Supporting People in Drug and Alcohol Crisis with the Treatment They Need

Transcription

1 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 1 Supporting People in Drug and Alcohol Crisis with the Treatment They Need 2014 Annual Report Annual Report

2 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 2 Dear Friends and Supporters of A Way Out: For over two years (AWO) has provided support to people on the Western Slope of Colorado (Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties) who are struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. Founded in 2013, AWO is a non-profit filling the gap in treatment resources for youth and adults struggling with addiction. We are an unaffiliated, abstinence based, scholarship, counseling, education and resource rich program providing addiction treatment and aftercare services for those in need. Our goal is to stop the revolving door of addiction by providing quality treatment to effect lasting change. Through our vast networking with local and national treatment recovery programs, health and human service agencies, doctors and professionals, A Way Out has been able to create important alliances that enable us to find affordable multi-faceted solutions for people who have tried everything. A Way Out is often considered the last stop on the block for people who have few resources, are homeless and/or have come to a point of hopelessness. Through our scholarship program and aftercare oversight, A Way Out helps hundreds recover from alcohol and drug abuse, improving lives and healing families. Of particular note is the growth in the number of clients seeking A Way Out services. AWO has tripled the number of those served from 162 in 2013 to 502 in % of the individuals and families surveyed rated the quality of support and services provided by A Way Out as excellent and said they would recommend our services to anyone needing substance abuse support. A Way Out is honored to serve the communities on the Western Slope of Colorado and to help address the number one health issue of substance abuse in all three counties. Respectfully, AWO Board: Bill Anuszewski, Don Bird, John Brune, Caroline Cochener, Mike Connolly, Drew Drazin, Bob Ferguson, Robert Musser Elizabeth Means, Executive Director 1 A Way Out

3 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 3 A Way Out Services Crisis Call Phone Support: AWO receives calls from community members in crisis with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues. These initial calls for assistance are directed to the appropriate services within A Way Out or to resources outside the organization for immediate help. Mental Health and Addiction Assessments: We help individuals who have reached their bottom with free clinical assessments to identify their critical needs and key mental health issues in order to determine how best to help them. Outpatient Treatment: AWO helps people identified by physicians, mental health therapists, human service agencies, physicians, school counselors, hospitals, individuals and the legal system with assistance attending local intensive substance abuse programs. AWO will provide scholarships for those who are homeless, indigent or struggling financially with monetary support. AWO's policy is that no one who wants to recover should be turned away because of a lack of resources. Inpatient Treatment: AWO negotiates with nationally reputable, twelve-step, abstinence based treatment programs for substantial discounts so clients have affordable options to consider. AWO helps streamline the process of admittance through specific contacts and offers scholarships in special need cases. Aftercare: Finishing a treatment program can be a confusing time for people who return from an intensive supportive environment to their pre-treatment lives. AWO considers this the most important time to keep in touch with clients to help them stay on track. The addiction therapist and client create a yearlong partnership around the sober plan for their aftercare program. Sober Housing/Sober College: AWO assists those who have completed treatment and want to live in a sober housing environment. AWO requires that each individual find a job or attend college within 4 weeks of entering their sober housing. If they are attending college they must be enrolled in school full-time. Sober housing for young and old alike increases the rate of long-term sobriety as the peer support in sober housing teaches individuals how to work and support themselves while maintaining a sober lifestyle. Annual Report

