Mission Statement

St. Jude’s is committed to building a better community and to improving the quality of life for all persons served by providing innovative alcohol and drug treatment and prevention services.

Treatment Philosophy

St. Jude’s treatment services are based on the belief that addiction is a disease, and that treatment must focus on the entire person, not just the disease itself. A holistic approach is taken that includes addressing mental, physical, and spiritual issues.

Research-based and theory-driven practices are used in tandem with the 12-Step model. St. Jude’s believes in individualizing treatment to meet the client’s specific needs. All clients actively participate in developing their personal treatment plans. Some issues are unique to sub-populations, and St. Jude’s makes every effort to provide support in those areas. Gender-specific services are provided, as is support for individuals with co-occurring diagnoses.

History

St. Jude’s Recovery Center, a private nonprofit 501(c)(3), has been addressing the problem of substance abuse in metropolitan Atlanta since 1962. The agency, which was founded through the efforts of All Saints and St. Luke’s Episcopal churches, was the first long-term residential treatment program for male alcoholics in Atlanta.

In order to meet a growing community need for treatment services, St. Jude’s expanded in 1993 to create a comprehensive continuum of care, treating a broad range of addictions. New emphasis was placed on treating low-income and homeless women; basic healthcare services for clients were added; gender-specific treatment models were adopted; and community outreach, education, and prevention programs were implemented.

Today, St. Jude’s is the largest nonprofit addiction treatment system in Georgia. It is also one of Atlanta’s only licensed and accredited long-term, inner-city treatment programs serving homeless and/or low-income adults and families. St. Jude’s is licensed by the Georgia Department of Human Resources and accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Each year, St. Jude’s serves over 1,600 men and women in its residential, outpatient, and detoxification programs. We also provide nearly 700 children and families with the education, counseling, and support needed to deal with a loved one’s addiction.