For family and friends
You cannot make them choose it. You can make the next step easier to take.
Two residential homes in Reno, one for teenagers and one for adults, where the person you love is safe, supervised, and treated by clinicians and a psychiatrist who know their name. And where you get a role, a contact, and straight answers.
Most calls to our admissions line come from someone other than the person who needs care. You do not need their permission to ask questions, and you do not need to have the whole plan figured out. This page is what we tell families on that first call: how to bring it up, what to do today, what your role will be, and where to get support for yourself.
Before you call
The practical part, for the people around them.
What to pack, what to say, what to do about work and school and phones. The stuff nobody writes down.
Bringing it up
- Pick a sober, calm moment. Not during a crisis, not in front of others
- Say what you have seen, not what they are. "I found you unconscious twice this month" lands. "You're an addict" does not
- Have one concrete next step ready: "I have the number. I will drive you. Today or tomorrow, your choice"
- Do not argue with excuses. Repeat the concern and the offer
- Call us before the conversation. We will help you plan it and be ready when they say yes
What you can do today
- Call us and describe what you are seeing; you do not need their permission to ask questions
- Find out whose insurance they are on and photograph the card if you can
- Write down medications, substances, and any recent hospital visits
- Remove firearms and stockpiled medications from the home
- Save 988 in your phone. It is for you, too
Taking care of yourself
- Al-Anon and Nar-Anon meet in Reno weekly, in person and online
- NAMI Northern Nevada runs Family-to-Family, a free eight-week class
- Individual therapy through Sai Mental Health, in network with most plans
- You are allowed to set limits. Limits are not abandonment
Questions
What people actually ask us.
They won't admit there's a problem. What can I do?
For an adult, treatment cannot be forced except through a court process, and we will tell you honestly when that applies. What you can do is call us and describe what you are seeing. We will help you plan a conversation, tell you which words tend to land and which slam the door, and be ready the hour they say yes. For a minor, a parent or guardian can consent.
Can I call and talk to them?
With the resident's consent, yes, during daily phone windows. Adults control who is on their contact list under federal privacy law. For teens, parents and guardians have scheduled calls and visits from day one.
Will you tell me how they're doing?
For an adult, only with their written permission, which most residents give to at least one person. For a minor, parents and guardians receive regular updates from a named point of contact and join weekly family therapy.
What is my role while they're there?
Family sessions when the treatment team and the resident invite you, honest participation in them, and a discharge plan you help shape. Many families use this time for their own support: Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, NAMI Family-to-Family, or individual therapy through Sai Mental Health.
What if they leave early?
Adults can leave against clinical advice; we tell them clearly what we recommend and stay in contact afterward. For a minor, staff follow a written protocol and notify the guardian immediately. Either way, the door back is open.
Should they go to the ER first?
If there is an overdose, a suicide attempt, a plan to attempt, seizures, or violence, yes: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room now. We admit directly from emergency rooms and hospitals. Call us from there.
Admissions
Four steps. Usually within 48 hours. Same day when it has to be.
Getting someone into residential care should not feel like a second crisis. This is exactly what happens when you reach out.
- 01
Call, text, or request a callback
You reach a person who does this every day. Tell us what is going on. We listen first.
- 02
A short clinical screening
Twenty minutes, confidential, by phone. We confirm residential is the right level, and that we can genuinely meet the need. If we cannot, we tell you who can.
- 03
Benefits verified and explained
Usually within 24 to 48 hours. You hear the deductible, the out-of-pocket limit, and whether authorization is required, before you commit to anything.
- 04
Admission
A scheduled arrival, or same-day when safety requires it. We admit directly from emergency rooms and hospitals.