The University of New Mexico’s Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions (CASAA) Runaway and Homeless Youth Program will host an open house in conjunction with The Life Link on Monday, Aug. 22, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. A press conference will also be held at 3 p.m.
The open house and press conference, which will be held at CASAA’s drop-in facility located at 317 Washington S.E., will mark the transition of CASAA’s Homeless and Runaway Youth Program to The Life Link, a non-profit organization offering supporting housing and behavioral health services. The program specializes in best-practice treatment models and extensive homeless outreach and prevention services.
Various special guests are tentatively scheduled to attend, including: Rep. Sheryl Stapleton; State Senator Cisco McSorley; Mary Dale Bolson, secretary, Children, Youth, Families Department; Dorian Dodson, director, Protective Services; and U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman.
CASAA’s Homeless and Runaway Youth Program began as a research grant to determine whether providing different forms of assistance to homeless and near homeless youth between 14 and 24 years old, including pretreatment and follow-up assessments, would be successful. For years, CASAA has provided a future for troubled youth through its evidence-based therapeutic technique known as Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) developed by CASAA’s Dr. Robert Meyers. Even though funding for the project is ending, UNM has committed to working with a local agency to ensure that services will continue to this underserved population.
The Life Link, a Santa Fe based organization, will continue many of the components of the CASAA program and will have services available in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Researchers at UNM say this is a good transition. The CASAA program is research based rather than an ongoing operational program. The Life Link in Santa Fe has been running Homeless Adult and Family Programs for years and is using the same treatment modality that UNM-CASAA has been using with youth and homeless adults.
Founder and Executive Director Carol Luna-Anderson operates The Life Link, an organization that was awarded the “Best in America” seal of approval from the Independent Charities of America Association.
“This is an exciting endeavor for us,” said Luna-Anderson. “Expanding services and bringing our 18 years of experience addressing all aspects of homelessness into the Albuquerque community will be a challenge, but one that will provide successful outcomes. Reaching the youth, influencing their lives today, so that they can have a future. This is our motivation.”
Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821
Posted by scarr at August 19, 2005 10:00 AM