Sandhills Adult & Teen Challenge, a long-established faith-centered recovery organization, is adding a state-licensed Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program to broaden its treatment options for adults across the Sandhills.
The new program will offer a clinically regulated outpatient track that meets state requirements for structured substance use treatment. Participants will take part in 9 to 19 hours each week of individual and group counseling, relapse‑prevention work, family support sessions, and recovery planning. All services will be provided while individuals remain enrolled in the organization’s residential program. State licensure verifies that the outpatient track meets clinical standards for documentation and service intensity.
For decades, Sandhills ATC has operated long-term residential programs rooted in “spiritual development, life-skills training, and therapeutic support.” The addition of an intensive outpatient track reportedly strengthens the early stages of recovery by introducing evidence-based counseling during the first 16 weeks. The combined approach is designed to reinforce long-term stability by pairing clinical care with the organization’s faith-based model.
With the addition of the licensed outpatient track, ATC aims to increase access to structured treatment while maintaining its traditional residential model. A press release regarding the new changes states that the combined system will offer a full continuum of care, from early outpatient support to long-term residential recovery.
The expansion also brings new clinical leadership to the organization. Melissa Decker, LCSW, has been named ATC’s first clinical operations director. She joins clinicians Tayloe Moye, LCSW, LCAS, and Rolanda Jones, LCSW, LCAS, who will help guide the outpatient program and integrate clinical practices across ATC’s campuses. Sandhills ATC operates residential centers for men and women, as well as a Military Specialization Program serving veterans and active-duty personnel.
The organization is completing final steps in the licensure process and expects to begin offering SAIOP services in the coming weeks.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Article by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Feature photo contributed.
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