ADP Director
Key Initiatives
Prevention
Treatment
Improving Quality of Care
Women
Employment Opportunities
Director's MessageA Message from the Director, Renée Zito
As Director of the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP), I am honored to have been appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to lead California’s alcohol and drug treatment and prevention efforts. With an extensive background in the addictions field, I understand the necessity of providing effective programs that will benefit not only those in our prevention and treatment programs but their families and communities. My goal as Director of ADP is that every alcohol and other drug service provider in California should meet standards of care that are higher than what we have in place now.
At ADP, we are committed to reducing alcohol abuse, drug addiction and problem gambling through prevention, treatment and recovery support services so that Californians may lead healthy and productive lives. Our vision is to have Californians understand that alcoholism, drug addiction and problem gambling are chronic conditions that can be successfully prevented and treated.
Women’s treatment issues are an important passion of mine. I have created the Office of Women’s and Perinatal Services (OWPS) with the goal that every woman in California will have access to high quality, gender specific and trauma informed alcohol and drug services. Many women drop out of treatment in the first 30 days, so it’s important to me to work with stakeholders to identify the barriers to treatment success, and ways to improve treatment retention rates and outcomes in our treatment system. OWPS recently convened a panel of experts in women’s treatment to develop a framework for standards of care. This framework includes minimum standards for treatment as well as a gold standard for programs that wish to provide a higher level of service. ADP is currently working to develop a women’s treatment certification for counselors who treat female clients.
The Department is also focusing on other issues this year that include improvement in the delivery of Proposition 36 as well as combating a surge in methamphetamine abuse in California. Proposition 36, also known as the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act (SACPA), was passed in 2000 by California voters allowing non-violent drug offenders to receive treatment rather than incarceration. Proposition 36 was reauthorized with reforms that created the Offender Treatment Program, which includes an incentive program to encourage counties to establish best practices for the program.
Under my direction, we are focusing on using data for program improvements. ADP continues to fund a statewide evaluation of SACPA conducted by UCLA. The results of the research and evaluation are currently being used to propose and adopt treatment improvements for counties and treatment providers to achieve greater client accountability and better program outcomes. The data provided through our recently implemented statewide outcome measurement system will be used to improve client and program outcomes and increase accountability for our scarce public funds.
In order to combat the growing methamphetamine problem, ADP is kicking off a methamphetamine public education and information campaign. The campaign will target men who have sex with men and women through outreach and public education.
These are just a few of ADP’s priorities this year, but make sure to check our website for more information on the rest of our programs and new developments. www.adp.ca.gov
I look forward to working with you, and I will insure that ADP continues to strive for the highest quality of care for Californians.
Director