A community based addictions recovery and family care service

Process of Recovery Aims
Facilitating the restoration of the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual lives of individuals and families who have been affected by substance misuse

Ultimate goal
Drug-free Lifestyle

B-Attitudes Inc. commenced on 14th January 2002, evolving from Churchill Community Care, which commenced on 13th January 2001, on the initiative of a Community Care worker and two Clinical Nurses. All three founding members have 10 years experience in drug dependency intervention in the community, and this includes 4 years experience in caring for individuals undergoing rapid opiate detoxification. They have each seen over 4000 receive rapid opiate detoxifications and have cared for them on the day, immediately post detox and in their recovery afterwards. All three are currently studying advanced training in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy, registered with W.P.A.T.A, and I.T.A.A. The service is a member of W.A.N.A.D.A. and participates in the Quality Framework.

On commencement, the three saw the need for a non-residential community based facility in the metropolitan area of Perth as imperative to provide a free community service to better attend the recovery needs of clients and the support needs of their families and significant others, including parenting and relationship skills. To contracted clients B-Attitudes provides flexible around-the-clock availability of therapeutic relationship and connectedness in the community. The service networks as an adjunct and link to other agencies thus ensuring continuity of care and client engagement in the drug and alcohol recovery network.

To better provide this service, independent funding for the running costs and base has been sought. As a result , Churchill Community Care became incorporated at the end of 2001 and renamed B-Attitudes Inc. (Reference to Matthew 5). B-Attitudes gained an ABN registration on 27th March 2002, and endorsement as an income tax exempt charitable entity on 21st March 2002. Endorsement as a deductible gift recipient as a public benevolent institution was issued in July 2002, effective from 7th March 2002. Charitable Collections Licence was gained in 2007.
A community base in Subiaco was secured on 28th March 2002 to continue the much needed service, offering help to people with alcohol and/or opiate, amphetamine, marijuana, benzodiazepine and other drug addictions, and also to provide family mediation and support for significant others. The base was funded by donations from community groups, and individuals for 2 ½ years – rental provided for the first year by The Humanity Trust, with provision for the second and third year by the Belgravia Group. Soroptimist International, Perth and South Perth divisions, have supported the service throughout in many ways.

Donations covered some running costs, including land line, mobile phone costs, electricity, printer ink and stationery. This provided a base where a holistic approach, incorporating networking, was developed to facilitate recovery, hope and the building of positive living and relationship skills. The founding members worked unpaid for 2 ½ years from 2002 until B-Attitudes was awarded a 2-year Federal Department of Health and Ageing funding grant from 2004 under the National Illicit Drug Strategy, which was renewed for a further 2 years from 2006-2008. B-Attitudes were informed 2 weeks before the end of the 2008 financial year that this funding grant will not be renewed.

Rent doubled in 2005 and to be cost effective, it was decided to give up the fixed base in January 2006 and Soroptimist International of Perth have made available the use of their room in West Perth for meetings free of charge. Service delivery has not been affected, as the base was mostly used for Management Committee meetings and most clients seen in community settings or their own home.

Lotterywest supported a feasibility, strategic and business plan in 2007 and subsequently supported the purchase a mobile office/people mover vehicle which doubles as conference/counselling setting taking the team to the people.

Individuals receive free care, which is resource intensive, from the qualified B-Attitudes recovery facilitators. The majority of clients seeking help are between 16 and 28 years of age, of all cultures and socioeconomic status. Mentoring and help with life skills and relationships to maintain a life in recovery is offered. B-Attitudes also focuses on family and significant others, especially children. Most significant others are traumatised and distressed and need support and help to cope with the effects of another’s substance abuse behaviours. Their loved one may or may not be a client of B-Attitudes. A proportion of significant others are children, mostly primary school age, whose physical and emotional health needs may be assessed by one of the nurses, who is qualified in child and family health.

Ongoing fundraising initiatives to facilitate the training of other recovery facilitators, increase service availability and cover vehicle running costs, include the production of a promotional DVD, filming of which has commenced.

> More information about the founding members...