Words cannot really express how grateful I feel every day that Nathan and I were led to Foundation House. At the end of Nathan’s stay in the wilderness in January 2011, I was guided to find an extended care program for him. I was told by the people who knew better than I that this would be his best chance for success. Nathan’s sobriety was so fragile and the structure he’d need was more than I could provide. We had many options on extended care facilities, in the end Nathan chose Foundation House. We both had no idea what to expect. Nathan was a resident at Foundation House for 11 months. Your staff guided Nathan with love and provided the structure that Nathan needed. The road was not always smooth but the growth was noticeable every month and I continued to trust them. Nathan is nearing 2 years of sobriety and I see him growing and happier than I’ve ever known him to be.

Nathan remains in Portland, living, working, and staying connected with his Foundation House family. That is what Foundation House has become for him. A few members of your staff have become the positive male role models in his life that Nathan has always needed.

My life has changed because of Foundation House. I am able to let go, knowing that Nathan is in good hands and I’ve done everything I could do to support Nathan in his recovery.

I think I can share one story that Nathan told me about a friend who decided to move back home after spending time in Portland after leaving Foundation House. Patrick called Nathan’s friend to let him know if he ever needed help to call and Patrick would help him in any way that he could. These are the people of Foundation House. They genuinely care about our children and want more than anything to see them succeed.

Finally, while trying to decide whether to send Nathan to an after-care program, the money was an issue for me as a single mother. It was very stressful knowing that there were no guarantees on how my son would do. I really believe that the environment in Portland and Foundation House specifically gave my son the tools, love, and acceptance that he needed. For the rest of my life, I will be grateful for having the courage to send Nathan to Foundation House and that Nathan had the courage to say yes when he was not sure at all that he wanted to go.

Laura
Chicago, Illinois
Parent of Foundation House Resident 2012

During family week of our son’s wilderness treatment program we were informed that aftercare was necessary for him to continue his sober life. Never did we think that the recommendation for him would be at Foundation House in Portland, Maine of all places-about as far as you can get from Arizona. After researching and then visiting Portland and meeting some of your staff, we knew that Portland was a fit for our son. It was important to us as parents that he re-enter sober life surrounded by positive role models that include the morals and values in which we believed. From the moment our son stepped off the plane, Foundation House was committed to his future. They truly care about the young man within, his gifts and talents, and through their process provided him with a safe environment to experience and be open to the feelings of sobriety. He was not alone in the new changes and choices he made for himself. At Foundation House he learned to respect himself and others, be accountable for his actions and desire the discipline it takes to work, volunteer and return to his education.

Patrick and the staff champion each young man in their program to be the best they can be whatever their pursuit. Our son entered Foundation House in early sobriety embracing the recovery tools he learned in the wilderness, open to the foundation and principles offered in his new surroundings and today chooses to remain in Portland, Maine. We see that he is grateful for the sober life he leads, living on his own, going to a college of his choice on scholarship, working part time, and participating in sports he loves. He has a confidence, self worth, integrity and strong character about him we have never seen before. We believe that Foundation House provided him the opportunities that allowed him the humility, growth and gratitude that makes him the amazing man he is today.

As parents, we received support and encouragement from Patrick and the staff at Foundation House every step of the way during his stay and the recovery process for ourselves was eased by their constant feedback and communication. We believe that our son will continue to remain involved with the young men at Foundation House and give back just as those gave to him. We are grateful for all that you do.

Warmest regards,

Diane and Steve N.
Phoenix, Arizona
Parents of Foundation House Resident 2010-2011

After twelve months in a highly regarded long-term facility in New Jersey, our 22 year old son still required a supervised but supportive program in his recovery and induction into independent living. He was referred to Foundation House in Maine and, after spending six months there, he remains committed to his sobriety, accepts accountability and responsibility, and expresses gratitude and appreciation in his new life.

In our opinion, the city of Portland, the staff and philosophy of the program and the camaraderie of the residents are the salient ingredients in this crucial transition. More specifically, Portland is an attractive, vibrant and accessible city with many opportunities and amenities. Through their own experiences, Patrick and his staff invariably provided genuine comfort, insightful knowledge and prudent strategies for inquiring parents like ourselves. Lastly, the culture and fellowship of the residents themselves generated sincere, beneficial and reinforcing bonds among these men who are pursuing sobriety.

As loving and diligent parents we acknowledge the ongoing perils of this disease but we have grown hopeful, grateful, and optimistic about the progress of our son. Thus, we recognize, thank, and compliment Foundation House as a critical “step” in this lifelong mission of recovery.

Kathy and Joe P
New Jersey
Parents of Foundation House Resident 2010

We are very grateful to Foundation House. Our child had multiple previous failures in various rehabilitation programs. Foundation House’s practical approach offering a real life experience of responsibilities and realistic expectations, coupled with continuous support and guidance, were extremely effective in his recovery and reintegration into the community. He is now over 3 years drug free and in strong recovery, living a productive and independent life while contributing to the community.

E.D. 2011
Pennsylvania
Parents of Foundation House Resident 2008–2009

Foundation House overall provided for me what most rehabs and doctors did not/could not. I showed up at the house young, 19, and fresh out of rehab. I was full of fear and still suffered from some natural alcoholic defects. What I started to learn was how to live a life engulfed by AA and fun. Portland, Maine is an amazing city of sobriety with meetings all over town all the time. It definitely helps to have a house full of guys of all ages that are motivated to do the right thing.

