Bobby Benson Center

ABOUT BOBBY BENSON CENTER IN KAHUKU, HI

Bobby Benson Center, located in Kahuku, Hawaii, is one of the state's 113 (67.3 percent) centers that offers treatment to adolescents struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. The facility was founded in 1990 and named in honor of a 15-year-old boy who died after struggling with drug abuse. Bobby Benson Center offers both residential and outpatient care and is one of only 31 (18.5 percent) facilities in Hawaii that offers treatment for co-occurring disorders.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

The facility’s treatment program follows a community-based social-learning model that incorporates the 12-step method and SMART Recovery model. To be admitted, clients must be between the ages of 13 and 17, voluntarily agree to treatment, and psychologically stable. Admission preference is given to pregnant women and intravenous drug users.

Throughout treatment, clients participate in a structured daily schedule that includes individual and group therapy, sober activities, and school work. Clients participate in group outings to local attractions every Wednesday, as well as beach outings on the weekend.

Treatment modalities used at Bobby Benson Center may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), crisis intervention, and/or trauma-informed care. Group therapy at the facility focuses on building motivation, coping with urges, problem solving, and lifestyle balance. Families are included in the treatment program through family therapy, which aims to help family members cope and heal as a unit.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

The treatment team at Bobby Benson Center includes licensed clinical social workers, certified substance abuse counselors, volunteers, and support staff.

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

The facility offers 30 beds across four gender-specific cottages. This suggests a high level of availability, given that the average number of individuals in a residential facility was 18 clients, as of 2016. Two cottages are for girls and two are for boys. The facility is located on Oahu’s North Shore, and Bobby Benson Center’s website states the facility is “set on acres of lush tropical paradise, just minutes from pristine beaches.” Each of the four cottages are identical and contain four shared, two-person bedrooms.

Each bedroom has a walk-in closet and private bathroom, and each cottage has a shared living room and adjacent therapist office. The facility states that bathrooms were renovated and air conditioning units were installed in 2013.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

At the time of this writing, Rehabs.com has yet to receive feedback from this facility's former clients. However, on the facility’s Facebook page, which it may manage, the facility received an overall rating of 4.6 out of five stars based on 11 total reviews to date.^[1]

Although one reviewer gave the facility only one out of five stars, the rest of the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Alum S.C., who gave five stars, expressed gratitude to the facility and wrote: “I went to BBC twice. Once for 4 months and once for 6 months. They accommodated me with my life long vegetarian diet. We went on fun outings, did hula, school, & therapy. I couldn't be who I am today without the therapy and support I was given here.”

Reviews were a bit more mixed on Google as of this writing, where six users contributed to an average rating of 3.8 out of five stars.^[2] One of the only reviewers to leave written commentary felt that the intake process was inefficient, that outings were disorganized, money was mismanaged, and the food wasn't appetizing.

FINANCING

There is currently no information provided by Bobby Benson Center regarding its costs. However, the facility accepts all major health insurance plans. Clients are encouraged to contact the facility directly for additional information regarding the cost of treatment.

^[1]https://www.facebook.com/pg/bobbybenson.org/reviews/?ref=page_internal

^[2] GoogleReviews