BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Compass Health Care, Inc. is Arizona's most comprehensive, community-based alcoholism and other drug abuse prevention and treatment organization. Formed by the 1997 merger of two of southeastern Arizona's oldest and most respected non-profit agencies, Compass Health Care, Inc. serves thousands of adults and children each year.

Compass Health Care, Inc. treatment services include both outpatient and residential programs. Our detoxification center is the gateway into most other treatment program in the community. Our residential services provide both counseling and a safe and sober place to live for as long as it takes a person to get back on his or her feet. Our patient services include both individual and group counseling, with services available as often as needed. Specially designed services are available to help family members and friends intervene with loved ones who need treatment.

Compass Health Care, Inc. prevention services are targeted at both children and parents. Services include parenting classes specifically designed for adults with a personal or family history of substance abuse, education programs for children and opportunities for parents and their children to learn and grow healthy together. Public education regarding the hazards of alcohol and drug abuse is also a focus of our work.

One out of every ten Americans suffers from alcoholism and other drug abuse. Each of those individuals impacts many others. Literally thousands of adults and children in our community experience the devastating effects of addiction and abuse. But there is hope. Numerous studies have shown that both treatment and prevention are effective. In fact, we know that for ever one dollar spent on treatment, seven dollars are returned to the community, through decreased health-care costs, increased productivity and improved quality of life.

Whether a person in need is a young child just beginning life or an adult who's life has been destroyed by the ravages of alcoholism or drug addiction, our goal remains the same: "Pointing Lives In New Directions."

HISTORY
Compass Health Care, Inc. was formed in 1997 by the merger of Gateway, Inc. and the Tucson Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (TCADD). TCADD was incorporated in 1968 as the Pima Council on Alcoholism, later changing its name to the Alcoholism Council of Tucson and then TCADD. Gateway, Inc. began its organizational life in 1972 as the Local Alcoholism Reception Center (LARC), an agency of the City of South Tucson; later it incorporated and changed its name to Gateway LARC Services and then just Gateway, Inc. Together, these two well respected nonprofit organizations have provided southeastern Arizona with more than 55 years of continuous alcoholism and other drug addiction prevention, education and treatment services.

LEADERSHIP
Compass Health Care, Inc. was provided years of leadership in the field of substance abuse prevention and treatment:

• TCADD was the first substance abuse prevention, education and treatment organization in southeastern Arizona.
  
• TCADD, in conjunction with the University of Arizona Colleges of Pharmacy and Education, convened the first training conference on addictions held in Arizona, and offered the first employee assistant program in our community.
  
• Gateway was the first organization in southeastern Arizona to offer detoxification services to homeless and other indigent alcoholics and drug addicts, and the first to offer a 30-day residential treatment program to that population.
  
• Gateway offered the community's first structured transitional housing for men and women who had completed initial treatment, and the first permanent housing for men and women disabled by addiction.

UNIQUENESS IN THE COMMUNITY

• Compass Health Care, Inc. is the only community-based alcoholism and other drug addiction treatment organization to offer intensive outpatient treatment and family intervention services.
  
• Compass Health Care, Inc. is the sole provider of inpatient medical detoxification to indigent persons.
  
• Compass Health Care, Inc. is the sole provider of treatment for the Pima County Drug Court.
  
• Compass Health Care, Inc. is southeastern Arizona's sole authorized provider and trainer of the nationally recognized BABES Prevention curriculum.
  

ACCESSIBLE
Our services are available to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. Services are specifically targeted at both adults and children.

OUTCOME ORIENTED
Each of our programs has a built-in system to evaluate its success. Outcome information is used to improve our results.

AWARD WINNING

• Our Detoxification Program received an "Exemplary" level accreditation by the CARF Accreditation Organization.
  
• Our Cultural Enhancement Through Storytelling prevention program received the "1997 Meritorious Prevention and Education Award" from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD).
  
• Our Genesis program received a "Spirit of Excellence Award" from the Governor's Office of Excellence in Government.

FAMILY FOCUSED
Each one of our treatment programs has a family component. We also have a specially prevention program targeted at children whose parents have a history of substance abuse.

COMMUNITY CONNECTED
All our treatment programs connect people to community support groups that support our graduates in their ongoing recovery.

FLEXIBLE
Our programs are specifically designed to meet the individual needs of each and every client. In addition to treatment, our services can include, as appropriate, job training and education, parenting and child development education, and long-term supportive housing.