therapeutic experience through this rural setting. Dawn Farm can accommodate 36 patients at a time in a home-like setting. Bedrooms are camp style which include bunk beds. Patients share rooms and bathrooms. Patients are also responsible for cleaning, maintenance, laundry and care of the facility as there is no custodial staff. They also take part in gardening and taking care of animals in the farm. Since Dawn Farm works as a functioning home, residents are responsible for running the kitchen as well. They create their own meal plans and use organic ingredients from the garden to cook meals. Meals are eaten together in the dining room three times a day. Through this sharing of chores and responsibilities, residents are able to build meaningful relationships among each other. This helps them in settling well within the society and community once they leave the facility.

Treatment Options at Dawn Farm

The different treatment options available at Dawn Farm are:

• Residential Treatment
• Detoxification
• Outpatient Services
• Transitional Housing
• Recovery Support Services

Following substances’ abuse is treated at Dawn Farm:

• Alcohol
• Prescription Drugs
• Opioids

Therapies at Dawn Farm

Dawn Farm provides the following therapies to its clients:

• 12 Steps Facilitation
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Personal Medicine
• EMDR
• Individual Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Family Therapy

Payment Options

The cost of treatment at Dawn Farm depends on the treatment and services being seeked. The general costs are relatively inexpensive as compared to its counterparts providing similar detox and addiction treatments. Clients can participate in outpatient group sessions in as low as $25 per session and outpatient individual session for $60. The residential treatment is also quite affordable at a rate of $150 per day. The average duration of a residential treatment program is 100 days. Clients pay the cost of treatment through check, cash or credit card. Insurance companies do not contract with Dawn Farm because of it being a non-medical facility and because of their length of stay.

Licenses and Accreditations of Dawn Farm

• Dawn Farm has the following accreditations and licenses:
• Carf – Aspire to Excellence
• License by the Michigan Bureau of Substance Abuse and Addiction Services

Dawn Farm Advantages

Dawn Farm has been providing rehabilitation services for alcoholism, drug abuse and co occurring disorders for over 40 years. It is located in three locations with one campus offering only outpatient services and the other two providing outpatient as well as residential services. Dawn Farm provides a continuum of services which helps patients in achieving lasting recovery. Through their residential treatment, detoxification, outpatient services and transitional housing, patients are able to identify and remove barriers that prevent them from achieving healing and recovery. The programs at Dawn Farm are quite affordable in comparison to other rehabilitation centers. Patients live as a community in a functional home taking care of all chores and functioning of the house. This enables them to easily transition into the society once treatment completes. Dawn Farm also offers aftercare and recovery support to its alumni.

Staff at Dawn Farm

The staff at Dawn Farm consists of a Board of Trustees. These include the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and other members of the board. These members are usually retired physicians and community leaders. Under the board of Trustees is the executive team which includes the President, Clinical Director and Finance Director. The remaining staff comprise of physicians, therapists, counselors, coordinators and assistants. Since residents take care of operations of the house themselves, there is no custodial staff at Dawn Farm.

• Mark Weiner, MD (Physician) – Chairman
• Betsy McCallister, MD (Community Leader) – Vice Chairman
• Amy Emberling (Managing Partner, ZIngerman’s Bakehouse) – Treasurer
• Corey Telin, MSW (University of Michigan Medical Center) – Secretary
• James Balmer – President
• Jason Schwartz – Clinical Director
• Sherri Foster – Finance Director
• Sue Tavis – Accountant
• Terri DeGroat – HR/Payroll Accountant (Recipient Rights Advisor)
• Ashley Jackson – Receptionist
• Ted Thiry – Facilities Coordinator
• Elizabeth Davila- Ferrall – Project Manager
• Olivia Vigiletti – Development Director
• Anna Byberg – Spera Program Coordinator
• Ross Zini – Chapin Street Project Coordinator
• Julie Boster – Farm Program Coordinator
• Cassandra James – Dawn Farm Downtown Program Coordinator
• Ray Dalton – Outpatient/Youth & Family/Corrections Program Coordinator