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A Better Way Shelter Rules for Clients

  1. Under absolutely no circumstances may you reveal the location of the shelter or our support group, or any information about other clients or staff to any person, including friends, family members, pastors, or anyone else.  Confidentiality regarding our shelter is very important and we will not allow any resident to jeopardize the safety of any other current or future residents, staff or volunteers, by revealing the location or any other shelter/client information.  In addition, you may not have anyone drop you off or pick you up at the shelter, or at any nearby business, restaurant or other location.  The only pick up and drop-off locations are MITS Bus Station and City Hall.  You must plan ahead if you need staff assistance with transportation due to bad weather or serious safety issues. At no time will staff accompany any resident to meet an abuser unless required for legal purposes.  Also, for security reasons, no visitors are allowed at the shelter.  Breaking confidentiality will result in termination from the shelter.

  2. You may not use alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs during your stay at A Better Way, nor are they allowed on the premises.  You may not use drugs or drink alcohol and then return to the shelter.  If a problem occurs in residence at ABW you may be asked to attend alcohol/drug counseling and you forfeit your right to remain in the shelter.  All medicines, including refrigerated, prescription, over-the-counter, and/or vitamins will be left with staff for safekeeping and are not to be kept in the residential portion of the shelter.  When bringing in new prescriptions, the containers must be in the sealed envelope as provided by the pharmacist.  If we have reason to suspect that you have any drugs or alcohol at A Better Way, we have the right to search your room and belongings.
  1. Smoking is not allowed inside the shelter. The only smoking area on the premises is outside the west door, which opens to the play area.  You must go all the way outside and down the steps to smoke, closing the door behind you, and keeping the door locked.  You may ring the buzzer when you are ready to come back in.  The area must be kept clean.  If not kept clean, smoking privileges will be taken away for the remainder of that day.  The area must be clean before the smoking privilege will be restored.  Do not leave cigarettes or lighters lying around, inside or outside.  They must be stored inside your room, out of reach of children.  Smoking may take place only between 6:00 AM and 12 midnight. 
  1. For security purposes, there is a 7:30 PM curfew.  This means you must be back to the shelter by that time.  If transportation by staff is required, you must allow enough time to be picked up and brought back to the shelter by 7:30 PM.  If there is an emergency situation, which does not allow you to return to shelter by curfew, you must call the shelter and discuss it with a staff person.  Failure to call or return to shelter by curfew will require a meeting with the director and may result in termination.  Summer curfews may be adjusted.
  1. You are required to formally sign in and out of the shelter each time you leave/return.  When signing out, mark the time you are leaving, your destination, and estimated time of return, and, if available, a phone number where you can be reached.  Leave your room key with the staff person/volunteer at the reception desk.  If you will not be returning by the estimated time, call to make staff aware.  Sign in when you return.  Please remember that you are responsible for completion of daily chores, so keep this in mind when leaving the shelter.
  1. The parking area for clients is directly behind the building, in the spaces right up against the building, out of sight from the street.  Clients may not park in front of the building at any time. 
  1. Transportation must be pre-approved by staff at house meeting.  We are most able to provide transportation between the hours of 7:30 AM and 5:00 PM.  Please do not assume transportation will be provided.  It is rare that we are able to transport on weekends or holidays.  Appropriate safety precautions, such as seatbelts and car seats, must be abided by or transportation will be denied.
  1. There is a telephone located in the shelter area for resident use, which is for local calls only.  Calls are limited to 15 minutes each.  No telephone calls are to be made after 10:00 PM.  Do not answer incoming calls. Long-distance calls may be made only for business purposes, and must be pre-approved by staff.  You may use a calling card to make personal long-distance calls, but they must be made in the presence of and dialed by a staff person, on an office telephone.  Local calls made at office telephones must also be dialed by staff.
  1. Residents may not spend the night out of shelter. 
  1. All residents and their children are expected to treat this facility with care.  Repairs to the facility cost money, and will affect the level of services we are able to provide.
  1. At midnight, all televisions, radios, and other noisy items are to be turned off.  Clients may not have televisions in the bedrooms.  Adults may stay up to talk quietly together, but must respect those who need to get up early.  If there are problems you may be asked to stay in your rooms.
  1. All personal items should be kept in your rooms, and bedroom doors should be locked when you leave your rooms.  If you have valuable items with you, staff will lock them up for you.  You will have access to these items only when the Director is available.  A Better Way is not responsible for any items brought into shelter.
  1. Any verbal abuse, cursing, foul language, threats or threatening behavior toward other residents, volunteers or staff will not be tolerated.  Threats or threatening behavior toward anyone will result in immediate termination.
  1. You may not bring into shelter any materials (books, magazines, videos, etc.) that are not appropriate for listening and/or viewing by children, nor may the television be tuned to inappropriate programming.  Any items containing profanity, nudity, violence, etc., are not allowed. 
  1. You are required to wear appropriate clothing in shelter at all times.  In addition to the children present, we may have maintenance workers coming through the building.
  1. At any time during your stay, you may be required to share your room with another family.
  1. When you make your final exit from the shelter, you must do so Monday through Friday, prior to 5:00 PM.  If it is after 5:00 PM, you must wait until 8:00 the next morning, unless you have approval from the Director due to special circumstances.  An improper exit will be documented in your file.
  1. Any items left at A Better Way will be kept for 1 week only, before being disposed of or placed in our stock of donations.
  1. Food/drinks may not be brought into the shelter area.  If you wish to eat or drink something other than what is available at the shelter, you may do so before returning to shelter.  You may not store or eat any food or drinks in your bedroom.
  1. A Better Way will not be responsible for any bills resulting from emergency medical care or ambulance services.
  1. A Better Way is not equipped to house women who are unable to care for themselves and/or their children.
  1. All residents are expected to attend at least one A Better Way support group each week.
  1. Staff will wake those clients still sleeping at 8:30 AM.  Morning house meeting will take place at 9:00 AM, and will be followed by daily room checks.  Clients are to get dressed and begin working toward their goals immediately following room checks.  All clients who are not working at 9:00 AM are required to attend house meeting.  There will be a required evening house meeting also.
  1. The evening schedule is as follows:  At 8:00 PM clean up in the playroom is to begin.  Children are to get ready for bed (shower, jammies, etc.).  Staff will take children for reading time from 8:00 to 8:30.  During reading time, adults will complete chores and straighten their rooms.  Have a staff check off that your chore is complete and your room is clean.  At 8:30, Moms will put children to bed and will remain in the room with them until the children are quiet.  Bedtime for teens is 10:30 PM.  Bedtimes for children and teens are extended by one hour on Friday and Saturday nights.
  1. Please treat all residents, volunteers and staff in the same manner that you would like them to treat you … with respect, courtesy and friendliness.

