Better Roads Recovery Ministry

Men’s Policies and Procedures

The BRRM program is strictly a voluntary program to which one freely chooses to submit.  The BRRM reserves the right to control one’s schedule, clothing, and finances and to monitor medications, as prescribed by a doctor, in order to help achieve the goal of victory over addictive behavior.

The staff of the BRRM is here to serve the residents. The staff works together to keep the atmosphere comfortable and friendly.  The purpose of establishing policies and procedures is to provide a safe and structured home environment with maximum accountability. The BRRM home is a place where staff and residents work together to meet the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical needs of each resident.

RU Ten Principles

1. If God’s against it, so am I!
2. Every sin has its origin in our hearts.
3. It is easier to keep the heart clean than to clean it after it has been defiled.
4. We cannot fight a fleshly appetite by indulging in it.
5. Small compromises lead to great disasters.
6. Those who do not love the Lord will not help you serve the Lord.
7. Our sinful habits hurt those who follow us.
8. It is not possible to fight a fleshly temptation with fleshly weapons.
9. We lose our freedom to choose when we give into temptation.  Our consequences are inevitable and incalculable and up to God.
10. God balances guilt with blame. Accept the blame for your actions, and God, through confession and forgiveness, will remove the guilt.

Admission Requirements

1. Prior to admittance, a potential resident must be willing to make a commitment to complete the BRRM program, which at minimum will be six months.
2. Prior to admittance, a potential resident must read and be willing to adhere to all the policies and procedures of the BRRM home.
3. An entrance interview will be held with any potential residents to determine the final decision of acceptance into the BRRM program.
4. Prior to admittance, a potential resident must read and sign the policy- acknowledgement form.
5. Accepted residents to the BRRM home will be required to apply for food stamps.
6. Prior to admittance, a potential resident must contribute a one-time $1,500 admission fee.

Graduation Requirements

1. A minimum of six consecutive months in the program
2. Completion of the Reformers Unanimous (RU) curriculum
3. A minimum of 90 consecutive days, immediately preceding graduation, of clean time
4. Completion of Levels 1 and 2 of the Foundations of Our Faith Discipleship Program
5. All outstanding debts to BRRM are paid in full

Addictions

1. The BRRM is a NON-NICOTINE program.
2. Gambling of any kind (including, but not limited to: Lottery tickets, wagering, betting, card playing for money, etc.) is strictly prohibited.
3. Random drug, alcohol, and nicotine tests may be given at any time

Procedure

1. There is to be no cursing, taking the Lord’s name in vain, vulgar language, offensive slang, name-calling, or bullying of any form.
2. Do not glory in past addictions.
3. There is to be no talking during chapel, RU class, or church.
4. There should never be need to physically touch anyone else; keep your hands to yourself.
5. Other than a cordial greeting of “Hello,” there may be no communication with any ladies.  This includes communication in the form of letters, phone calls, texts, and social media.
6. Residents are not permitted to date unless they have completed at least one year in the program.
7. Keep feet off furniture and walls.
8. Residents are responsible to cover the cost of restoring damaged property caused intentionally or unintentionally and are also subject to a $200 fine for vandalism.
9. BRRM home residents may not take pre-workout weight-lifting supplements.
10. Personal televisions, computer monitors, tablets, DVD players, etc. are not allowed in resident rooms.  Laptops are only permitted for third floor residents with prior director approval and must remain in their room at all times.
11. The director must approve of all music, reading materials, and entertainment. Any unapproved materials that are deemed not to be in harmony with the purpose of the BRRM program will be confiscated and destroyed.
12. No headphones, earbuds, or cell phone earpieces may be worn in the BRRM home common areas or any of its facilities (van, thrift store, etc.).
13. Music or preaching recordings should be played at a volume that is not audible outside of the room.
14. No one may leave a chapel service for any reason.
15. Inform team leaders as soon as you think you are sick. If a resident is sick but intends to go to breakfast, he must also go to chapel and spend the rest of the day in bed.
16. Residents are not permitted to use a digital Bible of any kind (i.e. on a cell phone, tablet or other electronic device) in chapel.
17. No resident is allowed back into their room after morning chapel until 3:00 p.m. other than to retrieve something he needs from the room.
18. Any resident coming in after 7:00 p.m. must contact a team leader to enter the building.
19. Lights out means all men are in their rooms, unless they are going directly to the washroom to use the facilities and going directly back to their room. (This excludes washing dishes, brushing teeth, showering, filling water bottles, emptying trash cans, etc.)
20. No one is allowed back into the BRRM home between Sunday school and Sunday morning church services.
21. Residents are not allowed to “hang out” in front of the BRRM home for an hour after any church service.
22. Passes should be turned in for approval at least one full day in advance. Saturday through Monday passes should be turned in by Thursday.