One of the biggest things that Foundation House taught me was patience. I seemed to convince myself every 3 months or so that I was ready to move out. Fortunately, I had the gut feeling that Patrick Babcock and his staff MAY be right, so I listened to them and just hung around. It was the best decision I made. I know that had I moved out earlier there would be some life skills I’d be lacking that I learned in the additional time I spent there.

For the most part, the house is independent. There is a lot of freedom to go out and work your own deal. In my opinion, this is a good thing. I encountered many situations that are normally intentionally avoided in early recovery. With the guidance of Patrick, his staff and fellow peers, I was able to walk through them with faith and comfort. The house helped mold my new character, which has helped me to stay sober, and for that I am so grateful.

Mike D.
Resident, 2008-2009

From 16 through 31 everything my son did that was “fun” was fueled by alcohol. Every time he had a problem he turned to alcohol. Recently he said, “I didn’t know how I was going to live the rest of my life without alcohol.”

Foundation House provides a one of a kind journey to living a sober life. I have watched through tears, cheers and bated breath as my son has transformed from being chained to a hospital bed as he detoxed, attending a three month rehab and now learning how to live an independent life at Foundation House with a smile on his face and a song in his heart.

The fact that Foundation House is centered in Portland contributes to its success. From the day he arrived in Portland he fell in love with the city. There are so many AA meetings to choose from. Everything is so accessible… shopping, restaurants and many athletic activities. He was able to find a job through a temp agency and has decided to make Portland his home.

Every new building is only as strong as it’s foundation. Foundation House provides each new resident with the tools, materials and step by step plans to rebuild their lives with sobriety. My son has taken on responsibility and shown growth as he set objectives and reached his goals. He now believes in himself and has the courage to “lead by example.” By following the old adage of “In order to help yourself, help someone else” he has progressed through the twelve steps of AA and the peer leader steps to the position of house manager and is now leading his home AA meeting. I have found as a teacher that once you teach it …you own it. With the help and guidance Foundation House has provided through his recovery my son now OWNS his sobriety. Foundation House is where addiction challenges recovery and meets reality. I thank God everyday that we found Foundation House!

Karen H.
New Jersey
Parent of Foundation House resident 2009-2010

We would like to share some perspective from the parents of a son who was knocking at death’s door and now is almost 18 months sober and turning into a fine young man.

Decidedly, one of the most important decisions we were faced with was our son’s aftercare program. After the initial immersion and education into the 12 steps – it was evident that our son’s success was going to be dependent on maintaining his newly discovered foundation to how he lives his life, as well as, being taught some basic life skills that we all neglected during his years of addiction.

Clearly our higher power was at work as our decision to send our son to Foundation House has proven to be not only a valuable life’s lesson to our son – but to the two of us as well. We were extremely impressed with the level of coaching/mentoring of everyone concerned as we tried to effectively navigate through what are some of the natural bumps in the recovery process.

We highly recommend the team at Foundation house to anyone who is contemplating aftercare. They just get it in a way that only addicts can relate to – clearly an important part of their success!

We are pleased to say that our son was recently “kicked out” of Foundation House for the right reasons – he is now ready to assume his role in life substance free. We want to say “thank you” for all that you have done not only for our son – but our entire family – it is a joy to have him back in our lives again.

Most Appreciatively,

Bill & Laurie D.
Houston, Texas
Parents of Foundation House resident 2008-2009

My son has struggled with the disease of addiction for many years. We are so fortunate and grateful to have found Foundation House. We now have new hope. As parents, we have done all that we could to help him find his way, but the drugs have always interfered. Foundation House has provided a unique balance of freedom in daily living and the structure that is required for those in early recovery.

Foundation House works because they get it! They know what these young men need and they work tirelessly to provide it. They are available day and night. I feel like there is always someone there to guide my young adult son in a way that a parent can no longer do. Most importantly, they care…they really do care and understand our children.

Lastly, Foundation House has helped me. I did not expect this. For the first time in a long time, I can relax. I can sleep at night without worry. I feel my son is safe and well guided. I feel like I too am well guided as this new journey brings new questions. We all know there are no guarantees with addiction but for today my son is safe. Today I am not doing this alone. Today I am part of a team with a common goal. It is the most important goal in my life. It is to help my son regain his life.

Marian M.
Massachusetts
Parent of Foundation House resident 2008-2009

While looking for a job the summer between high school and college our 19 year old son found the wrong people. By midsummer he was a heroin addict in Boston, MA. After a period of much anguish, problems and police he went to detox in Rhode Island and rehab in Montana.

This being our first experience with anything like this we were sitting at home wondering what happens next when he gets out of rehab. He is sober and we want to keep him that way. In our search for what happens next, the rehab facility recommended a place in Maine called Foundation House. We talked to several places by then but got a chance to talk to Patrick at Foundation House. It was refreshing to talk to him as Patrick really seemed to care about the success of our son. Patrick was knowledgeable, experienced, tough yet caring. Quickly we felt like Foundation House would be a place where our son was likely to continue his sobriety. We were correct.

Patrick has set up care where the men are taught responsibility, self care and wellbeing while under a high amount of accountability. Foundation House proved to be exactly what our son needed in terms of lessons on how to live on your own and be responsible for yourself. Foundation House was a great next step after rehab. Our son is back at college now with Foundation House being a key step in his recovery thanks to Patrick and his staff.

Mike & Robin B.
Atlanta, Georgia
Parents of Foundation House resident 2008-2009