Because LGBT organizations need to lead the way to help others better understand human sexuality, Stepping Stone has modified its treatment approach for individuals whose sexual behavior is related to drug/alcohol relapse. In December 2003, Stepping Stone’s residential treatment facility launched a new program, “Discovering Sexual Health in Recovery.” This program integrates sexual health issues related to drug and alcohol use into a client’s personal treatment plan. Stepping Stone does not condone sex at its residential treatment facility. Any volunteer, even a 20-year veteran, is incorrect to suggest that. Nor does Stepping Stone kick out a client from residential treatment due to sexual behavior related to drug and alcohol relapse. Instead, each incident, whether it is drug/sex-linked behavior or alcohol/sex-linked behavior, is treated as a clinical issue. By utilizing a personalized treatment plan, decisions are made in the best interest of a client.

Stepping Stone does not accept the notion of essential treatment being terminated prematurely. Evidence-based research in behavioral social science tells us that people do not develop problems overnight. Nor do they make healthy changes all at once. Science shows us that people make positive changes in steps or stages. This “stages of change” theory also tells us that people sometimes take three steps forward then one step back. Treating relapse and sex-related, drug-alcohol relapse as a new clinical problem to be solved is a better treatment option than kicking someone out of Stepping Stone’s program and onto the streets.

Most of the clients who attend the Stepping Stone residential treatment program have no home to return to upon premature termination. Stepping Stone’s attrition-prevention policy turns client mistakes into learning experiences, opportunities and second chances. Before 2004, only about 23 percent of the clients who attended Stepping Stone’s residential treatment facility graduated successfully. This is typical of the national average for residential treatment for client stays of six months or longer. Today, about 40 percent of Stepping Stone clients succeed in the residential program for six months or more, and 66 percent succeed in the residential program for at least three months. About 70 percent of all residents are gay/bisexual men, and almost 75 percent of these men are addicted to methamphetamine – the drug-sex-linked treatment challenge of this next century. Presently, our retention rate is higher than it has ever been.

Even volunteers who have a long-term history in treating substance abuse have difficulty moving forward with change and innovation. Contract outcomes requiring a higher level of successful completion are challenging treatment providers like never before. These requirements call for new approaches. Some older substance-abuse treatments are coercive and punitive. We need to find new answers to old problems. Stepping Stone seeks staff and volunteers, both long-time veterans and new staff, with skills and interests in evidence-based interventions that have known, effective track records.

Revised rules/consequence packets have been distributed to all Stepping Stone residents that clearly describe what is allowed and what is not. In this new rules packet, working illegally or in any alcohol or other drug-related industry is not permitted.

Stepping Stone has a board volunteer coordinator that is launching a new process for screening volunteers for appropriateness, training and commitment. As we look forward to the year ahead, we are encouraged by our progress and proud of the strides we are making. We look forward to working with many new volunteers, as well as those who continue to serve Stepping Stone and who are not afraid to go with us into the future where challenges are faced openly and progressively. We are confident that the changes that have occurred within the last year will strengthen our resolve to provide better treatment for those in need as we continue to build a skilled staffing team, board of directors and a volunteer base of individuals committed to our goals.

In an effort to serve the community, we will sometimes have to brave adversity. We do so without hesitation. Our commitment is strong. Some will stay with us, some will not. Those who do not may move aside and allow us to do the work that is so badly needed. It is time to move along.

Gil Eastham, president, Stepping Stone board of directors and Beverly Fisher, chief officer, Client Services & Quality Assurance