Reviving Lives Ministries of New Bern, Inc.

(RLM) carries a faith-based solution for addiction to people willing to change, who need a
stable home, wellness skills, and connection to community.

Program Rules

1. Respect your higher power, yourself, others and things.

2. Positively contribute to the program and house.
3. Follow all program and house procedures and policies.

Agreements

1. I agree to be teachable. I agree that I need to develop more skills to be able to live independently in the
future.
2. I agree to put my recovery first and to attend an in-person NA/AA meeting every day.
3. I agree that an increase or decrease in privileges will depend on how I demonstrate putting my recovery
first.
4. I agree and acknowledge my room may be searched at any time for any reason.
5. I agree to provide random urine samples for drug testing in the RLM home.
6. I agree to submit all lab work from PORT to the Care Coordinator.
7. I agree that my belongings (no more than one large bag of clothes and personal care items) will be
searched upon entering the RLM program.
8. I agree to sign consents of release of information to relevant people and organizations for the purpose
of continuity of care.
9. I agree that I will be on probation for a minimum of 30 days. Probation is to ensure that I am putting my
recovery first. I will be asked to find a new residence if my probation is extended more than once.

Expectations and Responsibilities

1. Get a sponsor within the first 30 to 60 days.

2. Only give the house address and phone number out to people directly related to your recovery, ask for
clarification before giving the address or phone number out to friends.
3. Consistently work on SMART goals and report progress.
4. Pay service fees on-time.
5. Attend daily AA/NA meetings, all house meetings and mandatory functions; exceptions may be allowed
if asked for in advance.
6. Call the Care Coordinator when unsure about a procedure of policy.
7. Depend first on getting places on the provided bicycle. Ask others for transportation only in extreme
need, only get into a car with an approved person. Staff and Board Members are always approved to
ride with and others can be added with permission. Accepting transportation from the opposite sex or

PO Box 98, New Bern, NC 28563

252*624*8926
director@revivnglivesministries.org
 someone with less than a year of sobriety is ill-advised if permission is not first granted by the Care
Coordinator or Executive Director.
8. Recovery work must be the primary focus; perusing relationships with a person you are sexually
attracted to, while at RLM, will be considered a violation of rule one. RLM expects that you will hold off
on such relationships in order to honor the first rule.
9. Use language that reflects self-respect and situational awareness.
10. Dress in a manner that reflects self-respect and situational awareness.
11. Therapy is a recovery tool that staff expects you to use at the earliest possible time. Other outside
sources may be recommended.
12. When PORT classes are complete employment will be expected. Provide a copy of your paystubs and
schedule to the Care Coordinator at the House Meeting.
13. House-phone and internet use must be related to recovery in the first 30 days. After the first 30 days use
of personal cell-phones will be monitored and limited. You are expected to report your screen time at
each House Meeting after having use of your cell phone. If staff feels your phone and internet use is
excessive a plan to help find a better balance will be explored with staff before unrestricted access to
your phone will be restored. See next section for clarification.
14. Building relationships with staff that improve maturity, growth and change.

Zero Tolerance Policies Resulting in Immediate Dismissal

1. * Use of any mind- or mood-altering substance, including certain medications.

2. Violence will result in immediate exit from the program.
3. Criminal Activity will result in an immediate exit.

Note: You are in a non-lease agreement and as such, no eviction will be necessary to require you to leave
the RLM program.

* Alcohol and/or Drug Use; Disallowed Medications; Poppyseeds; Medications Containing Alcohol; Drug
Paraphernalia; etc.:

Due to the abstinence nature of the RLM Program, the following prescription and over-the-counter
medications/substances are prohibited: Controlled Substances; Opiates; Narcotics; Mood or Mind altering
drugs; Methadone; Suboxone; Benzodiazepines; Gabapentin; Hydroxyzine; Dextroamphetamine; Kratom; CDB
Oil containing THC; Foods containing Poppyseeds, Nutmeg etc..

NOTE: Any Drugs, over the counter or otherwise, may be prohibited at ANY point.

A. The use, possession or sale of prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, controlled

substances or alcohol, aerosol/cans which can be used for huffing, either on or off RLM property,
is cause for immediate dismissal from the RLM Program. Use of any and all prescribed and/or
over-the counter medication is prohibited without prior disclosure and approval by the RLM
House Manager and RLM House Mentor.

PO Box 98, New Bern, NC 28563

252*624*8926
director@revivnglivesministries.org
 B. RLM Participants are required to immediately disclose any and all scheduled doctor, dental or
therapy visits, and any and all prescribed medications and/or over-the-counter medications,
regardless of where obtained, to the RLM House Manager and RLM House Mentor.

C. Foods containing poppyseeds are not allowed in the RLM program. Should a Participant test
positive for opiates, including after consuming poppyseeds, he/she shall be immediately
dismissed.

D. Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril) is not allowed in the RLM Program. Should a Participant test
positive for Benzos after consuming Hydroxyzine, he/she shall be immediately dismissed.

E. Medications containing ANY alcohol, narcotics, benzos, mood or mind-altering medications,

Methadone, Suboxone, Benzodiazepines, Kratom, and any type of drug paraphernalia, etc., are
not allowed in the RLM program.

F. Should any disallowed medications, food items, aerosol cans, alcohol items, drug paraphernalia,
etc., be found in any RLM House, the RLM Participant having them in his/her possession shall be
immediately dismissed.

G. ITEMS FROM TOBACCO SHOPS, HEALTH FOOD STORES, ETC., HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE
POSITIVE OR QUESTIONABLE TEST RESULTS AND SHALL BE CAUSE FOR DISMISSAL. IF IN
DOUBT, ASK THE RLM HOUSE MANAGER OR RLM CARE COORDINATOR BEFORE CONSUMING
ANYTHING.

