Spotlight Archive
Federal Government's Top Substance Abuse Treatment Official Visits TROSA
Touring TROSA's James Street Campus: (l. to r.) Kevin McDonald, TROSA President and CEO, Dr. H. Westley Clark, Michelle Kucerak, TROSA Director of Development, Dr. Faye Calhoun
On March 14, 2007, TROSA hosted a site visit by Dr. H. Westley Clark, Director of the U.S. government´s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dr. Clark toured TROSA´s facilities and met with residents in recovery and staff members. After the tour he met with other members of the substance abuse community to hear about treatment efforts, gaps in services, and the need for additional funding. Dr. Clark was joined by Dr. Faye Calhoun, retired Deputy Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Dr. Clark toured TROSA's James Street campus, including administrative and program offices, housing, dining facilities and TROSA Frame Shop. The tour continued with a visit to TROSA's Moving company, Furniture store, and transitional housing.
(l. to r.) Kevin McDonald, TROSA President and CEO, Dr. H. Westley Clark, Dr. Faye Calhoun, Dan Glaser, TROSA Board Chair
The tour was followed by a luncheon, where Dr. Clark addressed TROSA staff and members of the local substance abuse treatment community. He discussed SAMHSA's work and its goals of accountability, capacity and effectiveness. SAMHSA is one of eleven grant-making agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services whose mission is to build resilience and facilitate recovery for people with or at risk for mental or substance use disorders. Dr. Clark talked about SAMHSA's growing emphasis on Recovery Support Services to supplement treatment efforts. "Research suggests that providing holistic, community-based support services enhances treatment outcomes," said Dr. Clark, "experience shows that ongoing community support is important to sustaining recovery."
Following Dr. Clark's remarks, Dr. Calhoun facilitated a discussion about addiction treatment needs in the community and invited comments from several guests. Ellen Holliman, Director of The Durham Center, gave a brief overview of the center's substance abuse treatment efforts in Durham County. She emphasized that stigma continues to be the biggest problem and praised TROSA for helping de-stigmatize addiction in the community. Paul Nagy, Director of the Duke Addictions Program, briefly talked about the program's efforts to collaborate with service providers to implement research-based treatment practices in communities across North Carolina. Nagy joined others in thanking Dr. Clark for taking the time to visit TROSA. "This is a proud day for TROSA," said Nagy, adding that Dr. Clark's visit brings "a national eye to a national model" for effective substance abuse treatment.