Featured Post from CARF International

Opioid Treatment Programs – Let a CARF expert explain how they work and how they are helping America’s communities

Feb 11, 2019

1 min

Opioid addiction is gripping America.  It’s destroying lives, tearing apart families and devouring resources in policing and healthcare.


As medical, mental health and addictions professionals look for solutions, often times accessible and public Opioid Treatment Programs, often known as a Methadone Clinic will open in communities.


These clinics bring relief, treatment and support – but they also bring crowds, increased traffic and concern from local residents and the community. These concerns usually find their way to the media, where the attention can quickly turn negative.


The solution to avoiding this scrutiny and making sure residents, business owners and community leaders are fully informed about the process, operation and security measures at these clinics are key to their success and integration.


Questions such as:


  • How was the site selected?
  • How do you plan to control traffic flow and overcrowding?
  • How will you manage parking and wait times?
  • What are your measures to prevent diversion?
  • Who can I speak to if I have questions or concerns about operations?


CARF can speak to best practices, expectations, and requirements for when an opioid treatment program opens.

 

Debbi Witham, Managing Director of Public Policy and is an expert in opioid treatment programs. Debbi is available to speak with media regarding this issue – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.



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Expert Spotlight: Suicide Prevention and Health Care Acccreditation

Recently, Michael Johnson, MA, CAP, CARF International Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health joined Adam Chu, MPH, from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and Kasie Pickart, MPH, from Hope Network in an interesting panel discussion where they shared insights on implementing the Zero Suicide model and integrating CARF's comprehensive suicide prevention standards. The discussion highlighted these key elements: Introduction to Suicide Prevention Resource Center The center's mission is to advance suicide prevention across diverse populations using training, consultation, and resources. CARF accreditation standards:  CARF's consultative approach emphasizes quality improvement through peer-surveyed standards. Alignment with the Zero Suicide framework, incorporating risk assessments, safety planning, and care transition protocols. Hope Network's implementation journey: Leveraged a SAMHSA grant to adopt Zero Suicide practices across 200+ Michigan locations. Aligned practices with CARF standards for comprehensive suicide prevention. Developed standardized tools and a suicide care pathway for consistent risk management. Outcomes and challenges: Improved training and organizational culture around suicide prevention. Challenges include ensuring cross-team communication and sustaining practices post-grant funding. View the webinar: The discussion concluded with insights into maintaining long-term quality improvement and the benefits of CARF accreditation for suicide prevention efforts. Michael Johnson is the CARF International Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health. If you are looking to know more or connect with Michael, view his profile below to arrange an interview today.

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Demystifying Relapse: 2-part series on substance use disorder recurrence and treatment

CARF International Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health Michael Johnson is a contributor of this terrific two-part series on substance use relapse from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. NATCON and partnering contributors from CARF International, National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), and the Recovery Research Institute are excited to release the Demystifying Relapse series, which includes two issue briefs that explore the complex dynamics of substance use disorder recurrence and the difficulty of reengaging individuals in the recovery process. “I’m grateful to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing for the opportunity to work with them on these two important documents. The U.S. is facing unprecedented challenges in treating persons with substance use disorders, with access to care continuing to be difficult for many. The field, the payers, and the public at large needs to take time to recalibrate how treatment and return to use are viewed in order to have realistic expectations for care, to destigmatize what it means for a person to return to use, and to ensure there is appropriate types of care available to those who need to re-enter the treatment systems,” said Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health Michael Johnson. “Only when we recognize that persons who return to use need to have care that is individualized to assist them to stabilize, not start over, can we better ensure that treatment systems are more accessible based on the needs of persons served. The treatment for any chronic illness can be difficult as the path to wellness is often not linear. I hope these two papers can start a dialogue on how to reframe the systems to better meet the needs of those who continue with the recurrence of symptoms.” Michael Johnson is the CARF International Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health. If you are looking to know more or connect with Michael, view his profile below to arrange an interview today.

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