23. Residents will be assigned duties and required work from 9 AM to 3 PM. Assignments will be posted on the man-power list daily.
24. Work will be done willingly and cheerfully, as unto the Lord, and without complaining. A good spirit and attitude is expected at all times.

1. All non-emergency medical appointments must be scheduled outside of normal working hours.  Appointments not able to be scheduled outside of working hours must be approved by BRRM staff.
2. Men are not authorized to leave their work duty for any reason unless given permission by their supervisor.
3. Those desiring time to look for work must arrange that time in advance with BRRM staff.
4. Residents must consult the director before quitting a job.

Probation

1. The probationary period is the first three months from the date of admission.
2. While on probation a resident is not allowed to go anywhere except on a work detail, to church services, an approved group activity, or to RU on Friday night.  Residents must go directly to church or class and directly back to the BRRM home without delay.
3. With the exception of the Lighthouse Ministry, a resident desiring to join an outreach ministry must be off probation and have prior director approval.
4. After the probationary period, residents may still not start a job unless they are current on their curriculum.
5. No one is granted admittance to the library until after the probationary period.  No one is allowed to use the computers at the library without BRRM staff permission.

Restriction

1. Restriction is a loss of privileges due to policy violations.

1. Men on restriction are not permitted to go anywhere outside the BRRM home other than to work, church, and RU class on Friday night.
2. While on restriction residents must remain indoors unless given permission by BRRM staff to go outdoors.  If no BRRM staff is available, the resident must remain indoors until he is able to obtain permission to go outside.

Money

1. All residents must turn in a budget sheet weekly to track any and all money.
2. Residents must turn in receipts to show their purchases match their budget.
3. When a resident begins to earn an income, he is required to contribute 20% of his earnings to the BRRM home as rent.
4. There may be no borrowing, giving, or lending money without director’s approval.
5. There may be no buying, selling, trading, or bartering of personal property among BRRM residents without director approval.
6. No BRRM resident may pay wages for labor performed by a fellow resident without director approval.
7. Residents who own a cell phone are responsible to purchase their own toiletries.

Cleanliness

Rooms will be checked for cleanliness Monday through Friday before chapel. Rooms not found in order will receive a notice indicating what needs to be corrected by the following day.

1. Beds must be made crisply with a maximum of two pillows.
2. Unoccupied beds should be left clean and free of any items.
3. Shoes should be lined up neatly under the bed or stored out of sight.
4. There should be no loose items of any kind stored on the floor.
5. Dirty clothes must fit inside one laundry basket.  If they do not, they must be washed.  Bedding should be washed at least once a month.
6. With the exception of one container for personal food items, nothing should be stored on top of armoires
7. Residents are responsible to empty their own trash can each day.
8. There may be no collecting scrap or compiling extra items/furniture in rooms.
9. Nothing shall be hung on or adhered to the walls or dressers in the rooms.
10. Please clean up any messes you make or see.
11. Each resident is responsible to clean up behind himself, including in the TV room, billiard room, game room, lobby, chapel, restrooms, and all other common areas in the home.
12. Any items left in common areas will be assumed abandoned and will be donated or discarded after three days.
13. Name and date all personal items placed in the refrigerator or snack room.  Refrigerated items will be discarded if not labeled or after one week.