H. IMPORTANT: Any substance that is considered to be “positive” by PORT Human Services shall
be considered to be “positive” in the RLM Program. Such positive test result shall be cause for
immediate dismissal, especially if the result is purposely hidden from staff.

Spiritual Principals

1. Honesty: In all your affairs, especially about daily activities, relationships with others, frustrations,
concerns, thoughts, feelings, and boundaries.
2. Respect: When a boundary is communicated, the expectation is that it will be honored by all parties.
When a boundary is violated, it is each person’s right and responsibility to communicate the issue.
3. Willingness: To make changes to your habits and thought processes.
4. Open Mindedness: To form trusting relationships that help you try new things in recovery.
5. Tolerance: For internal and external frustrations and differences between yourself and others.
6. Service/Volunteerism: To make efforts to help others with no ulterior motives. A minimum of four hours
a month is expected after the first 30 days.

House Procedures

1. Sign-in/Sign-out: Every time you leave and come back to the house. Write all relevant information.
2. Chores: Must be done daily.
3. Rooms: Tours of the house may take place unexpectedly by grantors, rooms are expected to be
presentable to guests at a moment’s notice.

PO Box 98, New Bern, NC 28563

252*624*8926
director@revivnglivesministries.org
 4. Be on-time: For all house meetings and prepared to show self-reflection worksheets, journal entries,
daily logs, 12-step work, pay stubs, work schedules, written progress on personal goals any other papers
requested by the Care Coordinator.
5. Leave/Visit Request: To be filled out at least seven (7) days in advance.
6. Check-ins: Care Coordinator or Executive Director will occasionally require a formal check-in process to
ensure clarity about respectful behavior, policies, and procedures. Form is to be filled out and turned in
on a specified date.
7. Smoking/Vaping: Cigarette butts are to be disposed of in the designated areas and cleaned out regularly.
NO VAPING INDOORS.

Progression of Privileges

1. First 30 days: No personal phone and limited house-phone use and internet access. House phone use
should be directly related to recovery. Visits with family and friends is unlikely to be approved. Some
exceptions are made for children. Buddy System: leaving the house without another participant or
approved person, such as a sponsor or RLM staff, is prohibited. Leaving or getting in a vehicle with any
other unapproved individuals without significant recovery (significant recovery time is generally
considered at least one (1) year) and is approved by RLM Staff.
2. Month 2 to 3: Personal phone privileges are restored to no more than two hours per day. Time-limited
visits (2 to 4 hours) with family and friends are more likely to be approved. Approval to use a personal
vehicle is at the discretion of the Program Committee. If you are not personally paying your service fees,
this privilege is less likely. When in doubt, ask if an activity/visit requires a leave slip to be filled out.
3. Months 3 to 5: Longer visits with friends and family will likely be approved. Use of personal phone is
unrestricted, but your screen time report will be shared with the Care Coordinator every week. By your
4th month it is likely you will have unrestricted access to your own phone. Use of a personal vehicle also
becomes more likely, especially if you are able to pay your own service fees and show proof of
insurance, and other pertinent documents.
4. Months 6 to 12: Visits are only restricted by curfew, but still must be submitted 7 days in advance.
5. Months 13 to 24: Overnight and extended visits with family and friends are likely to be approved.

Exit Plans

1. You may elect to leave the program at any time. However, RLM staff is here to assist with the transition
and would prefer that you notify the Care Coordinator when you are ready to form an Exit Plan.
2. Should RLM staff initiate an exit-plan based inability to follow the rules, we will assist you in finding a
new place to continue your recovery, but will expect you to move out by a specified date.
3. Know the Guidelines for the Exit Plan and let them help you set your own goals for your next phase in
recovery.

Rights and Responsibilities

1. To express my boundaries, thoughts and feelings in a respectful manner

2. To choose and have my own beliefs.
3. To give and receive respect by communicating with honesty.
4. To set my own goals.

PO Box 98, New Bern, NC 28563

252*624*8926
director@revivnglivesministries.org
 5. To express concerns about myself, others in the house and staff without fear of retaliation.
6. To feel reasonably safe in the house.
7. To put effort into my personal goals.
8. To be honest in all my affairs.
9. To request flexibility of others.
10. To practice open-mindedness.
11. To focus on working my own program and be tolerant of others who are also working their own
program.
12. To learn and practice self-discipline skills.
13. To appeal to the Board of Directors if dismissed for a return to substance use.
14. To communicate a plan to transfer all personal belongings within 24 hours of an immediate dismissal;
RLM will donate or dispose of any belongings if no acceptable plan is communicated.
15. To return to the house no later than 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 p.m. on Friday and
Saturday.

General Statement

You, the person served by RLM, acknowledge that the above policies and rules are not all-inclusive and may be
modified as deemed necessary by RLM Staff and Program Committee. These policies and rules are intended to
protect the environment from the distractions of issues outside of recovery and to preserve the safety within
the sober-living home.

If nothing changes, nothing changes. Recovery work must be the primary focus of your activities while at
RLM. The RLM Rules and Policies are meant to prepare each participant to live a joyful, self-supporting life,
independent from substance use.

By signing below, I am demonstrating that understand the contents of this document and that I will ask clarifying
questions at any time while I am in the RLM program.

Signature: __________________________________________ Date: ________________________

Printed Name: _______________________________________

Witness: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________

August 2022

PO Box 98, New Bern, NC 28563

252*624*8926
director@revivnglivesministries.org