Oklahoma-based Addiction Center Responsible for Breakthrough in Treatment

Oct. 28, 2009 - PRLog -- As a recovering alcoholic, Father Dick Virtue was passionate about helping others become sober; this is when he founded the Norman Information & Counseling Center (NAIC) in 1972.

The NAIC is a non-profit outpatient substance abuse treatment center, which provides a full range of services – prevention, intervention, treatment, and aftercare.

It also addresses gambling addiction as well as co-occurring conditions.  

The journey for this organization began when the Episcopal Church ordained Father Dick Virtue as a priest to further the mission of providing help and hope to individuals, families, and communities impacted by substance abuse.

NAIC is the first agency in Oklahoma to provide informational and training programs on the recognition, treatment and prevention of alcoholism and other drug addiction. It also made history by becoming the first institute in Oklahoma to offer treatment of alcoholism –a major breakthrough in the treatment of addiction.

What began as a one-man office in St. John’s Episcopal Church is today a stand-alone agency with 40 employees and a multitude of treatment and prevention programs.  

According to Executive Director Teresa Collado, the NAIC has helped save thousands of lives and families by addressing the issues, which cost the state and communities financially as well.  

The recession has adversely affected the business world and the non-profit sector is no exception.

“The economic down-turn has impacted state funding significantly and also the foundations’ ability to give money,” Colledo said. “We do not have a strong development plan, and these tough times are an excellent opportunity to develop one.  We continue to struggle with the stigma of addiction, which not only affects community and state support but also prevents families from getting the help they need.”

As a response to the pain felt by the non-profit sector with little or no major resources to turn to, ActionCOACH, the world’s number one business and executive coaching firm in the world began a campaign to help the non-profit sector generate more donations.

Coaching for a Cause is a global pro bono coaching program for the charitable and not-for-profit sectors of the economy. Scheduled to run from October 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010, top Business Coaches who have pledged to donate coaching hours to this sector will together help them raise an additional $2.5 million in donations raised; the combined value of this coaching service is $1.8 million.

Oklahoma-based Business Coach Rob Garibay enlisted NAIC into the program with an aim to improve giving, especially from the private sector, as well as improve employee morale, which has been affected by spending cuts.

“As soon as the corporate office announced this program globally, I contacted Teresa as I have had a personal connection with them. Sonny Scott, the former Executive Director, who wanted me to coach him, died of cancer at the age of 58,” he said. “Addiction is debilitating to society and Sonny was passionate about reducing it. I want to honor his memory by fulfilling his desire to have me coach his successor and help them grow by dramatically growing giving from the private sector.”

Garibay will thus help them reduce their almost 96% dependence upon state funds. To make this happen, he will help grow private giving to 15% of the budget; currently it is at about 4 percent.

The issue of substance abuse is acute in the state.

According to the 2005 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force, substance abuse, including alcohol and illicit drugs, causes over $1.4 billion of expenses annually in Oklahoma.  The majority of these costs relates to safety and security issues and contributes to domestic violence, which results in child abuse and neglect.

In view of these statistics, the NAIC aims to remain a leader in substance abuse treatment and prevention and to continue to advocate for increased availability and quality of substance abuse treatment. They also plan to become more diverse in their funding sources and reduce dependence on governmental contracts.  

“We want to become a statewide training center for substance abuse treatment, prevention and related issues and also expand our gambling treatment program,” Collado said. “We want to be a part of de-stigmatizing the disease of addiction and become more focused in treating the whole family, not just the individual person.”

Collado feels blessed about being coached for her cause.

“Coaching for a cause is an amazing initiative especially because of the tough financial environment,” she said. “Non-profits need to learn how to become more strategic in their fiscal management and development.”

Coaching for a Cause is an innovative new program from ActionCOACH, the world’s number one business and executive coaching firm that makes pro-bono coaching available to charities and non-profits worldwide. To learn more, go to coachingforacause.org or subscribe to RSS news feeds at news.actioncoach.com.

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Coaching for a Cause is an innovative new program from ActionCOACH, the world’s number one business and executive coaching firm that makes pro-bono coaching available to charities and non-profits worldwide. To learn more, go to coachingforacause.org or subscribe to RSS news feeds at news.actioncoach.com.