The Mission of the Addictions Recovery Center is to provide the opportunity for individuals and their families to choose a healthier way of life.
Our Vision is to guide a human life from pain and despair to joy and serenity and hope-for a lifetime of complete healing for individuals and families and the community.
Our Goal is to provide individual attention to every client, aiding them in establishing the necessary tools and skills they need to achieve and maintain recovery.
ARC STORY – History
Since our founding over 40 years ago, people have turned to Addictions Recovery Center for help with addiction. It all began in the late 1960’s with little money and tremendous optimism. Mariam Kelley and her husband envisioned a treatment program that would provide relief, support and tools for veterans suffering from alcohol addiction. In response they created the Alcohol Rehabilitation Center on their ranch in Grants Pass, Oregon. The organization’s mission was to provide affordable treatment to male veterans suffering alcohol addiction.
In the early 1970’s, the center moved 25 miles to Gold Hill, Oregon, became a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization, and increased capacity to 12 men. They also launched Southern Oregon’s only alcohol treatment center for women. With $30,000 in start-up money from the Kelley’s, plus client fees and county funding, the center operated on a monthly budget of $3,000. The facility, by now commonly known as The ARC, formed a board of directors to assist the Kelley’s in administering the program.
As the region became more populated it became apparent that there was not only a growing need for alcohol treatment but also a demand for more services for people with other addiction problems. A re-evaluation of the program led to a name change, another move, and a widening of services. In 1986, the organization became Rogue Valley Addictions Recovery Center, Inc. Another location change came in October 1988 when The ARC moved into the former Cascade Motel on Riverside Avenue in Medford. Then Executive Director Patricia De Lozier was a leader in promoting a therapeutic environment for alcohol and drug addicted men and women. This sparked the transition of The ARC from an addiction treatment center to a health service provider.
In late 1990, Richard Courtright, a local attorney and then ARC board member of ten years, closed his law practice and accepted the position of executive director. Our focus shifted to include educating health care professionals, community leaders and referral sources about The ARC’s function as a health service provider. In ensuing years, we set in motion a series of external and internal changes to reflect the growing need for up-to-date, professional standards by incorporating newer trends in models of treatment to meet individual client needs. Continuing education for the treatment team became standard and by 1992, 30 hours annually for each clinician became the policy.
We continued full speed ahead with a focus on increasing community awareness about our presence and our intent to broaden our client population. We acknowledged that the disease of addiction is not limited to any particular socio-economic group and sought to provide meaningful treatment to those who “slept under the bridge, drove over the bridge and who owned the bridge.” While this was considered a bit radical, the blend proved to be very successful.
As a result of our sustained and ongoing efforts to raise the bar and add state-of-the-art treatment practices to our offerings, The ARC’s success continued to grow. In November 1992, we moved to our present location on West Main Street in Medford. Our new facility was actually a step forward in community awareness of addiction being a treatable health issue. Local residents had to be convinced that our clients would be good neighbors.
With the implementation of managed care we experienced measurable progress in chemical dependency services--treatment stays became shorter, averaging 28 to 30 days, with maximum stays reduced to 45 days. In 1993, we became a licensed outpatient treatment provider, incorporating a continuum of five levels of care: residential treatment, day treatment, outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment, and a continuing after-care program.
By 1998, a full program offering education and treatment for DUI referrals was in place. We changed our logo to one designed by Mike Leonard and Bob Horton. In 2000, we launched treatment services for individuals with gambling addiction and their families. Unique to this model is our ability to offer services to families of gamblers even if the gambler doesn’t enter treatment—and all gambling treatment services are free, regardless of income. Recognizing that individuals with addiction disease often presented with co-occurring mental health issues, in 2001 training and education by Dr. Kenneth Minkoff allowed The ARC clinical team to offer dual diagnosis competent services. Gender specific services were fully incorporated and clients continued to achieve high rates of successful completion.
Increasing costs inspired the board of directors to launch our annual Anniversary Celebration and fundraiser in 1999. Today, this celebratory event is our primary fundraiser, held each year the first Sunday in December. In spite of increasing cost of providing services, our goal continues to be providing superior services at the lowest possible cost.
Addictions Recovery Center--2004 through Today
Addictions Recovery Center continues to operate as a private non-profit 501 (C) (3) organization and qualifies as a public charity. A community service agency, ARC is here to ensure that individuals and families with addiction problems have the opportunity to turn their lives around and return to our communities as productive fathers, mothers, grandparents, workers and community advocates. Addictions Recovery Center currently operates on an annual budget of $1.6 to $2 million dollars under the direction of Chris Mason as executive director. The agency is governed by a board of directors that represent a cross section of leaders from various walks of life in our community and includes former beneficiaries of ARC services. Treatment is offered on a sliding fee scale and includes publicly funded residential treatment at no cost to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Professionally facilitated pre-treatment intervention services are also offered for a minimum fee, which may be applied to treatment costs.
