HISTORY
SINCE 1979, NEW DIRECTIONS HAS PROVIDED OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT SERVICES TO ENFIELD AND THE SURROUNDING TOWNS LOCATED IN THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION OF CONNECTICUT.
New Directions is proud of its reputation for delivering high quality services and remains committed to continuing this tradition. New Directions is a private, nonprofit, licensed, outpatient facility providing drug and alcohol treatment, intervention, prevention, community education and referral services to youth and adults in North Central Connecticut.
Addiction is a progressive, disease that can ultimately destroy personal, family, business, and social lives. Substance abuse and addiction crosses all socioeconomic lines and age groups.
Treatment can arrest the disease of addiction and restore healthy living to individuals at home and in the community. Prevention and education can create more communication, develop positive skill building and have a direct impact on future decision making around substance abuse.
CODE OF ETHICS:
New Directions adheres to the Code of Ethics as promulgated by the Connecticut Certification Board. The Connecticut Certification Board is located at 100 South Turnpike Rd., Suite C, Wallingford, CT 06492 The phone number is 203-284-8800.
New Directions is licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and receives or has received a portion of its funding from the following:
- The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- The Department of Children and Families
- The Towns of Enfield, East Windsor, Suffield, Windsor Locks and Somers
- The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
OUR PHILOSOPHY:
New Directions, Inc. is dedicated to reducing the impact that substance abuse has on the North Central Connecticut Region by providing education, prevention, intervention, and treatment services.
New Directions, Inc. believes that substance abuse and dependence causes deterioration over time and if left untreated results in death. This deterioration affects the physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being of the substance abuser as well as the substance abuser’s family. New Directions, in concert with the Recovery-Oriented System of Care advocated by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in Connecticut, supports a service system that is responsive to Co-Occurring Disorders, Gender sensitive as well as trauma informed care. When necessary, clients are referred for medication management to our staff psychiatrist for evaluation and possible medication management of Co-Occurring symptoms.
Because the disease of addiction to alcohol and/or drugs affects so many aspects of a person’s life, New Directions, Inc. believes that an integrated and holistic approach is necessary to maximize the potential for a better clinical outcome within a recovery-oriented system of care. We offer a wide range of intervention and treatment services that are responsive to Co-Occurring disorders with respect to mental health and substance abuse to effectively manage the Co-Occurring illnesses and help restore the person, as well as the person’s family, to better health on all levels.
It is also the belief of New Directions, Inc. that optimal recovery from addictive disease is directly related to the amount of support and acceptance that the substance abuser has in the community. Therefore, we advocate the inclusion of 12-step programs as the basis for community support. In addition, we strive to motivate the substance abuser to value productivity through gainful employment, as well as through vocational and educational training. In addition, we include the family of the substance abuser, whenever possible and appropriate, into the treatment process.
New Directions, Inc. also holds that substance abuse can be prevented at an early age via effective education in prevention and intervention strategies.
OUTPATIENT:
Adolescent Treatment
Adolescent Treatment Group – Over the years, New Directions has provided a substance abuse counselor to several school systems in the North Central Region. In that capacity, the counselor from New Directions provides confidential substance abuse counseling to referred students. Furthermore, the counselor provides valuable feedback on general developmental and behavioral health issues to respective Student Assistance Teams in the various school settings. In addition to providing such services in the school systems, New Directions maintains an Adolescent Treatment group at 113 Elm Street, Suite 204. This weekly group was established to be available for students who want to attend a more formally structured setting outside of the school system. New Directions also provides individual and family counseling for the adolescent who is experiencing problems secondary to substance abuse.
In working with adolescents, New Directions promotes a substance abuse treatment program that is grounded in issues related to developmental psychology and the impact of substance abuse on the developing adolescent. Change in anyone’s life is difficult and it is particularly difficult for adolescents who are experiencing major changes in physiology and in psychology as they encounter the developmental struggle toward adulthood. Unfortunately, substance abuse in adolescence can seriously hinder positive development which can, in turn, create some very real psychological difficulties well into adult maturation. Our goal in our Adolescent Treatment Program is to help the substance abusing adolescent move away from the destructive impact of addiction toward a more positive developmental process. Parents, schools and indeed all of us realize the turbulence inherent in adolescence and are invested in guiding our youth toward healthy adulthood by providing the best opportunities to achieve a balanced and healthy development.
