Florida DCF and FADAA 2003 “Substance Abuse Best Practices:

Community Assessment and Intervention Centers (CAICs) Receive

Best Innovations Award”

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and its co-sponsor the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA) announced the 2003 Substance Abuse Best Practices Awards Program recipients. Selected as the “Best Innovation Program,” the statewide, four-partner Community Assessment and Intervention Centers (CAICs), comprised of DISC Village in Tallahassee, Human Services Associates in Orlando, Coastal Behavioral Healthcare, Sarasota and Operation PAR in St. Petersburg, were chosen from a broad field of applicants.

The application process began in February and culminated recently when a select panel of reviewers determined this year's recipients based on specific criteria established in the Awards application. Each Awards recipient is required to provide a presentation of its program to attendees at FADAA’s Annual Conference in Kissimmee, Florida, August 20-22, 2003.

Since the Awards Program was initiated in 2001, the Department of Children and Families and FADAA have recognized and awarded almost $28,000 in monetary prizes to programs that utilize evidence-based practices and that have measurably improved their service outcomes and the quality of life for Florida’s residents who have experienced the problems associated with alcohol and other drug abuse or addiction.

Winner of the “Best Innovative Program” Award

Agency Names: DISC Village, Inc., Tallahassee; Operation PAR, St. Petersburg; Coastal Behavioral Healthcare, Sarasota; Human Services Associates, Orlando

Program Name: Community Assessment and Intervention Centers

Program Locations: Tallahassee, Orlando, Sarasota and St. Petersburg

Contact Person: Marsha Antista, Statewide CAIC Coordinator

Telephone: (850) 575-4388; Email: mantista@discvillage.com

Program Description: Community Assessment and Intervention Centers (CAICs) provide comprehensive behavioral, educational and psycho educational assessments of children and youth, ages four to seventeen years of age, and then make recommendations for further supports and services while assisting the families in accessing the supports and services they need.

Local CAIC Contacts: Operation PAR, St. Petersburg; CAIC Director: Nancy Conine, Telephone: (727) 507-2110; email nconine@operpar.org; Human Services Associates, Orlando; CAIC Director: Steve Dalsemer; Telephone: (407) 295-8359; email: SPDHSA@aol.com; Coastal Behavioral Healthcare, Sarasota; CAIC Director: Jane Zarzecki, Ph.D; Telephone: (941) 308-2242, email: jzarzecki@coastalbh.org; DISC Village, Tallahassee; CAIC Director: Martha Scruggs, Telephone: (850) 575-4388, email: mscruggs@discvillage.com