4 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 4 Family Program: AWO chooses specific family therapists familiar with the Alanon program to work with the families of the addict we are helping. Families receive our services at no charge. Young children (ages 6-12) receive scholarships to attend the Betty Ford Children s Program in Denver. They receive one-on-one help and in concepts they can understand come to learn that the disease of addiction (or the chaos in their home) is not their fault. Additionally, A Way Out believes that recovery is meant to be for the family along with the suffering alcoholic or addict. We have seen that when the family takes consistent action in their own recovery around their loved one s addiction the chances of long-term recovery are greatly increased. Scholarship Program: AWO works with the homeless, under-served, under-insured and financially and emotionally bankrupt individuals who deserve the same chance at recovery as those with resources. Because of this, A Way Out works diligently at raising funds to help these individuals reclaim their life. Teen Pilot Program: In collaboration with Basalt High School, Youth Zone, and the Roaring Fork Family Resource Center, A Way Out is working to address the gap in services for teens that are identified as struggling with substance abuse. A semester accredited high school class is aimed at helping at-risk teens identify and understand their personal using triggers. It teaches new more useful ways of coping and provides ongoing peer group support through the class alumni. Public Lecture Series: Issues of Substance: Addiction was diagnosed as a brain disease in 1951 by the American Medical Association. Thus, it is important for the community to compassionately treat a person with addiction as someone with a disease. AWO holds two free public educational lectures each year. Our nationally renowned speakers bring new research and information to the valley on mental health and addiction issues. The topics help the audience understand the issues people with addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders face. The lecture series often provides continuing education credit and serves hundreds each year. The lectures are networking events connecting local, state and national resources to all who attend. 3 A Way Out

5 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 5 Demographics Number of Clients Facilitated to Treatment by A Way Out and the Number Who Benefited from Prevention & Education: A Way Out Clients Receiving Treatment Prevention / Education Outreach * 337 Total Served The average age of clients served in 2013 was 35, and in 2014 was 27. *Number of clients who receved assessments and assistance by age: Eleven children from the ages of 7 11 Dear A Way Out, Thank you for sending me to the Betty Ford Kids program and helping my mom and dad. I learned that if you say no to addiction it will never catch you. I also learned to trust my parents more. Love, P (Age 9) Nineteen teens ages I am a single mother with a sixteen-year-old son dealing with addiction. I had nowhere to turn. A Way Out helped me through the steps of finding help for him. Today my son is thriving. He has a chance at a wonderful life thanks to A Way Out. (Age 16) Annual Report

6 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 6 Forty-two individuals ages Never in a million years did I believe that I would be able to go back to school, stay sober, and be okay with my life and with myself. A Way Out s support has given me hope and I am forever grateful. (Age 28) Thirty seven individuals ages (6 of the 37 were parents in recovery who accompanied their children to the Betty Ford Children s program in Denver). I have struggled with self-esteem, eating issues, drug addiction and alcohol dependency my whole life. I thought I was hopeless because I could not stop using. A Way Out provided me with help, direction and ongoing support. Since treatment two years ago, I have stayed sober, which is nothing short of a miracle. (Age 31) Thirty four individuals ages (8 were spouses who were assisted with family program components). I had someone on staff that needed an in-patient treatment facility. We did not have the full monies to get him there and you helped. I wanted to let you know that I ran into him and he has been clean over two years! He is just so grateful for the help and in his words, we saved his life and he did not think his life was worth saving. (Age 45) 5 A Way Out

7 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 7 Fifteen individuals ages Without the generous gift of treatment from A Way Out, I truly feel I would have drunk myself to death. I was diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis and told by my doctor I would die if I didn t quit drinking, but still I could not stop. I lost my job, my wife and my son, and was considering suicide. Today, I am a better father, employee and overall person because of the support and care of A Way Out. (Age 52) Seven individuals ages I could not stop drinking and doing drugs without the support and direction of an educated and committed group of people who came up with a plan to me get sober. They fought tirelessly to make it happen. And, it involved commitment on my part. Today, after in-patient treatment and seven months of sober living, I am able to show up with integrity in all aspects of my life. My family and I are so grateful. (Age 67) Annual Report

8 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 8 Gender Women 41% 43% Men 59% 57% From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank you all for the opportunity to go to treatment. Without the generous gift from this organization, I truly feel I would have drunk myself to death. The in-patient treatment, the sober living house, Alcoholics Anonymous, and my sponsor have helped give me a new life that has only come about because you helped me take the first step. (Age 41) Latino 11% Race / Ethnicity Latino 15% Caucasian 89% Native American 5% Other 14% Caucasian 66% 7 A Way Out

