Assignment 7 of 9

I think that the LOC cheat sheet is an excellent tool for providing guidance to health and social service providers. Not only does it inform the providers on how to plan and/or care for potential clients, it can also help facilities build the teams needed to provide the correct level of care for potential clients. Listed below are three of the many treatment centers located in Southeast Alaska:

1. Gateway Center for Human Services
Substance Abuse Services Division
3050 5th Avenue
Ketchikan, AK.99091
Primary focus: Mix of mental health and substance abuse services
services provided: Rehab for drugs and/or alcohol, Detoxification
Types of car: outpatient, Non-hospital residential(24hour)
special groups/programs: Adolescents, persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, women, men, DUI/DWI offenders, criminal justice clients.
Forms of payment accepted: self payment, medicaid, medicare, private insurance, military insurance (e.g., VA, TRICARE)
Payment Assistance: sliding fee scale (fee is based on income and other factors), payment assistance.

2. Juneau Recovery Hospital
Bartlett Regional Hospital
3250 Hospital Drive
Juneau, AK. 99801
Primary Focus: Drug and rehabilitation Services
Services Provided: Rehab for drug and/or alcohol, Detoxification
Type of care: outpatient, partial hospitalization/Day treatment, Hospital inpatient
Forms of Payment Accepted: self payment, medicaid, private health insurance, military insurance (e.g., VA, TRICARE)
Payment Assistance: sliding fee scale (fee is based on income and other factors)
Special Language Services: ASL or other assistance for hearing impaired

3. Southeast AK. Regional Hlth Consortium
Ravens Way
222 Tongass Drive
Sitka, AK. 99835
Primary Focus: Drug and alcohol rehabilitation services
Services Provided: Rehab for drug and/or alcohol
Types of care: Non-hospital residential (24hour)
Special Programs/groups: Adolescents, persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders
Forms of Payments Accepted: Medicaid, Medicare, Private health insurance
Payment Assistance: Payment assistance

Assignment 6 of 9

I think that the reading from the ASAM Assessment Dimensions; although overwhelming, provides the health and human services field with up-to-date information which can help providers make well informed decisions with their patients and/or clients. The reading provides evidence reports, protocols, preventive medicine, and consensus reports; which, are all necessary in diagnosing, providing medicine or therapy, and informing the patients and/or clients. I know that most of the clients I've worked with in the past, say that they feel better after knowing that their provider has done his or her home work on the issues facing their health and/or needs, and by providing them with evidence and other ways to approach their medical or substance abuse needs they are able to obtain knowledge that will help them to make the necessary changes in their lives. In the end. I think that this assignment really arms me with the tools needed to research or find information in which I can provide clients with in the future; while also enhancing my competency, because we should always strive to learn more.

Assignment 5 of 9

After reading the stages of change,and chapter 4 of TIP35 I could not help but shake my head in agreement with the methods and procedures used to help substance abusers get on the road to recovery. From contemplation to relapse, this is a cycle that may play it self over and over again before a user is completely ready and able to stop abusing or using substances. I agree with reading, that providing more information is not always the better route to go with a substance abuser who is in the stage of precontemplation. I think that a person should be guided into the stages slowly, given the correct information as mentioned in the reading, and given as much time as needed to make the first steps to becoming independent of drugs and/or alcohol. I think giving them too much information may overwhelm them, and sometimes even cause the substance abuser to think that remaining on the substance is easier than taking in too much information. The substance abusers must realize for themselves the problems and grief caused by their abuse of drugs and/or alcohol, and want to make the necessary steps to help themselves. As mentioned in the readings, our goals in assisting abusers are to establish reporrt and trust, explore events that precipitated treatment entry, and commend clients for coming. I think that if these guidelines are practiced better in some establishments, there would be more successful recoveries. I think that most of the time stereo types and prejudice gets in the way of progress, which only leads to more devastation. I know from my experiences dealing with substance abusers most of them are always trying to see if your there to help them, or there to receive a pay check.