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First Step House

1029 Graceland Ave Des Plaines, IL 60016
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About First Step House

If you’re looking for a sober place to land while you’re getting serious about recovery from alcohol, First Step House in Des Plaines, Illinois, might be exactly what you need. First Step House isn’t a treatment center but they do offer a structured and supportive place for men to get grounded in the 12 steps of recovery and start building a real foundation for long-term sobriety.

A Safe and Supportive Sober Living Space

First Step House is a small, nonprofit residential home with eight beds for men who are ready to do the work of recovery. You’ve got to be sober, off all substances and already involved in an AA group to live here. In fact, to even be considered for a bed, you’ll need to have attended at least three AA meetings at the house and have two sponsors who are willing to vouch for you and walk with you through your early recovery.

First Step House isn’t just a place to crash. Residents have to abide my house curfews, perform their assigned chores and go out during the day to work or seek employment. The focus here is on structure, community and accountability.

Real Recovery, Not Just a Roof

There’s a house sponsor on-site to keep an eye on things and weekday dinners are cooked family-style by a live-in custodian who also helps manage day-to-day activities. Residents also attend regular AA meetings, with up to 20 hosted on-site each week. It’s not fancy and it’s not for everyone, but for men serious about working the steps and rebuilding their lives, First Step House offers something powerful.

Latest Reviews

michele borman
1 year ago on Google
5
It works if you want it. Key word, want.
Daniel Farrell
1 year ago on Google
5
Got an Alcohol problem can't keep stable? Become a resident here , get active in Alcoholics Anonymous and get your life in order here.
Jerome Ziomek
1 year ago on Google
5
Not only a place for meetings but a place for residents straightforward great AA
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Rehab Score

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Scoring is assigned by a proprietary system which helps surface key metrics that determine quality. The 10-point scale factors in categories such as operations, customer satisfaction, and trust metrics. Read Full MethodologyCaret icon
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5.9 / 10

Other Forms of Payment

Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.

Addiction Treatments

Levels of Care

12-step icon12-Step
12-step programs are addiction recovery models based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A number of substance abuse programs (including some drug and alcohol rehab centers) use the 12 steps as a basis for treatment. Beginning steps involve admitting powerlessness over the addiction and creating a spiritual basis for recovery. Middle steps including making direct amends to those who've been hurt by the addiction, and the final step is to assist others in addiction recovery in the same way. 12-Step offshoots including Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA).

Treatments

The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.

Drug rehab in Illinois is designed to help people recover from addiction to a number of substances. The length of each program and its intensity tend to vary, and the plan of care is based on your individual needs.

Substance rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from substance abuse, including alcohol and drug addiction (both illegal and prescription drugs). They often include the opportunity to engage in both individual as well as group therapy.

Programs

adult-program thumbnail image
Adult Program
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
young-adult-program thumbnail image
Young Adult Program
Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.

Clinical Services

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.

Amenities

  • home-setting iconResidential Setting
  • private iconPrivate Setting

Contact Information

Phone icon (847) 824-1256
Building icon

1029 Graceland Ave
Des Plaines, IL 60016

Fact checked and written by:
Alizabeth Swain
Edited by:
Courtney Myers, MS

Rehab in Cities Near Des Plaines

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Reviews of First Step House

4.52/5 (26 reviews)
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Reviews

5

The right place to get sober if you are serious about changing your life. If you are willing to work for a better life, they will help you and work with you. This is also an excellent place for meetings.

Reviewed on 12/3/2018
Overall Experience
Date Submitted
Reviewer

Google Reviews

4.5 (25 reviews)
Kramer Kramer
1 year ago
5

michele borman
1 year ago
5

It works if you want it. Key word, want.

Daniel Farrell
1 year ago
5

Got an Alcohol problem can't keep stable? Become a resident here , get active in Alcoholics Anonymous and get your life in order here.

luke wood
1 year ago
5

Great place, great people

John McDonald
1 year ago
5

Jerome Ziomek
1 year ago
5

Not only a place for meetings but a place for residents straightforward great AA

tom fuglewicz
1 year ago
5

The First Step House is a part of our family. They help anyone who is ready to do the work they need to do if they choose life instead of alcohol. No one should do it alone. Family and friends do not understand what the alcoholic is going through or what they struggle with in this unwanted addiction. They only understand what the alcoholic is putting them through which is also so hard. The First Step House has an open meeting on Sundays which helps families and friends understand a little more. They also have family events that we have all had lot of fun at together through the years. I highly recommend AA and FSH. My brother in law is living proof that it is possible and worth it.

Mike Mensinger
1 year ago
5

Get in the middle of the herd. FSH has meetings ‘round the clock and great members who sponsor. Come here to hear the message and get into action.

Maggie Kading
1 year ago
5

agnes fuglewicz
1 year ago
5

If it wasn't for the First Step House(FSH) we would have missed years of having my brother at holidays, parties and special events. I know he would not have been with us any more long ago. It is only because of the support and truth that he has found at FSH that he is able to take it one day at a time and is still with us today thriving with a beaitiful family of his own. We couldn't do it for him no matter how much we loved him. He needed and still needs FSH and I thank God for AA and FSH. The people there are not perfect( but who is?) but they are AMAZING and are truly there to help those who have had enough of their addiction, which they didn't ask for but can CHOOSE to deal with it. Anyone who is ready to at least try to stop the madness and ready to ask for help should look into FSH. FSH has been helping for years. They also allow family to be involved with an open meeting and multiple wonderful family events such as the annual picnic, christmas event, St Patrick's dinner and fall dinner. Some of these events include speakers which help family to understand a little more of their loved ones daily struggle while also giving encouragement to the alcoholic and to the family when you see how some recovering alcoholics have been sober for decades!!! I can only say good things about FSH and thank God for everyone there!

Luis Herrera
1 year ago
5

I had tried to stop drinking many times before, at my last detox 5 years ago it was suggested I go to the first step house. It was the best decision I've made in my life.

Claudia Samano
1 year ago
5

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