Andrea Carballo
2/5
At first this program seemed like the perfect fit for me. The group sessions being on zoom appeared to be such a convenient and accessible option for me as I work 60 hour weeks and have a very tight and inconsistent work schedule. I have now been enrolled for 8 months and found a comfortable schedule in the program to lead me to successful completion. This was a difficult sweet spot to find since I usually go into work at 12pm and all group sessions, except for one, take place in the evenings. I signed up for the earliest Saturday morning group(the only morning group they offer)and have my face to face sessions on Wednesday mornings. This worked for me because my work schedule is released on Fridays(work week starts Saturday) and if my schedule happens to change it would give me plenty of time to contact P4W and reschedule with notice so as to not accrue an absence.
However, management decided to limit their hours of operation in the office from one day to the next (without 24-48 hour notice). This is not ok, given their very strict attendance policy and the required 24 hour notice before calling to reschedule. They are now closed Fridays, which means if I can’t make it to my group session due to a scheduling conflict I would have to acquire an absence. We only get 10 of those from beginning to end of the program, so I’m walking a really fine line here. By the way, they also changed their policy regarding attendance from one day to the next. Or maybe it’s subjective and dependent on which staff member you speak to? I used to be able to reschedule and pick up a group the same day if necessary. Now you have to sign up for a make up group that only happens once every 7 weeks.
I find it unethical and morally irresponsible, nay hypocritical to mandate strict adherence to program policies when management is so inconsistent with hours, services, and requirements. I pay a lot of money, in fact too much money, to participate in this program for them to create the very barriers to completion that they ask me about at my face to face sessions every other week. “Do you have any barriers?” Yes! Your inconsistent hours and policies! Don’t even get me started on the revolving door of in and out staff which creates an uneasiness in group and allows for unreliable filing of self help documents and more. Oh yes! And the fact that they only offer a single make up group every 7 weeks, forcing some of us to fall behind on planned dates of completion and potentially violating probation. I mean, if you do the math, one make up group every 7th saturday, means it can take up to three months to make up two missed groups. A prime example of “barriers” to completion.
Some of you may say, make your work respect your program scheduling. Unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury. My work is a priority. It provides the necessary income I need to survive and pay for this impossibly negligent and expensive program I am forced to participate in. Which is a blip in the grander scheme of things, my career.
So to future potential clients I have but one thing to say; be careful. Things are not as they seem. Management makes more money off of your failure to complete the program than they do from your success. It’s a lot more work than it seems with the “self helps” and walking on egg shells due to scheduling conflicts. It almost feels as if management intentionally makes graduating the program on time nearly impossible. I can honestly say, that although it is allegedly this program's goal to help their clients succeed, reinstate their licenses, and regain control of their lives and problem drinking… they actually don’t truly give a damn about anything more than our hard earned cash.
Two stars because it’s still better than School Ten.
