Fresh Start Ministries (FSM) is a twelve-month residential facility located in Orange County, Florida, and is designed to provide programs and professional services for the painful and self-defeating cycle of alcoholism and substance abuse as well as other life-controlling problems.
Because FSM is a private non-profit agency requiring payment for service, Fresh Start depends on outside contributions to maintain the program.
Our in-house program serves males 18 years of age and older. Although we are located in Orlando & Central Florida, admission is not geographically limited. Because addiction is a family affair and others have been affected by his addiction, close family members who live in the driving area are required to participate in weekly support group meetings.
The mission of the FSM program is to heal men damaged by substance abuse such as alcohol or drug addiction and to treat the consequences of the addiction such as poor health, collapsed finances and ruptured relationships by rebuilding a man from the inside out. This "regeneration" process uses a strong biblical foundation to teach communication and relational skills, hearty individual and family values, and the foundation of the Christian life, thereby strengthening moral and social values.
The Fresh Start residential community is located in the College Park area of Orlando. This is where clients live and practice their newfound knowledge. Each person is required to obtain and maintain full-time employment while in the program. Fresh Start's program is for those who are sick and tired of being sick and tired and who are ready to turn their wills over to God to allow for up-close and personal accountability, and who are serious about getting help for their addictions.
Fresh Start believes that the following three major stages lead to recovery:
- Detoxification: The body is freed from the physical presence of chemicals, typically using medical supervision.
- Rehabilitation: Using routine living as the basis of the new life, attention is paid to ensuring that a drug free body is maintained with proper nutrition and other good health practices. These practices are learned and incorporated into daily living. During this phase the focus is also on the client's employment and financial practices. As physical and emotional stabilities return, other counseling is provided that is designed to modify addictive behavior. This integral counseling often yields the benefit of restored relationships and long-term recovery.
- Confrontation: Individually and in groups, FSM counselors begin to confront the client with the impact that his addiction has had on his life and the lives of those close to him. This embedded dysfunctional lifestyle has significant repercussions on the life of the substance abuser and the lives of those around him. Confrontation is done in a firm but loving manner.
Using the principles of discipleship, Fresh Start then introduces the redemptive love of God. This, in-turn, produces regeneration, creating new attitudes from which flow new and improved functional behaviors. The Fresh Start program goes beyond the addiction and deals with those behaviors and emotional issues that have caused the substance abuser to become an addict.
Fresh Start's program is a one-year commitment by the individual, allowing time for recovery and stabilization before the man attempts to live outside of a structured environment. During the year, the FSM program works through two phases. These phases "grow" a man through his addiction and his lifestyle changes while working to restore his relationship with God and his family. During the year, the family is also receiving counseling through family group therapy at our weekly support group meetings. This is a vital component to the clients' recovery and the families' ability to move forward.
FSM discipleship house provides service to residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The major portion of treatment is provided between the hours of 3:30 PM and 11:00 PM, Monday through Friday, when the full complement of professional staff is present and readily available. Daily evening programs are provided as the clients are working during the day. Additionally, continuing aftercare services for former clients seeking to maintain a healthy lifestyle is provided.
How to Get Our Help
Initial screening for admission occurs prior to the admission itself. The FSM staff conducts a prescreening phone interview with discussion of the presenting problem, history of previous treatment, amount and type of substance used, physical, medical or psychological limitations, ability to meet financial obligations, and, most important, motivation for treatment. Initial screening is a process which begins upon initial contact and which may involve several administrative personnel. The Director reviews all the initial contacts before approving admissions. Initial screening must be done by telephone with a follow up face-to-face office inteview.
Call (407) 293-3822 between 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Admission is usually by appointment after the initial screening. You can start the process by completing and faxing to us the online Inital Contact Form. Forms can be found on the "Admissions" page. All admissions are conducted by appointment, Walk-ins are not accepted.
It is strongly suggested that as a part of the overall aftercare planning developed by the primary counselor and the client, the client remain active at the weekly support group meetings and aftercare sessions, held at FSM for at least one year after the successful completion of treatment.
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