Counselors Obediently Preventing Substance abuse (COPS)

COPS goal is to assist individuals (males and females, eighteen years and older) and their families to heal physically, emotionally and spiritually from the effects of substance abuse, misuse and addiction through education, employment, family engagement, life skills training and spirituality. These areas of assistance leads to a better life, increased positive values and a strong and healthy community. To define long term recovery the person will become securely employed or attain higher education. They will develop a recovery support system to assist with maintaining sobriety, become spiritual (not necessarily religious) and to display positive values and support within their family and community for a year or longer.
Another goal reached is a collaboration with certain outside agencies to work with the person and their family to strengthen all involved with the person in crises. We have added the LPC to diagnose the mental health issues along with substance use disorders to become able to address all of the individuals needs.

COPS is certified outpatient treatment and recovery support. Outpatient treatment allows the individual to develop tools to overcome their drug and alcohol dependence/addiction. The individual is given an initial assessment for a diagnoses of the degree of their addiction/dependence. Outpatient treatment is eight months with three different levels. The first level is intensive with the individual attending three days a week, random drug testing and weekly face to face sessions with a certified substance abuse (SA) counselor, level II is once a week, random drug testing and weekly face to face sessions with a certified  SA counselor. Level III is once a month, random drug testing and weekly face to face sessions with a certified SA counselor. Level three is considered recovery support. Recovery support helps the individual maintain their recovery with life skills assistance.  COPS has three men's transitional houses to assist men in becoming more stable in their recovery. During their stay the men attend outpatient treatment/recovery support groups, receive weekly face to face sessions with a certified counselor. The are referred to job training programs and receive certificates upon completion. The are referred to outside agencies when necessary and in their best interest.

COPS hires certified substance counselors to facilitate the groups and a licensed practical counselor to give a diagnosis on the individual during their initial assessment. . The program hires individuals from within the program  to become recovery support peer workers. COPS pays for these individuals to become certified peer workers through a grant. Once the individual is certified the will be receive a salary to continue their education in this field.

The program is now able to assist 16 men with housing and certified outpatient treatment. Due to COVID-19 COPS groups and individual sessions are remote but still beneficial to the client. The program has connected with two organization to assist with funding so that individuals who have been incarcerated or limited job skills to be enrolled in job raining and extended stay in the recovery houses. This allows them to become more stable in their recovery.