RELAPSE PREVENTION:
The road to recovery from a substance use disorder is an ongoing journey that requires focused attention from the very beginning of treatment and then a very active process of self-monitoring and care. This part of the recovery process is what we call Relapse Prevention. Those who participate in this group modality have been able to sustain an extended period of abstinence and sobriety as they journey along recovery road. In addition, the Relapse Prevention Group works with the participant to identify personal triggers to relapse while on recovery road and to learn effective methods of managing such triggers as they are encountered in daily life. The Relapse Prevention Group also helps the participants recognize the various biological, emotional, and social indicators of a potential relapse to substance use. Advocating good nutrition and active participation in group therapy helps reduce the stress associated with ongoing recovery. In addition, developing solid relationships with a recovering community will help defeat the isolation usually found in addicted individuals. Participants will continue to discuss relapse prevention strategies and to practice coping skills in order to help them gain control over cravings and unhealthy situations.
- SAT Groups: SAT (Substance Abuse Treatment) Groups focus around drug and alcohol education to help the client make wise choices regarding their alcohol and drug abuse. This group identifies potential health risks surrounding use and focus on healthy alternatives to using.
- Individual & Family Counseling: Treatment is centered around helping participants learn coping skills as individuals or within the context of a family system.
- Parenting: This group focuses on healthy, effective and safe approaches to parenting children. This group also allows many single parents the opportunity to form healthy ways in which to deal with their day-to-day lives.
- Anger Management: Participants learn to identify triggers to their anger, coping skills and relaxation techniques in order to help them find better ways to channel their emotions. We offer both Men’s and Women’s Anger Management Programs.
- Intensive Outpatient Programs: New Directions offers three Intensive Outpatient Programs. Morning, Day and Evening IOP groups meet for three hours a day, 4 days a week.
In these programs, participants learn to work with triggers to relapse and establish a variety of coping skills, life skills and set positive and attainable goals. They also learn to identify their individual strengths and weaknesses which aid them in their recovery, in job searches, and improving their overall self-esteem.
Following the Intensive Outpatient Program, clients move on to an Outpatient Step Down group that meets once a week for twelve weeks.
DWI FIRST OFFENSE:
The State of Connecticut Pre-Trial Alcohol Education Program is available to some drivers after their first arrest for operating under the influence of an intoxicating substance. While generally people assume it is alcohol, it applies to any intoxicating substance, including prescription medications.
Entry into this program for anyone arrested in the State of CT must be on a referral directly from any of the State of CT courts. All payments are made directly to the Courts not to New Directions. The program consists of two different levels determined after an initial interview with the client. Level 1 consists of 15 hours of psycho-therapeutic/ educational group sessions over a 10-week period, as required under Connecticut state statute. The Level 2 program consists 22 ½ hours of 15 week period. All groups meet one time a week for 90 minutes. Classes are scheduled for one day of the week at the same time each week. State statute does not permit clients to change out of a group once the group has started. The following additional requirements must be met: 1) attendance at community support meeting (such as AA) or another type of addiction support group, 2) completion of ongoing drinking/driving journals, 3) completion of at least one report on a relevant topic. Absences are not permitted and active verbal participation is required.
When enrolling in our program, it is with the understanding that at the completion of this program, the group facilitator, all of whom are licensed or certified drug and alcohol counselors will make any appropriate recommendations for treatment if they deem this appropriate.
When required by other States, drug testing and/or alcohol screenings can be arranged through a combination of instant drug testing and saliva screenings for the presence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances.
The State of Connecticut Pre Trial Drug Education Program is for individuals arrested for certain lower level drug charges. You can apply for this program at your first court appearance and consists of the same levels and requirements listed above for the DWI program.
If you are arrested in another State for either a DWI/DUI or drugs and that State requires you to attend education classes we may be able to assist you. Calling to go through a phone screening lets us ask you the questions needed for us to help you determine if our programming will satisfy the state in which your arrest happened.
WINDSOR LOCKS WELLNESS COALITION: WHERE WE BEGAN
The Windsor Locks Wellness Coalition (formerly SAPAC) is a community coalition established in 2005. In 2012 the name was changed to the WINDSOR LOCKS WELLNESS COALITION. This Coalition is comprised of representatives from 12 sectors of the Windsor Locks community with its initiative aimed at developing healthy and successful youth.
In 2010, SAPAC and the Town of Windsor Locks partnered with New Directions, Inc. under a grant from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to assess the community strengths as well as the extent of substance use. The goal: reduce underage drinking and substance use. The grant requires a public health approach using proven environmental strategies that target a change in behavior and attitudes in a larger community rather than in individual basis. Every sector of our community can help to create positive change in Windsor Locks.