Park Avenue Flashcards
Substance abuse prevalence & what it affects
-substance abuse is extremely prevalent: 10-15% of population. It costs the economy a fortune, tied in w/ lots of crime, relationship problems and abuse, behavioral issues, brain health and other medical issues
Withdrawal from drugs v. self-help strategies
- withdrawal from diff drugs is different
- self-help strategies are similar across all drugs tho…
Why people do drugs
- drugs gives ppl a sense of power, helps you avoid problems, quick fix… so it is extremely self-reinforcing!
- seems to be a coping mechanism… so you need to find what they are coping with to begin with!!
Do people w/ CD think they have a problem? Can other people make them change their ways?
- so often, many ppl don’t think they have a problem (amazing level of denial… fits w/ desperation to avoid) but everyone else does think they have a prob. .. often they need a huge wake-up call to realize they need help
- there is no outside person that make someone decide that they will change their ways
Importance of social support for addicts
-having good supports helps so much… otherwise ppl who are surrounded by ppl who reinforce their drug prob are much less likely to get help or stop or think they have a prob… so part of healing process is building newer and healthy relationships so you have something to live for. Otherwise you could just make you have no friends or support all of the sudden
Body process of quitting
-whole “clean up your entire body” part of the process as well, includes sleep, diet, exercise, etc…
Cover letter info
I am excited about the idea of working in the field of substance abuse, as I am fascinated by the multifaceted nature of the issue. Upon researching what a comprehensive selection of programs and interventions Park Avenue provides, I feel that your center has the ability to help a diverse array of clients with different problems. I also appreciate that substance abuse as well as mental illness are treated alongside each other as co-occurring primary disorders. As I agree with this approach, I feel reaffirmed in the idea that I would be a good match for working there. I am also very patient, and I believe this would serve me well in working with individuals with substance abuse problems.
Full Circle Services
I have worked with adults in residential settings in the past as a Community Assistant at Full Circle Services in Decorah, IA. This consisted of in-home care, working either one-on-one or in small groups with adults with disabilities. Many of the clients I worked with came from backgrounds involving trauma and invalidation. I would work collaboratively with clients on their goals regarding interpersonal skills, health care, home maintenance, and more. I believe the skills that I acquired while there would absolutely transfer to working with adults at Park Avenue.
Internship at Preble High School
In addition to this experience, I have worked with adolescents as an intern for a bilingual school psychologist at Preble High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I was able to work with a diverse array of students and their families, and I often utilized my Spanish-speaking abilities with immigrant students and families of Hispanic descent.
CLAC and HACER… / spanish speaking ability
I also served time as a research analyst intern with the Chicano Latino Affairs Council in Minneapolis, MN. In this time I compiled a literature review about the achievement gap- which certainly gave me a better understanding of how systems with oppression towards minorities do harm towards those who are not in the dominant culture. This knowledge through both research and first-hand experience will help me to have a more compassionate heart and understanding of those who struggle with substance abuse and also those who are victims of oppression. This will enable me to build stronger alliances with clients at Park Avenue. My Spanish-speaking skills would also help me to work with clients with limited English abilities during the internship at Pride.
Park avenue philosophy
We take a holistic view on recovery, including not only chemical dependency, but everyday living skills. We believe that recovery comes when clients learn to use skills and resources that support sobriety and help them to succeed in life.
Gender specific treatment
Our treatment philosophy is gender specific. The programs are designed where men and women never share a group, movie, or break time. Our experience has shown that men and women have different issues, views, beliefs, and learning styles; men and women are more willing to become open and vulnerable when they do not have to be concerned about gender roles.
Programs at Park Ave
Programs at Park Avenue Center are issue oriented. Depending on the program, topics include: Addiction, Anger and Violence, Relapse Prevention, Spirituality, Relationships, Grief and Loss, Self-esteem and Self-image, Codependency, 12-step programs, Budgeting, Nutrition, Education, Employment, Food Issues, Parenting, and Victimization.
The treatment process includes lectures, videos, groups, individual counseling sessions, and aftercare planning. Clients also participate in activities such as role playing, meditations, art therapy, and recreation. Assistance with reading and comprehension is provided.
Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are both emphasized as a basic component of treatment and aftercare.
Core Services
Prior to service initiation, applicants will have a substance abuse assessment. The assessment will verify their need for substance abuse treatment, determine their appropriateness for our program, verify their eligibility of funding, and provide background information that serves as the foundation of each client’s initial service plan, comprehensive assessment, and comprehensive assessment summary.
- Methods of providing these services include, but are not limited to, lectures, videos, group therapy, individual counseling, recreational activities, and individual assignments. In addition, for those clients who are in need and meet the criteria, free, supervised, off-site housing is available.
- Each client’s progress toward the completion of the Individual Treatment Plan, their Risk Rating within each Dimension, and the appropriateness of their current schedule will be discussed in weekly staff meetings. Client’s progress and any changes are then discussed with the client. Clients sign their weekly treatment plan review/progress report indicating that they have discussed their progress with their counselor and agree to any changes that are made to the treatment plan.
- Clients will successfully complete the primary portion of treatment when they participate in the development of an Individual Treatment Plan, complete 100% of Individual Treatment Plan goals, participate in and agree to follow all aspects of an Aftercare Plan, and complete Program and Counselor Evaluations. As a result of completing 100% of their treatment plan goals, clients will meet criteria for a Risk Rating of 0 in Dimension I (Acute Intoxication / Withdrawal Potential), Risk Rating of 0 or 1 in Dimension II (Biomedical Conditions), Dimension III (Emotional / Behavioral / Cognitive), Dimension IV (Treatment Acceptance / Resistance), and Dimension V (Relapse / Continued Use / Continued Problem), and a Risk Rating of 0 in Dimension VI (Recovery Environment).
Therapeutic approach
• The therapeutic approach used is primarily Cognitive Behavioral Therapy although other techniques are utilized including Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Anger Management Techniques, Art Therapy, Meditations, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, and other proven methods.
