Frequently Asked Questions
Families often have practical questions before deciding whether Woodhaven is the right fit. Below are answers to common questions about admissions, daily life, family communication, safety, school, medication, and support.
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Yes. When a resident is coming directly from detox, rehab, or another treatment setting, Woodhaven coordinates carefully with the current care team and family to support a safe transition.
When appropriate, Woodhaven may also help coordinate with a professional sober transport service. The goal is to make the transfer to Woodhaven as smooth, safe, and well-planned as possible.
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Families receive a packing list before admission. Residents should bring comfortable clothing, seasonal outerwear, appropriate footwear, and items needed for school, recreation, and daily life.
Woodhaven provides basic personal care items upon arrival, along with bedding, towels, and a laundry basket. Because residents spend time outdoors throughout the year, families should plan for all four seasons in northeastern Pennsylvania.
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Woodhaven provides residents with a weekly allowance of $20. This gives residents opportunities to make choices, manage small purchases, and begin building financial responsibility within the structure of the program.
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Length of stay is individualized. Each resident’s needs, progress, family situation, recovery engagement, school planning, and next-step goals are considered.
Woodhaven’s residential continuum is designed to provide support beyond the earliest stage of recovery, allowing residents time to build stability, strengthen their recovery, and prepare for life beyond residential treatment.
Admissions and Transition
Communication, Visits, and Family
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Family communication is important, and supervised calls home can begin immediately, even during the initial period when personal cell phone use is restricted.
Woodhaven works with each family to support communication in a way that is healthy, appropriate, and aligned with the resident’s recovery and adjustment to the program.
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Phone and laptop use are privileges that come with responsibility. During the first 30 days, personal devices are generally restricted, with technology use limited to school-related needs.
After the initial period, many residents earn access to their phones during designated times. Devices are not used during school, recovery groups, clinical sessions, structured programming, or overnight.
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Residents become eligible for their first visit after approximately two weeks at Woodhaven. The first visits are generally encouraged to take place on campus or in the surrounding area, with a check-in from senior staff before families spend time together.
Family visits are an important part of rebuilding connection and trust. Woodhaven also offers Family Days, which provide opportunities for families to spend time together, participate in programming, and become part of the larger Woodhaven community.
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Home visits and overnight passes are considered after a resident has had successful visits, is making satisfactory progress, and the timing feels clinically and programmatically appropriate.
Woodhaven works with families to consider readiness, safety, recovery engagement, family dynamics, and the resident’s overall progress before planning time away from campus.
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Families are an important part of the recovery process. Parents receive regular updates, have access to Woodhaven staff, and are supported in understanding their son’s progress, challenges, and next steps.
Woodhaven also offers a weekly virtual family group, parent support, family therapy when clinically appropriate, and monthly Family Days on campus. Families are encouraged to stay engaged, ask questions, and seek support for their own recovery and healing.
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The weekly virtual family group gives Woodhaven families a place to learn, ask questions, receive support, and connect with others who understand the experience of loving a young person in recovery.
Parents often find it helpful to hear from families who are further along in the journey. The group provides education, perspective, encouragement, and community during what can be an emotional and uncertain time.
Safety, Health, and Medication
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If a relapse occurs, Woodhaven responds quickly and carefully. The immediate priority is safety.
Depending on the situation, Woodhaven may consult with medical or mental health professionals, arrange for evaluation, or transport the resident to a higher level of care. Families are notified, and Woodhaven works with the resident, family, and appropriate professionals to determine the next steps.
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For the Factoryville campus, the closest hospitals are Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton and Lehigh Valley Hospital–Dickson City, both generally about 20 to 30 minutes away depending on traffic.
For Woodhaven on Mulberry in Scranton, Geisinger Community Medical Center is located very close to the residence.
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Woodhaven takes residential safety seriously. Buildings are equipped with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and appropriate emergency exits.
Woodhaven Manor and Woodhaven Cottage have appropriate exits and residential safety measures in place for their campus settings. Woodhaven on Mulberry also has appropriate exits and safety measures for its residential setting.
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Medication is managed by Woodhaven staff according to each resident’s prescribed plan. Medications are securely stored, administered by staff, and documented in Medication Administration Records.
Woodhaven coordinates with prescribing physicians, psychiatrists, and families as needed to support safe and consistent medication management.
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Woodhaven can support some chronic medical conditions, depending on the specific needs of the resident and whether the program can provide an appropriate level of care.
Before admission, Woodhaven reviews medical needs carefully and coordinates with families and medical providers to determine whether the setting can safely support the resident.
School, Interests, and Daily Life
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Residents attend Woodhaven Prep, our on-campus academic program. Woodhaven Prep provides individualized academic support and coordinates with each resident’s school district whenever possible to help minimize disruption and support progress toward graduation.
School is part of daily life at Woodhaven. Academic planning is connected to recovery, family communication, and each resident’s longer-term goals.
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Woodhaven encourages residents to stay connected to healthy interests and to discover new ones.
Depending on the resident’s needs, schedule, safety, and availability, hobbies and interests may be supported through recreation, fitness, creative activities, community outings, school planning, and individualized goals.
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Daily life at Woodhaven includes recovery groups, school, recreation, meals, chores, family communication, clinical coordination, and time in community.
Residents are supported in building routines, taking responsibility, developing healthy relationships, and learning how to live in recovery one day at a time.
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Woodhaven begins thinking about next steps early. Planning may include school, college, work, recovery meetings, family relationships, life skills, career exploration, clinical needs, and community support.
The goal is not only to help residents stabilize, but to help them build a life in recovery with more confidence, purpose, and direction.
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The admissions process gives families an opportunity to share their son’s history, current needs, treatment experience, school situation, family concerns, and goals for the future.
Woodhaven reviews each situation carefully to determine whether the program can provide an appropriate level of support. Families are encouraged to ask questions and speak openly about what they are hoping for and what they are worried about.
Family and Next Steps
Still Have Questions?
Every family’s situation is different. If you have questions about whether Woodhaven may be the right fit for your son, we are available to speak with you.