SAAS UPDATE - January 16, 2009

As you are probably aware, things are very busy (and cold) in DC right now with
preparations for the Inauguration and more importantly, the new administration.
SAAS has been involved at many different levels, including work with our usual partners
in the field. However, this year we have stepped up our efforts to reflect the current
transition efforts and took part in an excellent meeting with members of the Health
and Human Services transition team.

We continue our advocacy efforts around the stimulus package, the FFY 2010 budget,
and the big issue of healthcare reform. SAAS was invited to serve on a very small,
select committee to spend two days in February on recommendations for parity regulations
and implementation. The voice of the provider is important and through SAAS' advocacy
efforts, the needs of the provider community are being heard in venues throughout
the decision-making process.

Across the country, governors and other policy makers are releasing information
about state budget cuts that are threatening and short-sighted, decreasing SA resources
in every quarter. To assist with your local advocacy efforts, SAAS will be creating
a series of template materials that you can adapt to your needs.

With the changes across the country and in DC, our national advocacy efforts are
increasingly important and your input and involvement in that effort is critical
to our success. I hope we will see you in DC in February for our membership meeting.
Make your appointments now with your Congressional dlegation. This is a great opportunity
to ensure that our issues are in front of lawmakers in DC. Your delegation must
understand how devastating the funding crisis is for people who rely on our services,
and you are the only one who can make that crisis clear!
Thanks for your ongoing support of SAAS and the work that we do. I look forward
to our continued work together!
Best wishes!

Becky Vaughn
Executive Director
State Associations of Addiction Services

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SAAS business partner 'Foodsource Plus' saves providers money

The continuing increase in food prices combined with growing budget and funding
concerns impacts substance abuse service providers across the country. If you serve
meals and currently spend more than $500 each month, now is the perfect time to
explore a free SAAS Business Partner program. FoodSource Plus negotiates with food
wholesalers and distribution companies across the nation for the lowest possible
prices on groceries, paper goods and cleaning supplies, with estimated savings
between 10-35 percent.

To request a free cost-saving analysis of the savings FoodSource Plus can provide
to your organization to offset the effect of food inflation on dwindling budgets,
contact Mike Foley at 508-930-7398 or mfoley@foodsourceplus.com [mailto:mfoley@foodsourceplus.com].
Be sure to mention that you heard about FoodSource Plus from the SAAS newsletter.
For more information, visit the Foodsource Plus [http://www.foodsourceplus.com/]
website.
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Upcoming Meetings

Committee meetings:
Women's Services: January 21 at 3:00 EST
Revenue: January 22 at 4:00 EST
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Member Spotlight

Each week we would like to highlight a SAAS member or provider for the work they
are doing in their agency or community. If you or a provider in your state is doing
something interesting and innovative, please send their contact information to bvaughn@saasnet.org.

Thanks!
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SAMHSA NEWS

SAMHSA develops new information briefs to advise employers
Employers now have free access to a series of two-page briefs outlining the benefits
of helping their employees receive treatment for substance abuse. SAMHSA's goal
is to educate employers about cost effective measures to identify employees with
substance abuse problems and help return them to full health and productivity.

The 14 available briefs discuss a variety of workplace related topics including
the full effects of substance abuse in the workplace, the benefits of promoting
treatment for employees, the effects of substance abuse among younger and older
employees, the details on substance abuse screening and its benefits to everyone
in the workplace, and how Employee Assistance Programs can be cost effective.
These timely materials can help employers make informed decisions related to the
Wellstone/Domenici Mental Health and Addictions Parity Act of 2008.

The briefs are based on findings from SAMHSA's Drug-Free Workplace Program as well
as research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Business Group on Health, the Partnership
for a Drug-Free America and other organizations. To order printed copies, call 1-877-SAMHSA-7
(1-877-726-4727). To download an online version, visit the SAMHSA Website [http://csat.samhsa.gov/IDBSE/index.aspx].

SAMHSA invites nominations for Women's Addiction Services Leadership Institute
SAMHSA/CSAT invites you to identify and nominate candidates for the first Women's
Addiction Services Leadership Institute (WASLI) this spring.

