Our Roots
Young Adults in Need
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) there are over four million young adults each year that are in need of long-term residential help for their struggle with drugs and alcohol.
Gatehouse Academy was specifically created to address the needs of this unique population.
Mission Statement
“We absolutely insist on guiding young adults towards a life of excellence, leadership and service.”
A Long-Term Commitment to Young Adult Recovery
Gatehouse Academy is the leader in the treatment of young adults, ages 18 to 26, with chemical dependency and/or dual diagnosis issues. Our comprehensive curriculum and array of services allows for the complete rehabilitation and re-integration of once struggling young adults.
The Gatehouse Academy program is built upon the understanding that for most young adults, recovery from drug and alcohol abuse takes a long time. Most of our residents have been in previous treatment settings. Our main program is based on a year-long curriculum.
Gatehouse Culture and Philosophy
The culture and philosophy of Gatehouse Academy reflects the principles of the program and traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Our program’s philosophy is based on the core belief that everything is secondary to recovery. Without active recovery, no amount of education, property or prestige will have any value or true worth in the life of a chemically dependant person. ‘Learning’ and ‘living’ recovery is primary.
The Gatehouse culture is a vibrant and dynamic learning environment. There is a ‘can-do’ attitude on our campuses. Our staff leads by example – they are role models and mentors for our residents. Co-operation with one another, open and honest communication, a willingness to listen to new ideas and to challenge old ideals, to admit faults……… in short our staff apply 12 step principles in full view of the young person struggling in his or her recovery.
Peer role modeling is evident and fundamental!
The Gatehouse Academy experience is experiential… Our residents learn life lessons…the basic and fundamental awareness of oneself in relation to the rest of the world… They transition into individuals who are responsible for themselves, yet not selfish, self-centered nor self-seeking. Becoming aware of whom they have been, they begin to learn to do things differently so that they evolve and grow. They gain self-esteem by doing esteemable things.
Transition
Following the primary year of residency at Gatehouse Academy the resident is poised to enter the next stage of recovery. Gatehouse offers several transition options, one of which is entry into the Gatehouse College Campus Program. The College Campus Program offers transition, an opportunity for the former resident to practice life at a deeper level, walk through the experience of time management, budget control, free-time decisions, social success and difficulty and autonomy in AA or other 12-step programs and attend school – from the safety and support of the College residence. A Safe Haven, if you will.
In our experience, residents who participate in a transitional phase after the highly-controlled 12-month program dramatically increase their chances of staying sober. Young adults who have remained affiliated with Gatehouse for a period of 18 months or more have sobriety rates in the 80th percentile, while those who leave immediately after the 12-month program, or fail to complete the transitional phase have significantly lower sobriety rates.
We are committed to the success of each young adult who chooses a life in recovery.
