CARE PROGRAM OVERVIEW
In 2004, California was awarded a three-year Access
to Recovery (ATR) grant from the federal Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
ATR is an initiative to allow people in need of substance
abuse treatment to make individual choices in their
path to recovery that reflect their personal needs and
values. The CARE program is California’s implementation
of the federal ATR grant. In 2007, California was awarded
a second three-year ATR grant and in September 2010,
ADP was awarded a third ATR grant that will continue
the CARE program through 2014.
Since California has historically lacked resources
for substance abuse services for adolescents, CARE initially
focused exclusively on youth (12 to 20 year olds). During
the second grant, ADP included National Guard members
up to age 25 in the target population. The third grant
will also serve young service members and veterans (through
age 25).
CARE provides (virtual) vouchers for substance abuse
services to eligible youth and service members/veterans
who reside in one of the five target counties (Butte,
Los Angeles, Sacramento, Shasta, and Tehama). ADP-approved
assessment providers (sites and mobile clinicians) are
the main point of entry. Youth, their families, or a
referring agency contact an assessment provider directly
or via the CARE call center. Once assessed, clients
are issued vouchers and they choose their service provider(s)
from a wide variety of ADP-approved organizations, including
faith-based and grassroots organizations. Providers
collect and submit client outcome data and are reimbursed
for authorized services through a web-based voucher
management system.
CARE offers outpatient treatment, short-term residential
treatment, and recovery support services to individuals
in a variety of settings, including schools. Services
include screening and assessment, case management, treatment
planning, individual and group counseling, individual
family therapy, education sessions, drug testing, telephonic
continuing care, and recovery support services. Recovery
support services include employment and educational
services, therapeutic and structured recreation, peer
coaching, spiritual coaching, and transportation.
CARE PROGRAM GOALS
The broad goals of the CARE program are to:
- Provide vouchers for treatment and
recovery support services to substance abusing youth
and young service members/veterans who reside in Butte,
Los Angeles, Sacramento, Shasta, and Tehama Counties.
- Ensure that all clients have a genuine,
independent choice of service provider that reflects
their personal needs and preferences.
- Empower clients to be involved in
their recovery by being part of all decisions made
about the services they receive.
- Ensure that individuals receive safe
and effective services.
CARE PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Since 2005, the CARE program has provided vouchers
to over 18,500 youth (ages 12-20) for a continuum of
substance abuse treatment and recovery support services.
A network of diverse providers has successfully partnered
to offer evidence-based service models that improve
and sustain positive life changes. Data collected from
CARE clients shows the following positive rates of change
between intake and six month follow-up:
- Abstinence from alcohol/drugs: 88%
- No negative health, behavioural,
or social consequences related to substance use: 33%
- Improved social connectedness: 14%
- Stable housing: 6%
- No criminal involvement: 4%
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