This program is an exciting opportunity to accelerate the leadership learning curve
in women's services among leaders in your organization, region or state. CSAT has
developed WASLI to foster the growth of leaders in the field of women's substance
use disorders. WASLI will develop a cadre of leaders who are able to advocate for,
develop, and spear-head initiatives which provide for the needs of women with substance
use disorders, their families and their communities. The first WASLI Program will
begin this spring with 18 Associates from across the country, representing the professional,
economic and cultural diversity of our communities.

In order to be eligible, possible participants must first be nominated (self-nominations
are also accepted). The on-line nomination form is available on the WASLI
[http://wali.wufoo.com/forms/womens-addiction-services-leadership-institute/]
website. Nominations are due by Friday, January 30, 2009. Nominations will be reviewed
by panels of community leaders and SAMHSA and WASLI staff. Selected nominees will
be invited to apply and will receive an application package in early February, and
will be notified of their acceptance in March 2009. For additional information
about the WASLI initiative, contact Deborah Werner at 818-999-6985 or dwerner@ahpnet.com
[mailto:dwerner@ahpnet.com] or Fran Basche, Advocates for Human Potential, WCF Project
Coordinator at 978-261-1438 or fbasche@ahpnet.com [mailto:fbasche@ahpnet.com].

New information KITs promote evidenced-based mental health practices

SAMHSA is now offering a new series of Evidence-Based Practice Knowledge Informing
Transformation (EBP KIT) packets to help mental health caregivers provide a broad
range of proven mental health services in a wide variety of community settings.
EBP KIT materials provide information and guidance on tools and resources that
states, communities, and organizations can use to find the evidence-based practices
best suited to the unique mental health care needs of the populations they serve.

The first packet in the series is the Assertive Community Treatment Knowledge Informing
Transformation (ACT KIT). It offers information and guidance on providing comprehensive
mental health treatment and support services to help individuals with serious mental
illness stay out of the hospital and live successfully in the community. The information
provided in the ACT KIT can help mental health providers develop community-based
services that are better suited to the individual needs of clients.

Free versions of the KIT are available online and in CD-ROM/DVD format. To access
and download the online version of the KIT, click here [http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/CommunitySupport/toolkits/community/].
To order the CD-ROM/DVD version, call 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727).
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News From Around the Field

Early intervention with older people could save Medicaid dollars

People with substance abuse disorders cost Medicaid hundreds of millions of dollars
annually in medical care, suggesting that early intervention for substance abuse
could not only improve outcomes but also save substantial amounts of money, according
to a comprehensive study recently published in the journal Psychiatric Services.

The study,"The Impact of Substance Use Disorders on Medical Expenditures for Medicaid
Beneficiaries with Behavioral Health Disorders," funded by the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation's Substance Abuse Policy Research Program (SAPRP), broke new ground by
examining medical costs, such as treatment for asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular
disease, in comparison with substance abuse disorders. Earlier studies may have
underestimated Medicaid costs for those with such disorders because they did not
factor in the medical care expenditures.

According to the study's author, Robin E. Clark, PhD, associate professor of family
medicine & community health at the Center for Health Policy and Research at
the University of Massachusetts Medical School, the most striking finding was that
as the patients with substance abuse disorders got older, the medical care costs
increased at a far higher rate than behavioral health costs. "It suggests that
there are not a lot of substance abuse services that successfully target the older
age group, and that there could be substantial savings and health benefits by focusing
on these populations," he said.

The Substance Abuse Policy Research Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
funds research into policies related to alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. For
more information go to www.saprp.org [http://www.saprp.org/].
Join Together joins forces with CASA

Join Together, a project of the Boston University School of Public Health, and the
National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) have
announced they are merging. Join Together's Director, David Rosenbloom, will relocate
to New York to become President and CEO of CASA and Joe Califano will remain as
CASA's Chairman.

The move will enable the CASA staff to expand and strengthen its content to more
effectively achieve significant progress with tobacco, alcohol and drug issues
on a national level. The merger also sends a strong message about the benefits of
joining forces to achieve progress against tobacco, alcohol and drug problems, essential
to addressing our nation's health care crisis and other social problems.

Founded in 1991 and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Join Together's
free daily and weekly newsletters and online learning communities have become an
essential tool for many of the leading professionals in the public and private
sectors, and will continue to provide all of its current online services.
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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].