Clothing and Hygiene

1. Daytime dress is casual, clean, and neat.
2. Clothing may not have any skull images.
3. Other than a wedding ring, one dress ring, and a necklace that is tucked inside their shirt, residents may not wear jewelry.
4. Residents are to be clean shaven and wear dress shoes, dress pants, a collared shirt, and a tie to all church services.  Suits are acceptable and encouraged.
5. Residents are to be fully dressed outside of their rooms at all times, including socks, shoes, and a shirt.
6. Shorts are not allowed unless the resident is on the second and third floor or going directly to and from the gym.
7. Sleeveless shirts or pajamas are not acceptable daytime apparel.
8. All residents must shower daily.
9. All residents must have a tapered haircut.
10. Hats may not be worn in any church building and must always be front facing.
11. White or principally white T-shirts without a pocket or logo may be worn upstairs after 8:00 p.m. but are not appropriate for daily apparel or to be worn on the first floor at any time.
12. No sandals or flip-flops are allowed between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.  Sandals or flip-flops are never to be worn on the first floor.

Off-Limits Areas

Outside the BRRM home:

1. There may be no hanging out in front or back of the BRRM home or the Administrative Office Building (AOB).
2. The AOB, unless escorted by a BRRM staff member.
3. At RU on Friday nights, anywhere outside of Building Q.
4. The alley behind the BRRM home and the parking lot west of the BRRM home.
5. No BRRM resident should be on Willow Court after 3:00 p.m.
6. The west side of the auditorium except when attending discipleship.
7. Past Building Q on State Street or Sohl on State Street.
8. Residents must be able to be seen from the front of the BRRM home when walking on State Street.

Inside the BRRM home:

1.  No one is allowed in anyone else’s room at any time for any reason.
2. Unless on kitchen detail, the main kitchen and store room (bat cave).
3. Non-third-floor residents may not go to the third floor without first receiving permission from BRRM staff.
4. No non-resident is allowed upstairs from the dining area without permission from the director or a team leader.
5. Except in the event of a fire emergency, the fire escape or fire escape landing.

Driving

Vehicles are for transportation directly to work and back.  Any other travel purpose or destination must have prior approval by BRRM staff.

1. Personal vehicle keys will be held by the BRRM home staff until after the probationary period.
2. BRRM home residents may not transport anyone or ride with anyone, including other BRRM home residents, in a personal vehicle without prior approval by BRRM staff.

Cellular Phones

1. No one may have a phone while on probation. If a cell phone is found in possession of a resident on probation it will be confiscated to not be returned.
2. During the probationary period, cell phones will be held by the BRRM staff.
3. All cell phones must be shut off during church, chapel, and RU class.
4. Cell phones may not be loaned to anyone on probation.  Phone privilege will be forfeited for two weeks for this infraction.
5. Content of cell phones will be regularly checked. If any unapproved content is found, privileges will be lost.
6. To restore lost Cell Phone privileges, residents must arrange a Covenant Eyes account through the BRRM home.

Phone Calls

1. Personal phone calls will generally only be approved to family members, pastors, and RU directors. A girlfriend or fiancé must have approval from the director.
2. There is a seven-day waiting period after admittance to the home before being allowed to make phone calls.
3. Phone calls are limited to five minutes per day from a TL office with a TL present. The call must be on speakerphone for the first 30 seconds.
4. Business phone calls to probation/parole officers, lawyers, and doctors may be made on an as-needed basis.

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

TL 1 and 2                             6:00 – 6:45 P.M.

8:00 – 9:15 P.M.

Sunday 

TL 2                                        1:00 – 3:00 P.M.

TL 1                                        3:00 – 5:00 P.M.

Medications

All medications (prescribed and over-the-counter) outside of ibuprofen, Tylenol, Aspirin and decongestants will be held by BRRM staff.  Prescription medications will be dispensed as listed in the below schedule.  Over-the-counter medications will be dispensed on an as-needed basis as BRRM staff is available.

Monday – Saturday (TL 2)   6:00 – 7:00 A.M.

                                                  8:00 – 9:15 P.M.

Sunday (TL 2)                         7:15 – 7:45 A.M.

