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Memphis' Need for Continued Adult Rehabilitation Services Results in Development of First ARC Campus in the CountryMEMPHIS, Tennessee, November 12, 2009 -- The Adult Rehabilitation Center is making the move from Downtown Memphis to its new home in East Memphis, where it will settle as the first ARC “campus” in the country. The new facility will be located at 2649 Kirby Whitten, just within the Memphis city limits. The facility is expanding from less than one urban acre to nearly 20 acres with a lot of ‘green’ space. The ARC campus will provide 140,000 square-feet of service space including outdoor spaces, classrooms for life skills education and group counseling, a spacious library, large common and dinning areas, a computer training lab, and a chapel large enough for family worship. The new facility is upgrading from 80 beds to 125 beds. There will be five beds to a room, whereas the old facility had 10 to 12 men sleeping in a room. The new facility will also have 12 apartments for long-term transitional housing. The designated housing is for men who have completed the initial six month program, but still need further assistance in making the transition into independent living. “Our old facility was located in an isolated part of downtown on Danny Thomas Boulevard,” said Major McConniel. “Space was extremely limited, especially in regards to our indoor and outdoor activities. We also had little parking and no room to grow.” The new facility on Kirby Whitten will feature an outdoor pavilion, basketball courts, a softball field, a running track and garden pond. These outdoor spaces not only allow the men to get a breath of fresh air, but they provide many opportunities for the men to have social interaction with one another, an important part of the men’s overall rehabilitative experience. Men will also have the option of gathering in the recreation room, which will include pool tables, ping-pong tables, computer-gaming and television rooms. Residents can also use the exercise equipment inside the new workout facility. Men in the program are encouraged to exercise and work on their physical well-being in order to develop well-rounded healthy life disciplines. “During the day our clients participate in work-therapy and in the evenings they are involved in various education and counseling opportunities. While in the program, the men abide by strong personal conduct guidelines such as how they care for their living space, how they dress and how they conduct themselves in social settings” said Major Richard McConniel, Administrator of the ARC. “Their schedule resembles someone who works full-time and attends college in the evening. It is not an easy schedule, but our focus is to reinforce the importance of having strong personal disciplines in order to achieve stability for their future and to achieve their personal goals.” The program maintains a zero tolerance policy, meaning residents agree to regular testing for drug and alcohol use. Upon entry to the program the client understands that if he refuses to take the test or fails, he will be immediately dismissed from the program. In addition to learning the importance of discipline, the men also focus on the importance of education and will have access to a brand new computer lab. The computer lab will be used to teach the men basic computer skills and online job searching, which will enhance their professional development and life skills. The program is often an intense and emotional experience for the participants. For this reason, the program has a definite spiritual focus and mission, as evidenced by a 250-seat chapel. The Southern Territory of The Salvation Army has recognized a desperate need in Memphis for the continued services of the ARC and has chosen to invest in Memphis by expanding the ARC’s facilities and operations. Funding of the facility came from sources outside of Memphis within the southeastern USA. The Salvation Army has not had to raise any local money for this new facility, and it is a separate and project to The Salvation Army’s Kroc Center project. “Making this move to the new facility makes us more accessible to the men who need our services,” said Major McConniel. “The new facility will also offer a big change in experience from the current location, enabling us to better their outcomes.” Since ARC programs in The Salvation Army are entirely funded by donated items sold in its Family Stores, the new 20,000 square-foot Family Store located on the campus will be a vital part of the daily funding of the facility. “The new Family Store will carry more items than we do in our current store on Danny Thomas, and it will be in a more convenient location for shoppers to reach,” said Major McConniel. “Shoppers will be able to find anything from new to gently-used items of clothing, furniture, small appliances and electronics, books, jewelry, and many other treasures. Increased donations will of course be needed to fill this large store, which in turn helps continue the ARC’s services.” About the Adult Rehabilitation Center The ARC serves a variety of men from all types of situations from CEOs to high school drop outs. Men admitted into the ARC have either chronic or newly acquired difficulties that require intense help. For more information on the Adult Rehabilitation Center, please visit http://www.salvationarmymemphis.org/programs_adult_rehabilitation.asp.
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