North Suffolk Community Services - Meridian House

Mutually Supportive Living

The co-ed residential facility provides gender-specific sleeping areas with a mix of single, double, and triple bedrooms. Residents work together to plan weekly menus, cook meals together in a shared kitchen, and eat in a large communal dining room. The house structure emphasizes accountability, peer support, and skill building, creating a resident-run environment where individuals contribute through chores, job functions, and group participation, all designed to prepare them for life beyond treatment.

Evidence-Based Care with Accountability

Residents attend three to six groups each day, with at least one clinical group on weekends. Treatment approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), activity therapy, and integrated care for co-occurring mental health conditions. This intensive model emphasizes accountability and practice, helping residents recognize patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, and take responsibility for their decisions in a supportive, community-based environment.

Clinical Team and Support Services

The team includes master’s-level social workers, licensed and certified alcohol and drug counselors, recovery specialists, case managers, and a nurse manager. Residents can connect with North Suffolk outpatient providers for therapy and medication management when needed. Supportive services include case management, vocational training, housing services, mentoring/peer support, suicide-prevention services, and nicotine-replacement therapy with counseling to help clients who want to quit smoking. Payment assistance is available, and several state funding sources may help clients access care.

Discharge Planning and Aftercare

The center places strong emphasis on planning for recovery beyond residential care. Before leaving, each resident works with staff to create an individualized aftercare plan that addresses ongoing needs and connects them to community resources. This plan may include recovery coaching, therapy, psychiatric care, and medications for addiction treatment (MAT), depending on the individual situation. Whether discharge is planned or voluntary, the process ensures residents leave with concrete steps, scheduled follow-ups, and supportive connections to maintain progress and reduce risk of relapse.