                                                  8:30 – 9:15 P.M.

Television

The television is only available during the scheduled times listed below and must never be tuned into programming that would not be in harmony with the BRRM program (PG rated or below). If the television is found to be tuned into programming that would be detrimental to the purpose of the BRRM home, the television will not be available for use for 2 weeks’ time.

Monday – Saturday              3:00 – 9:30 P.M.

Sunday                                   2:00 – 5:00 P.M. & 7:30 – 9:30 P.M.

Visitation

1. All visitors, family members, or non-family members must be approved.
2. Any other visitation time must have prior approval by the director.
3. All visitors must dress appropriately and modestly.
4. There is a maximum of three visits per week on non-consecutive days.
5. Before accepting visitors, a resident must have completed one month in the program.

Visitors Welcome                             12:00 – 3:00 P.M.

No Visitors (Mon. – Thurs.)            3:00 – 5:00 P.M.

Visitors Welcome                             5:00 – 7:00 P.M.

Reformers Unanimous (RU) Class

1. Each resident is required to complete seven challenges per week.
2. If curriculum is not complete by Wednesday, residents will be required to attend an additional class on Thursday.  If curriculum is still not complete by Thursday, residents will be required to attend an additional class on Saturday.
3. If curriculum for a given week is not completed after Sunday, the resident will be placed on restriction for one week.
4.  All residents are required to attend the daily RU class.
5. There may be no writing letters or personal notes during RU class.
6. If a resident has already completed the required seven challenges for that given week, he must work on another spiritually edifying book or biblical memorization.
7. There may be no sleeping or “prayer time” during RU class.  RU study time is specifically for working on RU curriculum.
8. Journaling daily is required for ALL residents.
9. Being “on time” to RU class means being seated with your Bible, writing instrument, and curriculum materials ready at the start.  Once the class has begun, you will not be allowed to leave for any reason.

Daily Schedule

Monday – Saturday

6:00 A.M.                               Wake Up

7:00 – 7:15 A.M.                    Breakfast Served

7:30 – 8:30 A.M.                    Bible Study and Chapel

9:00 A.M.                               Downstairs for Work

12:00 – 12:15 P.M.                Lunch Served

4:00 – 4:45 P.M.                    RU Class (Monday – Wednesday)

5:00 – 5:15 P.M.                    Dinner Served

6:45 – 7:45 P.M.                    BRRM meeting (Monday Only)

7:00 – 8:00 P.M.                    Chapel (Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday)

7:00 – 8:15 P.M.                    Bible Study (Wednesday Only)

7:00 – 8:30 P.M.                    RU Meeting (Friday Only)

9:30 P.M.                               Lights Out (10:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday)

Sunday

7:30 A.M.                               Breakfast Served in Building T

9:30 A.M.                               BRRM Home Empty

9:45 – 10:30 A.M.                  BRRM Sunday School

10:45 A.M – 12:30 P.M.        Sunday Morning Church Service

1:00 – 1:30 P.M.                    Lunch Served in Building T

4:45 – 5:00 P.M.                    Dinner Served

5:00 – 5:45 P.M.                    Discipleship Class

6:00 – 7:30 P.M.                    Sunday Evening Church

9:30 P.M.                               Lights Out

Discipline

Minor Offense:  Violation of any of the general rules of the program, resulting in a written notice and a corrective report assigned.  Other infractions not listed in the general rules may also result in a write-up at the BRRM staff’s discretion.

Corrective Report Requirements:

      Complete a hand-written, one page report, using a non-fiction reference on any edifying subject. The report should cite information from the chosen reference and should evidence a good faith effort to complete the task well.  Reports should not be biographical, journaling or plagiarism. Reports not done to the satisfaction of the BRRM staff will not be counted. 

• Upon receipt of a written notice, the resident is placed on restriction until his corrective report has been completed.
• If the corrective report is not completed after 24 hours of receiving notice, a 2^nd write up will be issued and a 2^nd report due the following 24 hours. Each remaining day the corrective report is not completed an additional report will be assigned.
• If the corrective reports are not completed for 7 consecutive days, this will constitute a major infraction.