9 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page Clients Lived in: Pitkin County...55 or 31% Eagle County (Basalt, El Jebel)...45 or 31% Garfield County...42 or 25% Homeless...15 or 8% Other... 8 or 5% Substances Clients Used Prior to Contacting AWO Alcohol 85% Marijuana/Hash 29% Heroin 26% Prescription 12% Cocaine (powder) 10% Meth/amphetamines 10% Illegal Prescription 8% Crack 4% Sedatives 5% Illegal Rx 4% Annual Report

10 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 10 Employment status 35% have some type of employment 65% have been unable to work * *Most of these individuals were either homeless or on the verge of homelessness Partnerships A Way Out relies on strong partnerships with other area non-profits, businesses, law enforcement, hospitals, therapists, schools, and social services. A Way Out receives calls for help locating long-term in-patient and out-patient treatment choices to help someone who may need immersion in the recovery process to change their addiction habits. Follow Up Care A Way Out clinicians follow-up with clients for a year to ensure that the recovery process is ongoing and to provide assistance in anyway that will support their ongoing sobriety. Often clients need to enroll in sober living housing to support them in staying clean. National studies show that extended abstinence is predictive of a sustained recovery. Thus, A Way Out takes its year-long aftercare program seriously. 9 A Way Out

11 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 11 Relapse Rates for A Way Out Clients vs. National (Period of tracking began in January of 2013 December 2014) A Way Out 36% Nationally 60% National Relapse Rates for Drug Addiction vs. Other Chronic Illnesses 60 % 50 % 70 % 70 % Drug Addiction Type 1 Diabetes Hypertension Asthma The chart taken from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that relapse rates for alcohol and drug addicted patients are similar to other chronic illnesses (as is adherence to medication and care protocol). Thus drug addiction is classified and should be treated as any other chronic illness, with relapse serving as a trigger for renewed intervention. Annual Report

12 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 12 Education Outreach A Way Out brings in nationally renowned speakers every year on current topics of addiction, recovery, families, trauma, children and more, to address substance abuse issues and to diseminate new research on solutions for more comprehensive long-term recovery. These lecture forums are free to everyone and are well attended by citizens on the western slope of Colorado. Referrals Provided at these lectures are booths of regional treatment providers to help people know about available, cost effective local, statewide and national resources. A Way Out receives referrals from agencies, hospitals, physicians, mental health workers, community members and the legal system. Following is a percentage of the referrals received. Hospitals 1% Physicians 1% Legal System 3% Schools 3% Area Businesses & Non-Profits 10% Self Referrals 30% Mental Health Clinicians - Psychiatrists 52% 11 A Way Out

13 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 13 Revenue: Financials Interest 1% Event Income 4% Foundations 42% Business and Individuals 53% In-Kind Support: AWO receives discounts from treatment providers who we work with. These discounts are passed onto clients. The in-kind support totaled over $140,000. Expenses: Administrative 12% Fundraising 4% Program 84% Annual Report

14 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page Lectures Include: Dr. Michael Barnes, May 15th, Families, Trauma and Addiction ; and, William Moyers, Jr., September 17, Now what? Moving People, Perceptions and Policies to Addiction Recovery & Beyond. 13 A Way Out Goals for 2016 and beyond: A Way Out hopes to widen the scope of its programming to reach more individuals and to engage more families in the healing process. We will increase our continuing care abilities and improve our services for co-occurring disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder. A Way Out Team Elizabeth Means, Executive Director Ramsey Bond, Web Ross Edgemon, Administrator Janet DeMars, Clinician Lenny Beaulieu, Clinician Dr. Alan Nelson, Psychiatrist A Way Out 2014 Board of Directors John Brune, Chairman Caroline Cochener, Secretary Robert Musser, Treasurer Bill Anuszewski Don Bird Michael Connolly Drew Drazin Bob Ferguson

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16 New Annual Report 2014_Layout 1 4/24/15 12:01 PM Page 16 Post Office Box Aspen, Colorado