The process begins with counseling. “Counseling can help identify the root causes and what their other needs are -- housing, training...” says Mengesha. “In most cases everything is interlinked.” Mengesha noticed early on when he founded FSCC, however, that without housing, a client is hard-pressed to fully take advantage of the other resources offered. “If they don’t have a place to live or income, they aren’t coming into counseling,” he says. So for the client’s first 90 days of treatment, they are encouraged to stay in FSCC housing free of charge. “We don’t make money for ourselves for that, but it helps our clients immensely,” says Mengesha. Being of service
Solving problems is a common routine for Mengesha in creating an environment conducive to recovery. A challenge for many, he says, is the amount of time and level of commitment they are willing to put into early recovery. After the worst of withdrawal symptoms subside, it’s not uncommon for a client to feel “cured” and go back to old behaviors, leaving the center prematurely. “You can’t stay for just two weeks and expect to be cured,”Mengesha says. “Those are the people we see coming back to treatment again and again.” But not everyone gets it on the first try, so Mengesha leads staff in creating a welcoming, non-judgmental environment where clients feel comfortable returning if necessary.The last thing he wants is for a person relapsing to shy away from help when it is readily available. This is what sets FSCC apart from other treatment centers, according to Mengesha. He saw too many treatment models focused on the financial bottom line rather than genuinely caring for clients, which is what led to him founding his own center in the first place. Baltimore has a dire need for addiction services, so Mengesha doesn’t base his bottom line on finances, but rather on service to the community in which he lives.
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