Hoping to better serve their clients by working together, the Robert Young Center and the Center for Alcohol and Drug Services have joined forces. Monday they announced the signing of an affiliation agreement in which CADS will become a part of the Center.
Dennis Duke, president of the Robert Young Center, says health care in the US is changing, especially in the field of behavioral health, and a common theme is the integration and coordination of services.
"It's vital that we as providers have recognized the need for change and to insure alignment with transformation, and position ourselves to respond to the expectations of the market. Change is an opportunity and I'm optimistic of our organizations' future."
CADS president, Doctor Joe Cowley says this will mean better services for clients of both.
"We've know for a very long time that a lot of our clients cross paths, that a lot our clients have similar issues that need to be addressed. And if you're not addressing both of them at the same time, they're going to address them, themselves. They're hurting, they want to feel better, they want their lives to be better, and they want their families to be better."
Cowley says drug treatment and mental health professionals began to recognize the need to work together in the early 90's, but the federal government only began to recognize it and encourage it a couple of years ago.
The two will serve an estimated 15,000 people per year with a combined staff of about 400.
