Posted: Jul 30, 2004, 09:49 THE WALKER CENTER New Perspectives

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Gooding, Idaho
Bud Starr, Director of Finance & Operations
800-227-4190
help@thewalkercenter.org
www.thewalkercenter.org

Originally founded by Archie D. Walker in 1976 as a residential treatment center for adults 18 and over with chemical addictions, the Walker Center now offers a 16 bed residential treatment facility for adolescents 13-17 who are struggling with alcohol and/or drug addiction or other disorders.

When an adolescent is accepted into the program, they undergo an initial 24-48 hour evaluation with Medical Director, Dr. D.O. Smith, which includes blood chemical screening and a urinalysis to determine whether there is physiological damage and specific drugs in the patient’s system before they begin participating in treatment activities. Although the suggested minimum treatment program is 30 days, the actual length of stay is determined by the resident’s progress with most ranging from 30-42 days.

Residents participate in experiential learning; a high-element ROPES course (if appropriate), group therapy, life skills and educational films and lectures throughout the week. Each patient is required to attend school five days a week with GED preparation also available.

The Walker Center utilizes 12-Step programs and residents are encouraged to complete steps one through five. Family members are also asked to participate in Al-anon, obtain sponsors and begin doing their own 12-Step work.

Both residents and family members receive one year of weekly facilitated aftercare upon discharge from the treatment facility. The Walker Center also offers an outpatient program for relapse prevention and group counseling for both adults and adolescents. The outpatient program ranges from eight weeks to an indeterminate time frame of 12 weeks or more. The length is dependent on the individual needs of each client.

The Walker Center adolescent school is accredited as a special school by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and the Idaho State Board of Education. The Walker Center is a non-profit facility that is accredited by the Idaho Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), licensed by the State Health and Welfare Department, and is affiliated with the National Association of Addictions Treatment Providers (NAATP).

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