Major Offenses:  Possession or use of any drugs, alcohol, pornography, or intentional destruction of God’s property.  Other violations not listed below can also be classified as major at the discretion of the BRRM staff.  All major offenses come with up to a $200 fine.

• 1^st Offense: Restriction for two weeks and one corrective report to be completed.
• 2^nd Offense: Restriction for two weeks, an additional 30 days in the program (seven-month program) and two corrective reports to be completed.
• 3^rd Offense: Restriction for two weeks, an additional 60 days in the program (eight-month program) and four corrective reports to be completed.
• 4^th Offense: Restriction for two weeks, recommitment plan to be completed, and return to Day 1, Phase 1 (return to the beginning of the program)
• 5^th Offense: Immediate program termination.

Tobacco Offenses:  Possession or use of tobacco products of any kind.  All tobacco offenses come with up to a $200 fine. The BRRM home has no tolerance for tobacco use. Residents found to be using or in possession of nicotine will be subject to the following protocol.  Failure to comply with any of the below will result in a major offense.

1. Once in the nicotine protocol, a resident must be able to pass 3 consecutive nicotine tests in one week to be removed from protocol. If any of these tests are failed, the resident will continue in the protocol.
2. Once removed from protocol, a future nicotine offense will start the protocol from the beginning.

If found using or in possession of tobacco or not able to pass a nicotine test:

• 1 corrective report is assigned.
• A full room and person search to be completed.
• A nicotine test will be scheduled five days from offense.
• Fines may be issued at the BRRM staff’s discretion.

If the 1^st nicotine test is failed:

• 2 additional corrective reports are assigned.
• A full room and person search to be completed.
• A 2^nd nicotine test will be scheduled five days from the failed test.
• Fines may be issued at the BRRM staff’s discretion.

If the 2nd nicotine test is failed:

• 4 additional corrective reports are assigned.
• A full room and person search to be completed.
• A 3^rd nicotine test will be scheduled five days from the failed test.
• Fines may be issued at the BRRM staff’s discretion.

If the 3^rd nicotine test is failed:

• 8 additional corrective reports are assigned.
• A full room and person search to be completed.
• A 4^th nicotine test will be scheduled five days from the failed test.
• Fines may be issued at the BRRM staff’s discretion.

If the 4^th nicotine test is failed:

• 8 additional corrective reports are assigned.
• A full room and person search to be completed.
• A 5^th nicotine test will be scheduled five days from the failed test.
• Resident will be required to quit any outside job to focus on this addiction.
• Fines may be issued at the BRRM staff’s discretion.

If the 5^th nicotine test is failed:

• Immediate program termination.

Admission process

Contact Better Roads Recovery home by phone or email.

Conduct an admission interview with the home director to determine admission eligibility.

Review the Better Roads Recovery home’s handbook & policies on the website.

Deposit a one-time $1,100 admission fee.

Get here; start recovery.

Things to bring

Clothing: ONLY about a two week supply

(2) Dress shirts          (1) Dress slacks          Suit (optional)          Dress shoes          (2) Ties          Socks          Under garments          Work clothing          Casual clothing          Sneakers          Winter hat/gloves          Boots          (2) Bath Towels

Bedding:

(2) Pillows          Twin comforter          Twin bottom & flat sheet

Identification:

Driver’s License          Picture ID          Birth Certificate          SS card

Financial items:

Any credit/debit cards          SNAP (Food stamp) card

Resources:

Bible          Pen and paper          Edifying reading materials           

Toiletries:

Razor & shaving cream          Shampoo/conditioner          Deodorant          Toothbrush/toothpaste           Body soap          Shower shoes          SMALL laundry basket

Medications:

Prescription medications (with medication list including dosages and schedule)

Over the counter medications (Tums, ibuprofen etc.)

 Things NOT to bring

• Drugs or drug paraphernalia, including alcohol and nicotine products
• Firearms, explosives, or weapons of any kind
• Valuables not necessary for your stay
• Wall decorations
• Lighters
• Animals