VADAP's Mission

VADAP's Goals

VADAP's Board

VADAP's History, 1973-2003

VADAP Bylaws

VADAP's Mission

To promote the availability and quality of substance abuse education, prevention, intervention and treatment services for all residents of Virginia.

1. To promote the professional development of member program staff to ensure quality services which enhance the state of the art.
2. To serve as a resource or participant in the development of and advocacy for legislation and/or policy relevant to the common interest of member programs and their clients.
3. To promote communication and networking efforts among disciplines, organizations and agencies interested in the field of substance abuse.

VADAP's Board

VADAP's Board of Directors
2010 - 2011

 

President               Ashley Carter Centra Health, Inc./Pathways 3300 Rivermont Avenue Lynchburg, VA 24503 (434) 947-4455 (434) 947-7467 FAX ashley.carter@centrahealth.com                 Vice President       Gina Thorne, MS The Farley Center at Williamsburg Place 5477 Mooretown road Williamsburg, VA 23188 (757) 565-0106 x 29 (757) 565-0620 FAX (800) 552-6066 gthorne@farleycenter.com   Past- President      Jerri Shannon Remuda Ranch (928) 668-4518  757-876-5640 (Cell)  jerri.shannon@remudaranch.com   Secretary               Cindy D. Blanton Admissions Manager Phoneix House 13110 Deerpark Drive Midlothian, VA 23112 (540) 446-3929 (W) (804) 739-1119 FAX Email: Cblanton@vanguardservices.org                                 Treasurer               Karen Redford Richmond Behavioral Health Authority 107 S. Fifth Street Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 819-4183 (W) (804) 819-4268 FAX Email: redfordk@rbha.org   CENTRAL REGION Ned Snead, Chair Central Region Chesterfield Mental Health Support Ser. P.O. Box 92 Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804) 768-7208 (804) 768-9283 FAX Email: sneadn@chesterfield.gov

NORTHERN REGION Claudia Daniel, Chair Northern Region Fairfax Detoxification Center 4213 Walney Road Chantilly, VA 20151 Email:  Claudia.Daniel@fairfaxcounty.gov Deena Bise Snowden at Fredericksburg Adult Intensive Outpatient Program 1200 Sam Perry Blvd. Fredericksburg, VA 22401 (540) 741-3900 Email: deena.bise@medicorp.org   EASTERN REGION Mark Blackwell, Exec. Director -Chair SAARA of Virginia, Inc. 306 Turner Rd., Suite P Richmond, VA 23225 (804) 762 4445 (W) (804) 762 4333 FAX E-Mail: director@saara.org Gray Martin/Betty Selph St. Brendan’s Harbor 443 Kempsville Road Norfolk, VA 23502 (757) 455-6100 Email: gmartin@barryrobinson.org Email: bselph@barryrobinson.org Dawn Obliskey Norfolk Community Services Board 7460 Tidewater Drive Norfolk, VA 23505 (757) 664-6684 (W) (757) 664-6678 FAX Email:  dawn.obliskey@norfolk.gov Stephanie Savage/Joan Lucera Colonial Behavioral Health 1657 Merrimac Trail Williamsburg, VA 23185 (757) 220-3200 (757) 253-5218 FAX E-Mail: ssavage@colonialcsb.org

WESTERN REGION Sandy Kanehl, M.Ed, CSAC- Chair Program Associate Mid-Atlantic Addiction Technology Transfer Center and SAARA of Virginia - Lynchburg Email: sandykanehl@hotmail.com Todd Possey, M.Ed., NCC Program Director Fletcher Center Behavioral Healthcare / Addiction Treatment 108 Holbrook St., Suite 203 Danville, VA 24541 (434) 791-2059 tposey@diamondconsultingcorp.org   CONTRACTED SERVICES Mark Whitesides E-Mail: mgwhites@vcu.edu

AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES Mellie Randall VA DMHMRSAS Office of Substance Abuse Services P. O. Box 1797 Richmond, VA 23218-1797 (804) 371-2135 (W) (804) 786-4320 FAX E-Mail: mellie.randall@co.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov  Paula Horvatich Mid-Atlantic ATTC P. O. Box 980205 Richmond, VA 23298-0205 (804) 828-9910 (W) (804) 828-7862 FAX E-Mail: pkhorvat@vcu.edu Inge Tracy Department of Corrections 6900 Atmore Drive, 2nd Floor Richmond, VA 23225 (804) 674-3000 Ext. 1044 (804) 674-3015 FAX E-Mail: inge.tracy@vadoc.virginia.gov

 

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VADAP's History, 1973-2003

During the early 70's, as drug abuse became a public issue and began effecting mainstream America, treatment programs started to develop. The first coordinating organization was known as U.D.A.P (The United Drug Abuse Council), located in Virginia Beach.

As the membership of UDAP grew statewide, a need for a broader influence was recognized, and that paved the way for V.A.D.P. (The Virginia Association of Drug Programs) to become a reality in 1973. This confederation of drug programs consisted primarily of private, non-profit programs that were the primary providers of services at that time. Perry Ustick from Virginia Beach was the first president.

In 1975, VADP conducted its first conference in Richmond, beginning a tradition of state-of-the-art training events. In 1976, VADP was incorporated.

During the 1970's, alcohol treatment was seen as different and separate than other drug treatment and there was not much interaction between the two. This changed in 1985, following the re-organization of the State agencies into a single agency treating alcohol and drug addiction (this was The Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. Substance Abuse was added to the name to create DMHMRSAS in 1991). As a result of the State's reorganization in 1985, VADP amended its articles of incorporation to rename the organization to the Virginia Association of Drug and Alcohol Programs.

Also during the 1970's, the State Legislature passed legislation permitting the establishment of Community Services Boards to provide public substance abuse services on a local level. As the Community Services Boards developed and joined VADAP, this changed the nature of the organization. What started as an organization of primarily private non-profit programs began focusing more on the issues and concerns of public sector programs. Today the Board consists of a strong mixture of public and private sectors programs.

During the 1980's, VADAP expanded more in the criminal justice arena, supported drug abuse certification (CSAC) that started in 1981 and help fund and establish SACAVA in 1987. Legislatively, VADAP helped establish Virginia's Voice in 1987. It also joined the Coalition for the Mentally Disabled Citizens of Virginia in 1987 and has remained an active member to this present date.

In the late 80's, funding was becoming more specific, federal dollars were more difficult to obtain, insurance coverage fluctuated greatly and the economy worsened significantly. VADAP had to work with several advocacy groups to keep funding and obtain additional resources from the Governor and the General Assembly.

In the early 90's, VADAP obtained 501 C3 status. We also modified the by-laws of VADAP to reflect the role of the Association with training/education/staff development emerging as a need for our member programs. This resulted in an expansion of the annual conference to include a training institute as well. Regional training has also become a major focus of VADAP. We continue to have a major impact on training, certification and working with advocacy groups.

In the late 90's, VADAP, VAADAC, SACAVA and the Mid-Atlantic ATTC helped form CSAO. This has improved communication, training and advocacy work in the Commonwealth.

While VADAP's structure has remained much the same for the past several years, as we move into our 4th decade of existence, we must build on our past achievements and continue to be in the forefront in setting direction, making policy, and influencing and improving services for the ever changing issues of the substance addicted and mentally disabled citizens of Virginia.