St. Christopher’s Inn, Garrison, New York
Garrison, NY, 10524
Table of Contents:
St. Christopher’s Inn Overview
St. Christopher’s Inn was founded in 1909 as a temporary homeless shelter by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. The facility is located in Garrison, in Philipstown, New York. In the course of the last century, the Inn has developed into a treatment center for men seeking rehabilitation from substance abuse and alcohol addiction.
The facility provides both inpatient and outpatient services to all incoming male patients irrespective of their financial or social background. The resident patients seeking care at the center are affectionately called Brothers Christopher. All the patients staying at the shelter are provided with free accommodation.
The treatments provided at the Inn are an amalgamation of new innovations in the field of behavioral healthcare combined with older traditional practices. Inpatient treatment usually lasts for a duration of 75-90 days. Despite the affordability of their services, no compromises are made in delivering the best quality rehab and mental health care.
Accommodation and food at St. Christopher’s Inn
The premises of the facility are located in monastery-style residential and official buildings. The campus is picturesque, offering well-maintained gardens and nice views. The relaxed ambiance combined with an approachable and caring staff allows patients to recover in a peaceful setting.
St. Christopher’s is a 200-bed facility that houses recovering patients from all walks of life. It comprises the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, San Damiano House & Farm, and Brother Christopher’s House. These buildings either house the resident patients or offer office space for conferences and therapy centers.
The residents at St. Christopher’s are expected to be in charge of the maintenance of their living quarters as well as the premises. They are all assigned jobs that may range from cleaning and grounds keeping to cooking food. The full-service kitchen is run by the residents and provides three meals a day.
Treatment Options
This facility provides a range of treatment options that are designed to cater to the specific needs of its diverse clientele. Both inpatient and outpatient services are available. This allows patients the choice to commit to a comprehensive residential program for a duration of almost three months if they so require. The treatment options available at the facility include:
Inpatient Services
- Family Program
- Family Engagement Program
- GED program
- Detox treatment
- Aftercare
- Inpatient Addiction Treatment
Outpatient Services
- Day Rehabilitation Program
- Family Program
- Detox treatment
- Family Engagement Program
- GED program
- Aftercare
Therapy Choices at St. Christopher’s Inn
A vast array of therapy choices are available at the facility that combines the best of traditional treatments with new cutting-edge techniques. Some of these therapy options are:
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- 12-step meetings
- Individual counseling
- Group therapy
- Relapse prevention
- Anger management
- Recreational therapy
- Yoga
- Pastoral counseling
Insurance and Payment Options
St. Christopher’s Inn is a shelter managed and run by the Ministry of Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. In keeping with the philosophy and ideals of St. Francis of Assisi, it offers free accommodation facilities to all incoming patients. Most outpatient clients live in the shelter free of cost while undergoing treatment.
The cost of treatment is also minimal with the outpatient program costing only about a third of the inpatient program. St. Christopher’s accepts payments through both self-pay and a large number of insurances. Some of the public and private funded insurances accepted include:
- Medicaid
- Aetna
- Pomco
- Cigna
- Oxford
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- NYSHIP
- OPTUM/UBH
- Magellan
- MHN
Licensing at St. Christopher’s Inn
- Licensed by the New York State OASAS
- Licensed by NYS Department of Health
- Licensed by NYS Department of Social Services
- Accredited by CARF
St. Christopher’s Inn Advantages
St. Christopher’s Inn is a good choice for male substance abuse victims who are unable to afford the high treatment costs at regular rehab facilities. Along with behavioral modification and medication management, it also offers holistic therapies through yoga and pastoral counseling. The family program educates and sensitizes the victims’ family members to their needs.
The residents at the facility are required to carry out various tasks and assigned jobs to help recover part of the cost of living. This system has the added benefit of not only allowing economically weaker patients to avail quality behavioral healthcare but also enabling them to become self-reliant. Clients get vocational training and crucial work experience that helps them develop skills for later incorporation into society.
Staff at St. Christopher’s Inn
The staff at St. Christopher’s comprise of a full-time counselor, part-time counselors, a doctor, a house manager, and a team of nurses. They provide dedicated care and round the clock supervision to prevent any relapses. Some of the important staff members and their respective roles include:
Executive Director and CEO
Sandra Iberger is the CEO of St. Christopher’s Inn and has over 30 years of experience in the field of healthcare. She is responsible for overseeing the development and execution of all operations at the facility. She has a BS in Business Administration and management from the University of South Carolina-Columbia and an MBA in Healthcare Administration and Management from Baruch College.
President and Spiritual Director
Fr. Dennis Polanco has served in various campus ministries and parishes across America for over 40 decades. He has been part of the General Council at St. Christopher since the last 15 years and recently oversaw the building of the St. Paul’s Friary in Graymoor.
Chief Financial Officer
James Mickler has been associated with St. Christopher’s since 2016. He provides financial oversight and manages all financial operations across the foundation’s various endeavors. He has a BS in accounting from St. John’s University and an MBA in Finance from LIU Post.