This past October, the Gateway Foundation ( Gateway ) opened its LGBTQ-only Out in Recovery residential program at the organization's Lake Villa campus. Out in Recovery was created to expand upon Gateway's successful Chicago-based Out and Sober program in order to serve more LGBTQ clients.
Gateway Foundation Program Director Jim Belanger told Windy City Times that the organization has always served LGBTQ clients. However, "we have not had a specialized unit or track for this population."
When asked to describe what Out in Recovery is, Belanger said "it is the first free-standing, LGBTQ+ inpatient substance use treatment program with an all gender dorm in the region. Our counselors, many of whom identify as a member of the community, are specifically trained in working with these individuals. From the first contact with staff and peers our clients have a safe and affirming place to address the unique issues facing LGBTQ+ people in recovery."
Belanger said Out in Recovery was born out of the need to service LGBTQ clients specifically because studies have shown that this population experiences substance-use disorders at four to 12 times higher rates than their cisgender heterosexual counterparts but these statistics are not reflected in surveys at substance use treatment centers.
"The main reason for the lack of these statistics is the fear of re-experiencing stigma from the heteronormative and homophobic culture among clients in treatment centers and counselors who are not affirming toward the LGBTQ+ population," said Belanger. "This often leads to LGBTQ+ individuals going back into the closet while in treatment or avoiding treatment altogether."
Gateway Community Services President Marc Turner was the catalyst for the Out in Recovery program, according to Belanger. Turner was looking for an opportunity to bring this kind of program to fruition and after research and outreach to community partners they found that there was a lack of culturally affirming inpatient substance use services in the region and that is how Out in Recovery was born.
The Lake Villa location was chosen because the campus already has other programs that are individually housed. Belanger said having a specific house for LGBTQ clients gives them a culturally affirmative and trauma informed care environment with counselors who are highly trained to service this population. Having this program, according to Belanger, minimizes the possibility of Gateway's LGBTQ clients being re-traumatized by the other clients they serve.
"Additionally, Lake Villa is in the middle of Chicago, Joliet, Rockford, Madison and Milwaukee, being one to two hours away from each location," said Belanger.
In terms of what new clients can expect when they enter the Out in Recovery program, Belanger said the first stop is the admission department where their belongings are searched and the medical team completes a physical including a body search. Then clients are given a handbook, welcomed by a staff member who assigns them a bed based on the gender they most identify with and assigned a peer buddy who guides them through the unit.
"The client will be introduced to their primary counselor as soon as possible and will build a treatment plan with them within the first four days of admission," said Belanger. "The client will be expected to fully participate with the inpatient treatment protocol upon their arrival, unless medically necessary. The treatment protocol is a rigorous program with an average of six and a half hours of groups per day, seven days a week."
When asked about the specific outcomes Gateway is looking for, Belanger said they work with individuals to meet 80 percent of their identified goals because they believe every person learns recovery in different ways.
"Because of this we use multiple evidenced based practices including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Therapy and Mindfulness Based Recovery practices to assist clients in building their recovery skills," said Belanger. "We also expose clients to 12-Step Recovery, SMART Recovery and Dharma Recovery as a way to be comfortable with community support groups once they leave our program.
"Finally, we strive to link all individuals working with us, whether successfully completing the program or not, to culturally affirmative mental, behavioral and physical health providers in the area they are discharging to. To this end, our Development Department is working diligently to continue building our network of resources across the Midwest by screening all providers for lifestyle-affirming practices."
Belanger said that. so far. it has had 46 people in the program with 40 of them completing it. He added that the foundation is excited by these numbers because the nationwide average is 65 percent completion rate for all inpatient treatment programs regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
"Gateway is an essential service during this COVID-19 pandemic," said Belanger. "We are accepting clients for all our programs. Please contact us if you are experiencing problems from using alcohol or substances and want help."
See GatewayFoundation.org/programs-and-services/programs/lgbtq-programs or call the intake line at 866-505-OUT2 ( 6882 ).
