Pubdate: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 Source: Parry Sound North Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2002, Parry Sound North Star Contact: http://www.parrysound.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1618 DRUG PROGRAM PILOT PARRY SOUND - The Parry Sound District has been designated as a pilot site for the District Social Services Administration Board's 'Mandatory Addictions Treatment Program.' The Parry Sound District will be one of four jurisdictions across the province to be involved in the pilot stage of the initiative. Councillor Conrad van der Valk represents Parry Sound on the DSSAB and told council of the board's announcement at its regular meeting Jan. 22. He said that by 2005, all jurisdictions in the province will be required to implement this initiative. The main components of the program are screening, assessment and treatment of addictions for applicants and participants who are experiencing barriers to employment created by substance abuse of alcohol, illicit drugs and prescription drugs. For clients who fail to meet the program requirements progressive sanctions will apply until such time as compliance is achieved, he said. As an early site Parry Sound will be 100 per cent funded by the province for the development and implementation of the addiction program, with an initial injection of up to $150,000 and ongoing funding in excess of $400,000 at maturity. The preliminary proposal has been completed with Addictions Outreach, a meeting has taken place between the province and the other early sites to discuss go-live dates. The target for start up in Parry Sound is Feb. 1, 2002. This initiative has posed several challenges, Mr. van der Valk said. "Aside from the instant-start expectations from the province the proposal team were required to vision the development of the Mandatory Addiction Treatment program, draft the work plan, write the proposal and consider implementation plans." The project will result in three positions being created, two of which will be resident to the DSSAB and the third will be seconded to Addictions Outreach. The designated pilot sites will have considerable discretion, however all sites agree that highly qualified professional individuals who operate within an accountability framework will be sought. "This is, arguably, the most important and perhaps controversial initiative the province has announced in the last five years, particularly when measured against the high proportion of hard to employ clients that now typify our DSSAB's caseload," Mr. van der Valk said. "However, staff are confident that Parry Sound will be successful in this venture and will make a substantive contribution to the eventual province wide implementation of this program." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake