The Living and Recovering Community (L.A.R.C.)

The Living and Recovering Community (LARC) is a structured 15-bed residential stabilization program for men and women with HIV/AIDS and histories of chronic addiction relapse. Located in the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, LARC provides comprehensive alcoholism and addiction support services that include case management and housing search services. All services are provided within a therapeutic behavioral health model that is designed to meet the unique needs of individual clients.

A LARC client is a man or woman over the age 18 and living with HIV/AIDS with a history of chronic relapse from alcoholism and/or drug addiction. A resident is typically homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to alcoholism and/or drug dependency. Residents may be involved in methadone treatment. All LARC residents are fully integrated into a program of recovery.

While at LARC, each participant develops an Individualized Stabilization Plan that identifies specific therapeutic and case management objectives. The Plans are developed in collaboration with their counselor, primary medical provider, and mental health practitioners. This therapeutic planning model provides a continuous sense of goal achievement to those participants who frequently struggle with the chaotic and unstable consequences of repeated relapse.

LARC plays a unique role within the continuum of care for persons living with HIV/AIDS and addiction by assisting each client to re-establish productive relationships and networks of support within their own communities. These networks include family members and partners, friends, medical and mental health care providers, addiction treatment professionals, and 12 Step Program sponsors. By achieving long term sobriety, rebuilding family systems, and accessing such stabilizing factors as housing, health care, and employment, a LARC resident can successfully reintegrate into his/her communities.

LARC provides participants with a comprehensive orientation to HIV/AIDS, addiction, and the recovery process. LARC offers clinical, case management, and holistic services to achieve and maintain a stable lifestyle. These stabilization services are necessary to establish and maintain addiction recovery. Some examples include:

HIV/AIDS Education
Individual Addiction/Relapse Prevention Counseling
Comprehensive Case Management
Bilingual Housing Search Counseling and Advocacy

Acupuncture Therapy
Stress Reduction Trainings
Life Skills Building (include Medication Self-Management
Self-Help Groups (such as AA and NA)

LARC is located on the 11th Floor North wing of the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital. Although LARC is not a medical unit, clients have easy access to all hospital services including primary care, methadone and mental health services. LARC offers private rooms in a self-sufficient wing of the hospital with a kitchen, bathrooms, laundry and group meeting rooms.

LARC
Lemuel Shattuck Hospital
170 Morton Street, 11 North
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 522-2936

United Way
of Massachusetts Bay