Boca Raton, FL – Wellness Resource Center, an integrated substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment facility for adults, recently experienced some of its highest admissions in its 17-year history, an upward trend that seems likely to continue. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), over 44,000 Floridians sought treatment in 2007 (most recent year of data), yet Florida has over one and a half million people who need but do not currently receive drug or alcohol addiction treatment.
“There is a real need for quality treatment and we will do all we can to provide it,” said Paul Reed, LCSW and Executive Director of Wellness Resource Center.
When Reed arrived at Wellness Resource Center (WRC) in January of 2009, they were at 65% capacity. These days, they’re at 100%.
Reed credits the increased census to a growing demand and, just as importantly, a renewed program. Getting back to the basics of treatment, Reed started by strengthening WRC’s clinical program, adding services such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), intensive trauma group therapy, and specialists in relapse prevention, health and wellness, and eating disorders. He also incorporated alumni into the treatment programming with weekly presentations to help engage current and former patients. Aesthetic improvements to the facility followed.
“We really exercised the fundamentals of building up the program by building relationships, building morale, and building admissions. It was a slow and steady approach, but we realized that we ultimately had three clients to which we were responsible: our patients, their families, and the professionals who referred them to us,” said Reed. “Keeping open lines of communication with all three has been key to our success.”
Cynthia McLean, WRC’s Marketing Director, agrees with Reed, but adds that Reed’s leadership has been another huge factor. “Paul will assist directly with a client in need, take inquiry calls, take weekend duty when a program director is out. He’s played every role there is at Wellness and it builds confidence with our staff – he’s not up in an ivory tower.”
For his part, Reed says “My role of leadership is to demonstrate early on that you will not expect someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself.”
In just his second year as Executive Director of WRC, Reed and his team earned the top award for employee engagement within CRC Health Group, WRC’s parent company, a network of over 150 facilities. As a result, WRC earned the reputation as a model program for CRC and was later selected to participate in the creation and implementation of the new “CRC Treatment Model.” Wellness has since been part of extensive evaluations of its best practices, clinical protocols, and patient/referent communication and feedback processes to contribute to the well-defined model of treatment.
“Paul and the Wellness team have worked very hard to redevelop their systems and enhance their services,” said Candance Henderson-Grice, Vice President of CRC Health Group’s Eating Disorder, Weight Management, and Florida Programs. “It is not surprising that they reached 100% capacity considering the praise they are receiving from patients, families and professionals alike.”
In fact, says Tammy Hanson, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS, and Director of Clinical Services for Dilworth Center for Chemical Dependency (North Carolina), “There are multiple reasons I refer [clients] to Wellness Resource Center. The number one reason is because their staff is excellent, impeccably trained, and fully capable of working with ‘hard to treat patients.’ The Wellness team does an excellent job of keeping me informed on the progress of my patients. I consistently speak with counselors to obtain full reports on patients, their family’s involvement, and re-entry planning.”
Hanson notes that she especially likes Wellness “because they are focused on helping patients become productive members of society, which includes anything from life-skills training to helping patients find employment in the step-down program.”
She adds “I have no reservation recommending Wellness Resource Center for my patients because I know they will receive the best care possible.”
Located in Boca Raton, Florida, Wellness Resource Center provides affordable treatment to men and women, ages 18 and older, who are suffering from dual diagnosis of psychiatric illness and chemical dependency. The facility’s safe, nurturing environment enables patients to overcome habitual, self-defeating behaviors and begin to take positive steps toward optimal health and wellness. Through an individualized, integrated approach, patients are shown how to strive for wellness in all areas of life – physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual. For more information, visit http://www.wellnessresourcecenter.com or call 866-549-5032.
Wellness Resource Center is a member of CRC Health Group, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive network of specialized behavioral health and addiction services. CRC offers the largest array of personalized treatment options, allowing individuals, families, and professionals to choose the most appropriate treatment setting for their behavioral, addiction, weight management and therapeutic education needs. CRC is committed to making its services widely and easily available, while maintaining a passion for delivering advanced treatment. Since 1995, CRC programs have helped individuals and families reclaim and enrich their lives. For more information, visit http://www.crchealth.com