Recorded presentation

Fay Gibson, MA, Jon Morgenstern, PhD, Mary Nakashian, MA, and Lisa O'Connor, PhD. Columbia University (CASA), The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 633 Third Ave., 19th Fl, New York, NY 10019, 303-544-1632, marynakashian@msn.com

CASA Safe Haven is a values and evidence-based but community-driven strategy designed in collaboration with public and private service agencies and court staff and operating in two sites, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma and Brooklyn, New York. It provides case studies in how a community-based lead agency, a substance abuse treatment provider, the local child welfare and TANF offices, and judges collaborate to coordinate services within the study model.

CASA Safe Haven emphasizes service coordination to effect change at three levels: improving family capacity by placing families at the center of comprehensive substance abuse, mental and physical health, employment, and parenting services aimed at helping them raise and nurture their children whenever possible, and to participate in sound and timely decisions regarding alternative permanency arrangements when necessary; improving the capacity of service agencies by empowering front line and supervisory staff to make shared decisions, solve problems, and draw from the guidance offered by an interdisciplinary team; and guiding public laws and policies by providing public officials with better, consensus-based information.

CASA supports community agencies and public officials by helping them understand and adapt the Safe Haven model to their particular needs; offering expert training on a CASA Safe Haven-specific parenting curriculum , motivational interviewing, family group conferencing and other topics; guiding and facilitating the CASA Safe Haven partners through planning and implementation processes; providing ongoing technical assistance; conducting qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the program; and disseminating lessons and insights to inform other community organizations and policy makers.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of the presentation, the participant should be able to describe the CASA Safe Haven model, how the model emphasizes service coordination to effect change, and how CASA supports community agencies and public officials in adapt the Safe Haven model to their particular needs.

Keywords: Substance Abuse,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation