The Amity Foundation – Amistad de Los Angeles is a renowned rehabilitation center dedicated to the inclusion and habilitation of individuals marginalized by addiction, trauma, and other socio-economic challenges. Located at 3745 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90007, the facility is easily accessible via bus lines 45, 40, 745, and 38, with bus stops just one to two blocks away. It is also near the new Metro Link Station, approximately two blocks away.
The primary purpose of the Amity Foundation is to provide comprehensive treatment and support services to help individuals overcome addiction and reintegrate into society. The facility serves a diverse population, including adult men, criminal justice clients, and those who have experienced trauma. Unique features include its therapeutic community model and extensive work within the California prison system.
Key Services and Programs List
Substance Abuse Treatment
The Amity Foundation offers long-term residential substance abuse treatment, incorporating various therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention.
Mental Health Services
The facility provides comprehensive mental health assessments and counseling services, including trauma-related counseling and individual, group, and family counseling sessions.
Employment and Education Services
Amity Foundation offers employment preparation, job leads, and vocational training or educational support, such as GED preparation. This helps participants gain the skills necessary for successful reintegration into the workforce.
In-Prison and Post-Prison Services
The foundation operates within 19 prisons in California, providing in-prison treatment readiness programs and post-prison residential projects to help incarcerated individuals prepare for release and reintegrate into their communities.
Levels of Care
Residential
The Amity Foundation offers long-term residential care, providing a supportive community environment where individuals can live and receive treatment over an extended period.
Transitional Housing
The facility also provides transitional housing services, including halfway houses and sober homes, to support individuals as they transition back into community life.
Staff and Expertise
Key staff members at the Amity Foundation include experienced professionals who have often gone through the Offenders Mentors Certification Program (OMCP) themselves. This unique aspect ensures that the faculty have a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the students they serve.
The staff is committed to providing high-quality care, with many having extensive experience in substance abuse treatment and criminal justice reform. Notable figures include founding staff members like Rod Mullen and the late Naya Arbiter, who were instrumental in developing the therapeutic community model.
Treatment Approach
The Amity Foundation’s treatment approach is rooted in the therapeutic community model, which emphasizes community building, accountability, and personal growth. The facility uses a holistic approach, incorporating emotional intelligence, moral development, restorative paradigms, and an understanding of origins and family dynamics.
The treatment modalities include evidence-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and motivational interviewing. The facility also focuses on restorative action and community involvement to foster personal creativity and moral development.
Unique Features
Therapeutic Community Model
The Amity Foundation’s use of the therapeutic community model sets it apart. This approach involves students participating in circles, ceremonies, mindfulness, and workshops to understand themselves within a community context and to develop a sense of accountability and personal responsibility.
In-Prison and Post-Prison Programs
The extensive work within the California prison system is a unique feature of the Amity Foundation. These programs have been shown to significantly reduce recidivism rates, with a 1998 study indicating that Amity students who received in-prison and after-care treatment reduced their chance of recidivism by nearly 50%.
Accreditations and Quality Measures
The Amity Foundation is accredited by state substance abuse agencies and the state department of health. It operates under strict quality measures to ensure the highest standards of care.
Admission Process and Insurance
The admission process at the Amity Foundation involves comprehensive assessments, including mental health and substance use evaluations. The facility accepts federal and state funding for substance use programs, although it does not accept private payment.
For inquiries and to initiate the admission process, potential clients can contact the facility at (213) 743-9075 or visit their website at http://www.amityfdn.org.
