Overview

Collaborate and promote partnerships to more effectively address the AODA needs of W-2 participants by developing new processes and tools for identifying alcohol and drug issues, training case managers on substance identification, referring participants for appropriate treatment, and explaining the consequences for non-participation.

1. Develop an up-front AODA screening process and the accompanying training for caseworkers.
2. Measure the treatment capacity in each community having 50 or more W-2 employment program participants and develop strategies to ensure the provision of appropriate and sufficient services at all levels of care.
3. Develop and publish a guide which encourages:

1. Treatment Slots
2. Screening Tools
3. Curriculum Development
4. Treatment Models and Best Practices

• Capacity - the ability of an agency to provide and/or coordinate the treatment of the patient holistically with gender specificity, and emphasizing continuity of care.

• Appropriate Services - interventions, both clinical and non-clinical, which address all the characteristics and symptoms, which inhibit recovery or may trigger relapse.

• Sufficient Services - ample beds for inpatient and residential care or outpatient clinicians to provide the appropriate services needed at any point in time.

• All Levels of Care - the care levels defined in the Wisconsin Uniform Placement Criteria (WI-UPC). See Appendix I for the WI-UPC.

• Very simple and easy to read. Referrals are made based on a validated scoring mechanism.
• Used to refer not diagnose.
• Inclusive of not only substance abuse but also co-occurring mental health and domestic violence issues.
• Able to identify symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to obtain and/or maintain employment.
• Based on what we know about this population.

• Provide appropriate training of staff that is progressive, ongoing, and covers AODA/Mental Health/Domestic Violence.
• Utilize an intensive multi-disciplinary team approach for W-2 participants with AODA issues.
• Promote community collaboration with agencies through a comprehensive case management model.
• Attempt to de-stigmatize AODA, mental health, and domestic violence issues through education and awareness.

• Identify necessary services that must be provided to the W-2/AODA during treatment to engage and retain this population and utilize the guidelines for program development. The Task Force has also established
• Use the six core fundamental principles and recommends the use of these as the foundation for integrating substance abuse treatment services and work experience training, while focusing on effective treatment of women.

Making it Work is divided into two sections; section one is intended for W-2 agency personnel, section two is intended for AODA treatment providers.

Section One for W-2 Agencies:

This section provides basic information to W-2 agencies on alcoholism and addiction. It also includes statistical data that shows the high incidence of co-occurring domestic violence, trauma, and mental health issues for substance abusing women. Section one stresses the urgency of early identification and engagement in substance abuse treatment activities for W-2 participants. It further stresses the importance of participant accountability and the need for treatment services and related activities to be documented on Part 3 of the participant's Employability Plan.

This guide does not replace existing valuable resources, such as the W-2 Case Management Resource Guide or any of the Enhanced Case Management Training Courses. This guide is intended to supplement these informational sources and encourage W-2 agency personnel to utilize inter-systems collaboration to best meet the needs of a challenging and sometimes difficult to identify group of participants.

Section Two for AODA Treatment Providers:

This section discusses the unique characteristics of women in recovery, and the importance of providing gender specific and culturally responsive AODA services necessary to engage and retain female substance abuse patients.

Women with substance abuse treatment needs face numerous and sometimes overwhelming obstacles. Women in W-2 may function as single parents with little or no financial support from birth fathers. They may live in unstable or unsafe environments, including households where others use alcohol or other drugs. They may be victims of domestic violence, trauma, and mental illness making recovery all the more difficult. Their treatment services must be gender and culturally relevant and include, where appropriate, intense collaboration with other systems that are necessary to provide comprehensive care to women and their families.

The Best Practices section identifies four treatment providers in the State of Wisconsin that have taken the initiative in providing gender-specific, culturally-sensitive, holistic substance abuse services. The four treatment providers are: ARC Community Services, Inc. -- Madison, Meta House -- Milwaukee, St. Clare Center -- Baraboo, and Milwaukee Women's Center. These programs emphasize the importance of integrating work and recovery, utilizing comprehensive case management, valuing gender differences and cultural traditions, and providing flexible services to meet the needs of the women and their families.

Together, W-2 agencies, AODA treatment providers, and community agencies can continue to address the challenges ahead. W-2 has made a commitment to provide the necessary services for employment. Providing enhanced services to help individuals obtain and retain a job is the highest priority to enable family self-sufficiency. Ultimately, success hinges on the ability of groups, agencies, and employers at the local level to work together in meeting the AODA needs of W-2 participants.