Operating for over 60 years, Bridge House/Grace House is a long-term residential substance abuse treatment facility located in the Greater New Orleans area of Louisiana. The 24-hour, seven-day-a-week center treats patients regardless of their financial status and was founded on the idea that an individual’s most basic needs must be met for them to fully recover from addiction.
The center provides residents with a safe, secure place to overcome their addictions, and gives them the opportunity to work towards rebuilding their lives. It offers clinical and vocation-based programs, all of which were designed to promote personal responsibility by treating each resident as a valued member of society.
Bridge House/Grace House is separated into two housing facilities: Bridge House for the male residents and Grace House for the female residents. The center treats over 800 at-risk patients each year, focusing mainly on the homeless, uninsured, and unemployed. The center prioritizes admission for pregnant women.
The center gained its CARF accreditation in 2013. CARF International is an independent organization that accredits health providers around the world. This accreditation demonstrates that Bridge House/Grace House has passed a stringent on-site review and conforms to internationally recognized standards of quality.
The facility is funded primarily by generous donations, with 63% of its budget coming in the form of cash, services, food, and new or used goods such as clothing, furniture, toys, and vehicles. This is achieved through the center’s two thrift shops and its used car facility, where people can donate old cars to be refurbished and sold. All funds from the thrift shops and used car lot go directly to the center.
Bridge House/Grace House Facility
Bridge House is located at 4150 Earhart Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70125, with Grace House located at a separate facility at 6321 Stratford Place, New Orleans, LA 70131. All patients are taken in at Bridge House, with female patients transferred to Grace House later.
The facility offers 154 beds across both locations, with 84 in Bridge House and 70 in Grace House. The furnished, dorm-style rooms can include up to four twin beds, nightstands, and desks, as well as closet space with hangers and shelves.
With cafeterias at both locations, clients of Bridge House/Grace House will not go hungry. The food is basic; however, the menu is made up of traditional, popular meals.
Bridge House/Grace House Program
The center offers a substance-use disorder treatment program that aims to improve the quality of life for its clients. It does this by administering tailored treatment services to each patient to help them overcome their addiction. These services utilize the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step program and CBT to assist in the recovery process.
The main goal and priority of the treatment program is sustained, long-term sobriety, achieved by restructuring the life skills of the client. On top of this, the program aims to increase the client’s ability to function healthily within a range of relationships, such as peer, family, vocational, legal, and social. Finally, the center tailors its program to each clie
nt’s strengths, abilities, needs, and preferences.
Bridge House/Grace House’s residential substance-use disorder treatment program provides a range of therapies and services, including:
- Residential treatment
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Intensive day and evening treatment
- Independent living skills
- Development opportunities
- Case management
- Relapse prevention
- Family treatment
- Community education
The center provides these services in conjunction with vocational activities that help prepare clients to enter the workforce after their stay.
All of the above is included in the center’s three-phase program, which aims to help the client learn to take responsibility for their behavior. The three phases of the treatment program are as follows:
- Stabilization
The program’s stabilization level usually lasts 14 to 30 days and includes a minimum of 20 hours per week of medium-intensity services, all focused on recovery and clinical treatment. Clients in this stage have limited contact with persons outside of the facility.
This stage aims to help clients understand their addiction, as well as allow center staff to observe the clients in a controlled environment, free of external influences.
- Primary
The primary level of the program includes a range of low-intensity services; all focused on recovery and clinical treatment. Clients in this stage of the program are taught to apply recovery skills, prevent relapse, and improve emotional functions. They learn about personal responsibility and how to fit back into the workforce, as well as education and family life.
The center provides this stage in the form of individual and group therapy, both of which are based on clients’ personalized treatment plans. The facility offers Seeking Safety groups, and 12-step meetings are available to clients both on and off-site.
- Re-Entry/Transition
During the re-entry/transition stage, clients are encouraged to seek and gain employment, enquire about vocational training, or further their education. The center also provides aftercare in the form of weekly group sessions.
Bridge House/Grace House Staff
Else Pederson – Chief Executive Officer
A licensed addiction counselor with a Master of Business Administration, Else Pederson has been working for Bridge House/Grace House since 1992. She began her career with the facility working in different departments before becoming the Executive Director in 2004. She went on to become the CEO in 2011.
Else oversees the management of the facility, including the development and implementation of clinical programs. She also directs and supervises staff and ensures that all program and business objectives are met. Else herself is in recovery and was a client at the center before she began her career.
Kevin Gardere – Executive Director of Development
Kevin Gardere began his career at the facility in 2002, after graduating from the center’s Substance Abuse Treatment Program. He has been in his current position since 2013.
Walter Wright – Chief Financial Officer
Walter Wright has been the CFO at Bridge House/Grace House since 2014. He holds an Accounting Degree from the University of New Orleans.
Other staff members
The center employs over 100 staff, including a licensed clinical team, resident advisors in the rehabilitation center, and support staff overnight and on the weekends.
Former graduates of the center’s program also volunteer by helping to make sure residents can attend 12-step meetings, acting as sponsors, and attend meetings and discussions to share their own personal experiences.
Thanks to the large staff, including a dedicated group of volunteers, every resident of Bridge House/Grace House receives attention around the clock.
Bridge House/Grace House Pricing
Bridge House/Grace House operates on the principle that a client’s most basic needs must be met before recovering from their addiction. Due to this, the facility charges patients based on a sliding scale. This means that the overall cost of a client’s stay is directly proportionate to their household income and number of dependents, and as a result, no single patient pays more than they can afford.
Payments are usually made monthly; however, if a client is under financial stress, they are encouraged to contact the center to discuss their options.
Bridge House/Grace House is one of only three facilities of its kind in the Greater New Orleans area that offers treatment on a sliding scale pricing structure.
Bridge House/Grace House Reviews
This facility seems to be genuinely invested in helping its clients recover from their addictions. It offers personalized treatment plans and a compassionate pricing structure, all designed to create a relaxing, stress-free environment for its patients.
The center also offers qualified, skilled staff that ensure a high quality of care for its clients and a comfortable environment to ensure a high success rate.
Based on reviews from a range of websites, a small number of clients have not had as positive an experience as they would have preferred. Despite this, most past patients are full of praise for Bridge House/Grace House, indicating that most people who participate in the program emerge on the other side as more functional members of society. Based on this, we would rate Bridge House/Grace House a 9/10.
Bridge House/Grace House | Facebook
“They do excellent work in the community. Their very existence gives me hope.”
Bridge House/Grace House | Google Reviews
“Bridge House saved my life. I admitted myself in 2012 at the age of 24 after an 8 year struggle with drugs, primarily opioids. Although, I did continue to struggle after leaving 9 months after being admitted which was on July 1 2012. I am now 31 and have been sober for a year. Due primarily to wanting recovery and going to rehab on my own and for myself have I achieved the sobriety and understanding today. Bridge House gave me a foundation and only years later have I fully understood the full extent. If you’re open this place will provide all the tools and support needed for success but on the other hand if you’re not committing to this for yourself foremost then it’s just spinning wheels. I have wanted to let people know about this place for quite some time, but withheld because I didn’t want to be a hypocrite.” ✪✪✪✪✪
Bridge House/Grace House | Treatment Program Reviews, Ratings, Cost & Price – New Orleans, LA
“Anyone fighting addiction, I highly recommend you give Bridge House a chance to help you. I was there for 7 months, free of charge. With their guidance, today I am 44 months sober. Best decision I ever made.” ✪✪✪✪✪