We are the only adult residential treatment program within 100 miles providing this breadth and depth of addiction services. We are affordable and have a therapeutic milieu that accommodates individuals from all walks of life – always offering individualized treatment. Our residential program currently has 22 beds and our average length of in-house treatment is 37-40 days. Approximately 13 beds are funded in part by the state and administered by Jackson County; the remaining 9 beds are private pay or private insurance and always offered on a sliding scale. It is our hope that all our clients who seek recovery will find physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Our goal is to provide individual attention to every client, aiding each in establishing the necessary tools and skills essential to achieve and maintain recovery. It is our belief that this “heart-centered” approach to treatment will yield positive and lasting results. It favors renewed family ties and promotes stronger, healthier neighborhoods and communities.
In 2003, the Addictions Recovery Center board of directors created a revised vision statement as well as a board mission statement. Our vision: to guide a human life from pain and fear and despair to joy and serenity and hope--for a lifetime of complete healing for individuals and families and the community. Board Mission Statement: The mission of the board of directors is to guide and support the Addictions Recovery Center in developing and maintaining a vision for the agency vital to a healthy community. Additionally, the agency’s mission was affirmed to offer individuals and their families the opportunity to choose a healthier way of life. These missions are recited and reflected upon at the beginning of ARC team and board meetings, insuring we do not loose sight of the course set for us.
To meet our growing need for space, expansion has continued in recent years. Between 2004 and 2006, we grew from one to seven properties, four of which were purchased.
November 1, 2004, Jackson County contracted with Addictions Recovery Center (ARC) to manage the William H. Moore Center. The center provides drop-in sobering services for Jackson County and has 2,300 enrollments annually. The rest of the building has been transformed into a transition home for men, providing assistance for re-entry into the community as sober and productive citizens. The lifetime efforts of Medford Councilperson Bill Moore have come full circle. We are proud and honored to manage the facility and services that meant so much to him, and that are vital to a healthy community. Moore was an original member of the board of directors and facilitated ARC’s incorporation. We are committed to maintaining his legacy.
Also in 2004, we began using the best practice MATRIX model of treatment, proven effective for stimulant addiction. Individuals in Adult Drug Court and Community Family Court benefit from our exceptional treatment services that have a 90 percent completion rate. By 2005, case managers working closely with counselors were included in treatment services and assisted clients accessing community resources crucial to their success. Case managers facilitate connections with over 3,000 wrap-around community resources each year. A one-year meth addiction program for women and their babies includes a transition home (Naumes Cottage). Since 2004, 72 babies have been born to drug free moms in treatment at Addictions Recovery Center. Parenting education is incorporated into the program; case managers and mentors are provided. Over 84 percent of these women have successfully completed treatment, provided safe and sober homes for their children, and remain committed to a lifetime of recovery. Women in Living Leadership (WiLL), Francis Chaney Family Foundation, and the Reed and Carolee Walker Foundation (OCF) have provided a portion of the support for these women and their children.
In 2006 and 2007, 6th grade students at Washington Elementary School, participating in Community 101 grant award projects, awarded Addictions Recovery Center funding to create the client resident “Inspiration Room’ and the ‘Serenity Garden.’ Previously, first grade students from this school created a quilt mural that adorns our reception area with vibrant depictions of sunshine and water (taken from our logo theme). We are particularly proud of our partnership with our neighbor, Washington Elementary School.
In late 2007, our Walk-In Clinic opened and began offering assessment services Monday through Friday mornings without appointment. This allowed us to provide service when requested and increased our assessment delivery 400 percent through 2008. Evidence-based treatment practices are the core of all Addictions Recovery Center services. As a participant in a national project to improve treatment (NIATx), we continue our efforts to provide the best treatment possible for our community, regardless of socioeconomic standing. Our sliding fee scale is paramount to our ability to serve everyone in our community who request our services.
Throughout 2008, Addictions Recovery Center focused on increasing participation in our mentoring project ‘Walk With Me’ and our Alumni Advisory Council. Addictions Recovery Center graduates serving on the Alumni Advisory Council, provide our team with insight and collaborative opportunities to continually improve what we already do well. Council members also participate in facilitating our Lifetime Aftercare Group, available to former clients throughout their life.
Despite our ongoing effort, we still lack the space and staff to meet the demand for services. Since 2004, we’ve grown to seven properties. In 2009 we are facilitating the purchase of our two primary therapy facilities, increasing mortgaged properties to six. This launches our plan to build our capacity of state-of-the-art facilities adequate to meet demand, now and in the future.
Now more than ever before in our history, community support and advocacy are critical to meet our operational bottom line. We began the year with threats of funding cuts up to 83 percent in Oregon alcohol and drug funded treatment programs. The potential impact to our budget is 37 percent. The nation and world are in the midst of economic uncertainty. Substance abuse and addiction disease are exacerbated in such times and the need for our services is as important as ever. Nevertheless, we are optimistic about Addictions Recovery Center’s future and confident in the commitment of Jackson County residents to a healthy and viable community. Together, we are striving to meet the needs of our community.