SAAS UPDATE - January 9, 2009

2009 Resolutions:

1. Write a letter to the Editor emphasizing

• The elimination of discrimination against people in recovery.
• The need to expand and improve the availability and quality of prevention,
  treatment, and recovery support services.

2. Invite a policymaker to visit a program in your state.

3. Become a member of the Founding 500 by contributing to the National Advocacy
Campaign. [http://lac.org/index.php/lac/nac_membership]

4. Take advantage of the educational and networking opportunities at the NIATx/SAAS
Annual Conference. [http://www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com]
July 29-August 1 in Tucson, AZ.
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Happy New Year!!

Each year at this time, we say those three words infused with the hope of a new
year that promises to be better than the last. Today, as I write these words, I
truly cannot remember another New Year when I have been simultaneously so excited
about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead and so concerned about many
of the changes that await us in the coming months.

Virtually daily, I hear reports about the drastic and draconian cuts to programs
across the country. Many providers are worried they will be forced to reduce services
and lay off staff, and others are concerned they will not be able to even keep the
doors open under these extreme economic conditions. There continues to be an expectation
that providers will somehow offer more services and meet increasing needs in the
community with fewer and fewer resources.

At the same time we have never had a more positive prospect for change. There is
an incoming Administration and newly-seated 111th Congress that have identified
healthcare as a priority and have finally seen the need to place prevention, treatment
and recovery on the radar screen. Before us is the unprecedented opportunity to
nationally address the issue of substance use dependence as the chronic and relapsing
disease it is, and to adequately fund what has historically been a fragmented and
grossly underfunded system.

While the opportunity awaits, the journey ahead will not be easy. Many other fields
will also view the stimulus packages, healthcare reform legislation, regulatory
changes, and 2010 Budget with hope for their own issues. However, we have the momentum
needed to turn opportunity to promise particularly on the heels of the Parity legislation
passed in 2008. But we must step up and seize the opportunity without delay.

We must exploit our advantage through education, media engagement, passage of federal
and state legislation, and other avenues. We are not without direction for the future.
We have a roadmap [http://www.saasnet.org/Final_Roadmap_2008.pdf]
that will help guide our advocacy work. The New Year's resolution that I hope everyone
will make in the very near future is to become a Founding 500 member of the National
Advocacy Campaign [http://lac.org/index.php/lac/nac_membership].
Together we can make a difference.

I look forward to working with each of you in 2009 as we strive to make the voices
of our clients and their families heard across the country.

Best wishes for a safe and prosperous 2009!
Becky Vaughn
Executive Director
State Associations of Addiction Services

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Women's services addressed by new leadership initiative

SAAS is working in coordination with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), the National
Office of the Addiction Technology Transfer Center, the Women's Services Network
of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, the National
Council on Community Behavioral Health, NAADAC, Advocates for Human Potential, Inc,
and the North Highland

Company on a new initiative to specifically address the needs of professionals working
in the women's substance abuse treatment field, with the establishment of the Women's
Addiction Services Leadership Institute (WASLI).

WASLI's creation is SAMHSA's direct response to the urgent need to accelerate leadership
in women's services to address current challenges such as a changing, aging workforce,
financial services, service improvement, and collaborative opportunities. Goals
include developing and improving leadership skills of participants, creating a network
of the next generation of leaders in women's services and establishing a model of
women's leadership training.

SAMHSA/CSAT will hold an annual nomination and application process and select 18
Associates to participate in WASLI this year. Nomination forms will be available
January 12. The Institute's program will concentrate on the following five areas:
Individualized Leadership Assessments, to better understand leadership styles, actions,
strengths and areas for improvement. Five Day Immersion Training, focusing on topics
such as conflict resolution, negotiation, presentation skills, and leadership strengths
and challenges, Coaching and Action Learning, to build and enhance a wide range
of interpersonal, communication and leadership skills, Enhancement Training, an
ongoing series of leadership teleconferences and webinars, including a three-day,
in-person training session, and finally, Graduation and WASLI Network, to allow
Associates to share their leadership projects and receive a Certificate.

For more information about WASLI and its list of supporting organizations, email
leadership@ahpnet.com [mailto:leadership@ahpnet.com].
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Member Spotlight on Dorchester County Addictions Program

This week SAAS would like to spotlight the Dorchester County Addictions Program
(DCAP), a member of the Maryland Addiction Directors Council (MADC). Following the
SAAS/NIATx conference in 2008, John Winslow, DCAP program director, was so inspired
by what he learned at the conference that he immediately began implementing many
of the lessons presented by the conference speakers at DCAP.

"Inspired by my experience and infused by Disney's values and business concepts,
my mind was ablaze with visions of new possibilities for our outpatient program
while journeying on my flight back to Maryland," said John. "Upon my return home,
I led my staff through a modified Disney "Compass" exercise in which we examined
and reflected upon the N=needs, S=stereotypes, W=wants, and E=expectations of Disney
guests - and then of our Dorchester County Addictions Program (DCAP) outpatient
clients. We next reviewed and reflected upon the four NIATx aims: reduce waiting
times; reduce no-shows; increase admissions; and increase continuation. Finally,
I shared with staff some of what I'd learned about Walt Disney's way of bringing
magic into the lives of others."