Children

  1. Mothers must supervise their own children at all times.  This includes trips to the front desk.  Do not leave your children with other residents.  Babies may not be left in bouncers or punkin seats for long periods of time.  Preschool children must be closely supervised at all times, with mothers and children located in the same room.  If your children are older, you are not required to be in the same room, but if there are behavioral issues, different arrangements may need to be made for your family.  Any time you leave the shelter you must take your children with you.  If you leave your children unattended, staff are required to call Child Protection Services, as our agency cannot be responsible for your children if you leave them. 
  1. When discipline is required, it must be of a non-violent, non-abusive nature.  There will be no spanking, name-calling, yelling, etc.  If you need suggestions for disciplining your children, please see a staff person. 
  1. A Better Way will report suspected child abuse and/or neglect to the Child Protection Agency as required by State law.
  1. Children are to be in school within two days of entering shelter.  Moms are to accompany children when transportation to school by ABW staff is necessary.  Children must be taken to school on time.  Moms are responsible for picking up their children from school.  DO NOT assume that ABW staff are picking them up.  If transportation is necessary, it should be arranged in advance.
  1. Toys should be put away as soon as the children have finished playing with them, and before others are taken out.  All toys are to remain in the playroom. 

Chores

  1. All residents are required to complete assigned household chores daily, keep their own bedrooms neat and clean, clean up extra messes made by themselves or their children, remove personal items from the bathroom when finished, clean the bathtub after each use, and to bathe themselves and their children daily.  Do not leave personal items throughout the shelter. Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink, or laundry in the washer or dryer.  You may eat or drink only in the kitchen/dining area.
  1. When doing dishes, clients will load and unload the dishwasher, and a staff person or volunteer will run it each night.  No dishwasher detergent will be located in the shelter. 
  1. Laundry facilities are for A Better Way use and current client bedding and clothing only. 

 

 



security and privacy policies