Historical Overview
January, 1982
Task force is struck to develop a community-based treatment system for
individuals affected by alcohol and drug use.
March, 1983
Proposal to establish an “assessment/referral primary care” program co-written
by the Addiction Services for York Region Coordinator, the Addiction Research
Foundation and York Central Hospital. Proposal is submitted to the Ministry of
Health. Program is to be based on the ADAPT (Halton) and Assessment Referral
Centre (Kingston) programs and consist of a “Program Coordinator” and two
“Primary Care Workers”, who will provide assessments, referral to appropriate
services and support to individuals both before and after treatment.
February, 1983
Services begin to be offered Monday to Friday with evening appointments one
day per week. Operations are based at York Central Hospital.
June, 1983
Letters patent obtained.
August, 1983
Addiction Services for York Region, an assessment and referral service is funded
by the Ministry of Health. Program moves to Newmarket.
October, 1983
Formal two-year program development period begun.
September, 1984
Program and Client Objectives negotiated with the Ministry of Health and
Memorandum of Understanding drawn up. Addiction Services for York Region
agrees to:
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Conduct detailed assessments of those persons experiencing problems
related to alcohol/drug abuse and refer these clients to appropriate
treatment.
Assist assessed clients to carry out treatment plans and provide ongoing support.
Provide information and assistance to family members of substance
abusers.
Program consists of a “Program Director”, two “Caseworkers” and a “Secretary”.
November, 1984
Interim Evaluation conducted. Satellite office operations (in Georgina)
recommended by the Ministry of Health, Program Development Officer.
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November, 1985
Final Evaluation conducted, on-going status awarded and a recommendation
made for an additional casework staff.
April, 1986
Program expansion request submitted. Request is to add two
“Assessment/Referral Case Managers” in order to open satellite offices in
Georgina, Markham, and Vaughan and a half-time “Secretary/Bookkeeper”.
Request is not approved.
July, 1987
Ministry of Health, Community Mental Health Branch, revised its age eligibility
policy to define “adults” as those persons over 16 years of age.
December, 1987
Proposal for a “structured outpatient treatment program” drafted and
submitted. Agency to provide a six week “counselling/treatment” program to
youth and adults who are to be selected by the agency’s current
assessment/referral function. Program to operate in conjunction with Addiction
Services located in the inpatient psychiatry units of York Central and York
County Hospitals. Program objectives include:
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Outpatient treatment alternative to inpatient treatment for
alcohol/drug dependent individuals and their families.
Local outpatient treatment to reduce the disruption of service delivery
away from the individual’s community.
Support to significant others.
One-year follow up and aftercare.
Service delivery monitoring and professional development.
Methods of service provision include: group therapy (psychoanalytic and
lifestyle), individual counselling (psychoanalytic and lifestyle), family and marital
counselling, didactic education in areas related to addictions, and an aftercare
program. Program called for six “Addiction Workers”, one
“Receptionist/Secretary”, and a half-time “Program Administrator”.
April, 1988
“New drug and alcohol treatment and counselling program for young people”
announced by the Ministry of Health. Two full-time “Addiction Workers” are
approved to provide a six week program. The expansion is intended to make
addictions treatment more responsive and accessible to young people as well as
others accessing the addiction treatment system.
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December, 1989
“Youth Counselling Program” described by Kathleen Michael. Program provides
supportive counselling and problem-solving assistance. Groups, to be initiated in
1990, are developed for parents and for teens.
November, 1990
Board “strategic planning” retreat set areas for program development and/or
strategic planning including:
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Removal of the age restriction below 16 years of age.
Development of a program to provide assessment/referral and
counselling/treatment to all clients.
Provision of preventative/community education services.
Development of inpatient treatment and/or detox services.
Definition of the referral sources and major customers.
Development of an external professional training program.
Establishment of effective relationships with other local treatment
agencies.
Establishment of procedures to “outreach” into the community.
Creation of integrated system of addiction treatment services.
Improvement of physical accessibility of agency services.
Development of client-service database(s).
Establishment of procedures to carry out research.
Development of procedures to screen for out-of-province placements.
Articulation of treatment/therapeutic model(s).
Implementation of a “driving-while-intoxicated” treatment program.
Development of an effective “inter-face” with the correctional system.
Development of a program for children and significant others of
substance abusers.
The provision of both assessment/referral and counselling/therapy to all clients
and work on removing the age restriction at 16 years were undertaken
immediately. Outreach programming, effective inter-agency relations, external
training programs, preventative services, community education and inpatient
treatment programming were set as objectives for longer-range planning.
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January, 1991
Planning is undertaken with the Addictions Research Foundation (Barrie) and
Simcoe Outreach Services to develop a program for the “dually diagnosed” –
individuals having inter-acting psychiatric and substance abuse problems.
March, 1991
Proposal to establish an addiction treatment program for children (under 16
years of age) and their families is submitted to the Ministries of Community and
Social Services and of Health. Proposal is considered by the Ministry of
Community and Social Services but not funded. Proposal is filed with the “InterMinisterial Coordinating Body” (the Assistant Deputy Minister, Community
Health and Support Services Division).
May, 1991
“Clinical Staff Retreat” held to develop the outpatient addiction treatment
program components and strategies to work with the major customers –
general hospitals, probation and parole services, family and martial therapy
programs, and community mental health services.
September, 1991
In response to a provincial call for “expansion of the assessment/referral
system”, the agency submitted a combined request for expansion of both the
assessment and outpatient treatment functions. Three treatment targets are
identified – children (under 16 years of age) and their families, the three general
hospitals, and local business and industry. In addition, the agency’s involvement
in the development of local detoxification and day treatment services was
identified. Following discussion with the Branch, a request for a single
assessment/referral position is identified and funded.
November, 1991
In response to provincial call for “addiction treatment program development”, a
general request is made to expand the agency’s outpatient treatment services in
the areas of satellite operations and improved inter-relationship with the
community mental health and correctional services sectors. A specific family
therapy program is designed and submitted. These requests are not considered
by the Branch but are entered on the agency’s file.
April, 1992
Pam Stanton brings the “Brief Outpatient Treatment” (BOT) model to the
agency. Structured, short-term clinical program which includes assessment and
treatment services to individuals, couples, and families is developed around the
BOT. Evening treatment and group work programs are formalized and in-service
staff training program established.
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May, 1992
Formal inter-agency network established between the agency and the two
largest community mental health service providers – York Support Services
Network and York Region Mental Health Services.
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