A Brief Introduction

North Country Freedom Homes, a not-for-profit corporation certified by the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), provides whole person care to male individuals seriously debilitated by chemical dependency.  We recognize chemical dependency as a chronic and primary disease.
 
Various components of our program address physiological needs, increase knowledge about alcohol and other substances, as well as teach the skills necessary to maintain an alcohol/drug free lifestyle.  Our overall goal is to provide a program and atmosphere that will help develop the insights, attitudes, skills and knowledge necessary to continue growth in recovery regardless of the problem substance.

The John E. Murphy House location for NCFH. The facility is a blue victorian home. A flagpole is in view on the grass lawn facing the facility.

History

1970’s

It was beginning to become accepted that there was treatment that worked for Alcoholics and Substance Abusers. John E. Murphy was a Director of St. Lawrence County Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services that began to offer outpatient services for county residents. At that time there was also inpatient treatment available at the St. Lawrence Addictions Treatment Center, better known as Farm Cottage.

In his position with the county he was aware of a large gap in available services. There was nowhere to go for those that were either homeless or living in an environment that made recovery almost impossible to maintain. He decided to correct this and worked tirelessly to open the first halfway house in the county.

The Foundation for North Country Freedom Homes was established. The Foundation Board and John found a huge Victorian home in Madrid and purchased it. In his honor it was named the John E. Murphy House. It was given an operating certificate by the then Division of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (DAAA) now known as the Office of Addiction Services and Supports.

October 1, 1979

The first resident was admitted.
It quickly became apparent that the twelve beds in the Murphy residence could not accommodate all the county residents in need of those services. With major help and funding from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Bureau of Housing Services (HHAP) and the support of New York State Division of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Services a new facility was built in Canton. Known simply as the Canton House an operating certificate was granted by DAAA. The first admission was July 26, 1988.

Construction started on the Canton House, and a more structured program that would teach recovery skills and increase the residents’ chances of continued recovery after graduation was developed. Documentation needed to establish NCFH as a well-organized and efficient corporation was begun, the corporate atmosphere into one that respected and supported the growth of both residents and staff was nurtured.

1987

The construction of the Canton House was completed and opened in 1987. A more structured program and supervision of counseling staff was put in place.

1998

In 1998, with OASAS approval and one time funding a Supportive Living Program that provided housing for twelve was opened. In partnership with the Canton Housing Authority, five apartments in the Law Lane housing complex were opened. This program ended in 2014

Since that opening we have focused on developing and delivering programs that have addressed the needs of a changing population.

After both Houses were up and running another need was identified. Some of the individuals completing our Halfway House program were not ready for fully independent living but no longer in need of level of care provided in our Houses. There were numerous reasons for this they included ongoing mental and/or physical health issues, homelessness, simply needing additional time to complete work on issues locally where sufficient trust had been developed that it was not in the residents best clinical interest to change providers.

January 2015

In January 2015, the John E. Murphy home was closed and all residents were moved to the Canton house after a major renovation and expansion.  The Canton House is now a 24 bed Male facility.

2020

St. Joseph’s Addiction Treatment & Recovery Centers were recruited in an exclusive management agreement to provide ongoing oversight and services tot he North Country Freedom Homes program, staff and clients.

Four wood tables with chairs are pictured here, in the cafeteria of the Canton House facility.
A yellow and black, multi-purpose weight lifting machine pictured here, in the gym of Canton House.
A white and black benchpress for weight listing in the gym of Canton House.
Pictured here is the kitchen for meal preparations at Canton House. A large middle island with sink, and next to it is a multi-burner gas range stove in silver.
Pictured here is the waiting room lobby at Canton House. A sofa with dark red leather cushions, and two matching chairs with light green cushions.
A group classroom pictured here at Canton House. There are two red cushion sofas, and four matching chairs with green cushions.
Pictured here is an office room at canton House. There is a long wood base sofa with dark patterned cushions, a light wood coffee table, and a desk and chair in the corner.
A classroom at Canton House for group sessions. There is an announcement's board with papers attached, and a few collage boards on the wall. There are six black chairs arranged in a 90 degree angle, three to each side.
A patient room example at Canton House. Hardwood floor, with light wood finished nightstands and a bed on a platform with drawers beneath. The bedding is a flannel patterned shades of blue.