Forge is an in-patient recovery center that exists to restore men to freedom, hope, and purpose. Our 12-step program is designed to help men (18 years of age and older) who suffer from addiction, both chemical and behavioral. Our program is a 12-24 month community-based program that is focused on returning men to their families and society as productive and contributing members of their communities.
Recovery is a life-long journey that begins with acceptance of a problem and the decision to change. Recovery is not easy and requires more than just the absence of drugs and alcohol. And that's where we come in. Our program is built around the concept that addiction is a disease. It is progressive, chronic, and fatal, but it is treatable when we address recovery of the mind, body, & spirit. Our adherence to the spiritual principles of the 12-step method of recovery coupled with a no-nonsense, tough love approach gives our residents the tools they need to forge a new mindset and way of life where they are able to effectively manage themselves after treatment.
At Forge, we require adherence to a strict daily schedule and hold the men accountable for their actions by encouraging them to recognize and address emotional conflicts in order to promote effective communication with God, themselves, and others. As our residents progress through the four phases of the program, they are granted more responsibility so they ultimately learn how to respond in healthy ways to pressure and make decisions based upon the spiritual principles contained in the 12-steps.
We are focused on the educational, vocational, social, and spiritual development of our residents through the following services:
- Counseling
- Daily Process Groups
- Peer-to-Peer Accountability
- Life Skills Training
- 12 Step Work
- Community Service
- Structured Employment
- Physical, Mental, & Spiritual Workouts
We use five strategies to effectively accomplish our mission of restoring men to freedom, hope, & purpose.
- Engage:
We want to engage each man exactly where they are. Every man arrives at Forge in a different place and building a relationship with each man is a very important part of their recovery. No one cares how much you know until they know that you care. Our first aim is to help each man understand that we really do care about him and we are here to help. - Educate:
We want each man to leave Forge as a responsible and productive member of society. Education is a vital part of this process. We want to educate them about addiction, recovery, and the life skills to embrace a new way of life where they are able to effectively manage themselves after treatment. - Community:
We want each man to see that restored men value community. The root of addiction is selfishness which leads to broken relationships and isolation. We are a community-based program that teaches our men the importance of restoring relationships, the need for accountability, and the joy of true friendship. As an inpatient facility, our guys will experience community in a real way and learn how to participate in a healthy family atmosphere. - Employee
We want each man to be a dependable and productive employee. After thirty days, our men will begin working a job in our community. This employment will give them the opportunity to grow as an employee, provide for themselves, and pay for their treatment. We believe God created men to work to provide for themselves and their families. We want to help each man to step into this calling and responsibility. - Send:
We want each man to be restored to a life of purpose. We believe restored men restore other men. Recovery is a gift from God that isn't ours to keep. At Forge, we want our men to participate in the recovery of others. Our program is designed to build and send out leaders into our world with a passion to restore others to the same freedom, hope, and purpose they have found.
Director
Forge was founded by our director Craig George who has years of experience working with addicts in the recovery community.
Assistant Director
Todd Hamm is a person in long-term recovery with over eight years of experience in the fields of addiction treatment and behavioral health. Todd graduated from Columbia College with a Bachelor's degree in Human Services with a minor in Psychology. He also holds a Master of Science degree from Capella University in Addiction Studies and is a Certified Master Addiction Counselor through the Georgia Addiction Counselor’s Association. Furthermore, Todd is a Certified Peer Specialist in addictive disease, mental health, and whole health and wellness. Todd has a passion for people, recovery, and community connection. Todd believes that the 12-steps are the foundation of his own recovery and the basis of his approach when engaging with individuals. He is a combat veteran that believes in God, family, and country; and with that comes recovery, responsibility, and perseverance. “I believe in encouraging individuals to seek and experience personal freedom from substance use disorder and mental health challenges. Here at Forge, we believe in finding the root of an individual's addictive behaviors and role-modeling a different way to live. Connection is the opposite of addiction.”