It is my privilege to present to you the first edition of Inter-Care's newsletter, Inter-View. The goal of the newsletter is to keep you informed about current events at Inter-Care, as well as current events in the field of addiction treatment. It is our hope that this newsletter will bring to you interesting
articles filled with useful information, that is also pleasurable reading. I will personally do my best to have this newsletter maintain the same quality that you have come to expect from our treatment services.
Let me begin by telling you about some of the exciting projects going on at Inter-Care. Many of you have not heard about the Inter-Care Family Foundation (ICFF). Bob Smith and Vince Casolaro, the founding partners of Inter-Care, have been on a crusade since the company’s inception to speak to the importance of treating chemical addiction through the entire family system. Their systemic model—called the Family Invitational Intervention—treats the family of the chemical abuser, irregardless of the Identified Patient (IP), and at the same time, invites the IP to participate. This model is effective because the IP is "empowered" to make the decision whether or not to participate. As Miller and Rollnick wrote in their classic book, Motivational Interviewing, “… the more empowered the patient feels, the less likely for resistance, ultimately leading the patient to choose a corrective action.” The unfortunate part of our story is that many families do not participate in treatment because they do not understand why they need treatment, and because they cannot afford treatment.This is where the ICFF comes in. In 2001, Bob Smith and Vince Casolaro launched the not-for-profit ICFF as part of their mission to educate the public about the importance of treating the entire family system of the addict/alcoholic, for long-term success and to provide scholarships to families who could not otherwise afford treatment. Last year the ICFF raised over $100,000, the start of a million-dollar fundraising drive. Many families have already benefited from these funds, used in their treatment and recovery.
At Inter-Care's Outpatient Services, we recently began our conversion from paper charts to a computerized charting system. While change is often frightening and difficult, the clinical staff at Inter-Care is handling the conversion with
relative ease. No longer do we need to hunt down client charts, look for hard copies of toxicology screens, or question why case notes have not been filed. At the click of a button, all of this information is there. Quite remarkable, if I say so myself.
I joined Inter-Care about three years ago. I hope my presence has made a difference. I am proud of my affiliation with an organization that aspires to be the best, give the best, and that challenges our capacities as clinicians
and human beings.

Nicholas Lessa
Executive Director

In January, Inter-Care began to convert from a paper charting system for clinical records, to a computerized record keeping system. The Substance Abuse Treatment Information System (SATIS) was initially created for the Betty Ford Center in Palm Springs, California, which still uses the system. MSJ, a computerized information service, later sold the system to other chemical dependency treatment providers across the country. Inter-Care is the first treatment center to utilize the system in New York State. Other reputable treatment centers that
currently use SATIS include Marworth, in Pennsylvania, The Caron Foundation, and Father Martin’s Ashley.

Nicholas Lessa, Executive Director of Inter-Care and Walter Scanlon, Ph.D., MBA, CASAC, Interventionist and EAP Specialist, have just signed a book deal with John Wiley & Sons Publishers to write a guide for treating substance use disorders. As part of the publisher’s series of books on treating mental health disorders, the Lessa-Scanlon book will very likely be one of the first books to be published in the series. "I am thrilled and honored to be given this opportunity," says Lessa. The book will be the culmination of many years of experience in treating substance use disorders, by two well-known New York City-based professionals. This will be Lessa’s first book and Dr. Scanlon's third. Publication is expected sometime in 2005. We at Inter-Care are all eager to get our hands on a copy.

The Alumni Association’s main purpose is to help Inter-Care alumni stay sober and enjoy socializing—safe from the familiar pitfalls that often lead to relapse. “I see the Alumni Association as a kind of buddy system,” says member Diana E. “When I was ready to leave Inter-Care, I feared being ‘out there’ all alone. The Alumni Association is there for us during and after treatment.”
The Association’s Communication & Outreach Committee creates ways to get members involved in activities; the Events & Party Committee plans special social events.
For more information, call the Inter-Care Alumni Association at 212 532 0303 x 346, or visit
the web site at www.inter-care.com.

One obstacle to successfully treating patients on an outpatient basis is allowing them to return each day to a dysfunctional recovery environment. To address this condition—one that is especially chronic in New York City—Inter-Care has leased a brownstone in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, that now houses up to twenty residents, and there are already plans for expansion.
The Inter-Care Sober Residence began accepting residents at the end of March. The spacious,
two-story residence provides a comfortable living environment, with a fully-equipped kitchen, and a gracious family room with all the amenities of a well-appointed home. The staff includes a resident house manager, who is supervised by an experienced, credentialed addiction specialist. Residents must receive daily treatment at Inter-Care’s outpatient program, as well as attend daily twelve-step meetings. The Residence at Inter-Care will provide the opportunity for a sober recovery and personal growth. For more information on the Sober Residence, please call Nick Lessa at 212 532-0303 ext. 313.

In early March, Inter-Care began a children's program that is based upon the Betty Ford Center's children’s group model. This 6-week psychoeducational program, for children ages 7 through 12, helps those who have been affected by the addiction of a loved one. This novel approach—which includes such activities as art classes, discussion groups, and supervised play—utilizes a non-threatening environment where children can express their feelings and support one another. "This is the first program of its kind that I know of in New York City," states Errol Rodriguez, CRC, doctoral student in clinical psychology, and coordinator of the children's program. Errol recently returned to Inter-Care after a series of hands-on training sessions at the Betty Ford Center's Palm Springs children's program unit. He has developed a program with distinct objectives for each session to be held by Inter-Care. The sessions have names such as "A Safe Space: Beginning to Talk"; “Addiction and Me: I Need Help Too"; and "The Share: I Have Something I Want to Say.”
Considered an important element in the success of the program, children's parents or guardians are also expected to participate in a simultaneous Parents Group.
After completion of the program, each child receives an Inter-Care certificate as part of the graduation ceremony.
For more details, please contact Errol at 212 532-0303 ext. 332.