Using John's inspirations, DCAP began an overhaul of its entry lobby. What was previously
a cold and impersonal place that was unwelcoming to prospective clients (directly
affecting engagement rates) has now been transformed into a beautiful three-part
mural that tells the story of the Wreck, the Rescue and the Recovery. The mural
was designed and painted by DCAP staff.

The staff have received very positive feedback on the lobby transformation and have
even been featured in several newspaper, radio and television news stories. To view
one of the news stories in which DCAP was featured, click here [http://www.wboc.com/Global/story.asp%3FS%3D9561872].
Congratulations to John and the DCAP staff on putting lessons learned at the SAAS
conference to positive use. We are honored to have been just a small part of your
success!

We want to regularly spotlight the work and success of a SAAS member agency or association.
If you are working on a project or initiative in your state or agency that you want
to spotlight for your colleagues, please send an email tobvaughn@saasnet.org [mailto:bvaughn@saasnet.org].
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February membership meeting scheduled

Mark your calendar for the next SAAS membership meeting scheduled for February 17-20
in DC. This is a very important meeting with a heavy emphasis on ADVOCACY as the new Administration
takes office.

The DRAFT schedule follows:
Tuesday, February 17 3:00 - 6:00 Board Meeting
6:00 - 8:30 Dinner/Public Policy
Wednesday, February 18 All day Hill appointments.
6:00 - 7:30 Dinner/Hill debriefing
Thursday, February 19 8:30 - 5:00 Member meeting
Friday, February 20 8:30 - 12:30 Member meeting

The meeting will take place at the Westin. A block of rooms is available at a rate
of $179 per night. Click here [http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation%3Fid%3D0812233637%26key%3D8B1ED]for
room reservations. The rate is good until January 17.
Registration information will follow as soon as the schedule and meals are confirmed.
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Upcoming SAAS meetings

Revenue Committee: Wednesday, January 14 1:00-2:00 EST
Board meeting: Friday January 16 2:00-3:30 EST
National Advocacy Campaign: Friday, January 16 3:30-4:30 EST
Women's Committee: Wednesday, January 21 Time TBA
To take part in the meetings dial 866-740-1260 and enter passcode: 5464600.
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News From Around the Field

SAMHSA calls for 2009 science to service award applications
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has issued
a call for applications for its 2009 Science and Service Awards, a program recognizing
exemplary implementation of evidence-based mental health and substance abuse interventions
in one of the following five categories: substance abuse prevention, treatment of
substance abuse and recovery support services, mental health promotion, treatment
of mental illness and recovery support services, and co-occurring disorders. To
be eligible for an award, an organization must have successfully implemented a recognized
evidence-based intervention.

All applications for these non-monetary awards will be reviewed by independent experts,
using the following four criteria: community need, sustainability, accurate implementation,
and results. One or more reviewers may also make a site visit to finalists prior
to the announcement of the award recipients.

Winners will receive a commemorative award and will be further recognized on the
SAMHSA [http://www.samhsa.gov/]
website. The deadline to apply is February 27, 2009. For complete details please
visit the SAMHSA [http://www.samhsa.gov/]
website and click on "Application Materials for 2009 Awards."

SAMHSA's Road to Recovery Update
The Road to Recovery Update keeps the field informed about activities leading up
to National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month held each September. In
2009, the field will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Recovery Month with the theme
Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Learn, Together We Heal. This theme highlights
the need to use all available resources, in communities and on the Internet, to
educate people about the disease of addiction and to help those with substance use
disorders get assistance. It also celebrates the power of community support and
understanding.

The newly-launched 2009 Recovery Month [http://www.recoverymonth.gov/]
website, is the ideal site in which to plan upcoming events, proclamations, and
observances. The website also offers the opportunity to tune in each month to a
different Road to Recovery Webcast. The Webcast season kicks off on March 4th with
"The Road to Recovery: Together We Learn, Together We Heal" to look back at Recovery
Month events held across the country in 2008 and set the stage for another successful
celebration in September 2009. The following Webcasts are also scheduled:

• April 1, 2009 - Treatment 101: Recovery Today
• May 6, 2009 - Providing a Continuum of Care: Improving Collaboration Among Services
• June 3, 2009 - Recovery and the Health Care/Insurance Systems: Improving Treatment and Increasing
  Access
• July 1, 2009 - Treatment and the Justice System: Preventing Problems and Ensuring Recovery
• August 5, 2009 - The Social Services System: Supporting Treatment and Recovery for Individuals and
  Families
• September 2, 2009 - Recovery in the Workplace: Treatment Benefits Both Employees and Employers
• November 4, 2009 - The Road to Recovery 2009: A Showcase of Events

For more information about this year's Recovery Month, or to view 2008's Recovery
Month highlights of national and local activities and accomplishments, visit the
Recovery Month website [http://www.recoverymonth.gov/].

New research report released from NIDA

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health has released
a new research report, Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses, summarizing
the complex relationship between substance abuse and other mental disorders. To
receive a copy of the report free of charge (in English or Spanish), visit the
NIDA website [http://www.drugabuse.gov/].
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About SAAS

The State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS) is the leading national organization
advocating on behalf of state associations of prevention, treatment, and recovery
providers and the individuals and families they serve. For more information about
SAAS programs and initiatives contact bvaughn@saasnet.org [mailto:bvaughn@saasnet.org].