Our Mission - The council is dedicated to promoting community and family enrichment through substance abuse education, prevention, intervention, and treatment.
State of the Problem - Substance abuse knows no racial, age, or gender boundaries. The consequences and costs impact our homes, communities, and wallets. Alcohol and drugs are directly connected to poor school performance, high dropout rates, automobile accidents, family violence, poor mental health, lost job productivity and higher insurance costs.
Funding - The council, a private nonprofit organization, is funded through a variety of sources. The majority of the funding is provided through grants from the Department of State Health Services, formerly known as the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Each Grant must have 5% matching local funding from groups like the United Way, county and city governments, civic groups, corporate grants, and fundraising efforts.
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The Hays Caldwell Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, a private non-profit corporation, was formed in 1984 by a grass roots coalition of community and substance abuse professionals concerned about substance abuse and related problems. Originally established to provide prevention and education services, the agency has broadened its focus to include outpatient treatment, counseling, intervention, and treatment referrals.
As a non-profit, 501(c)3 community health organization, HCCADA’s mission is to promote community and family enrichment through substance abuse education, prevention, intervention and treatment. The Council provides a comprehensive coordinated system of programs that provide information, education, prevention, assessment, referral, and advocacy for the community. In Hays and Caldwell counties, the Council is recognized as a major provider of prevention and treatment services. The Council is staffed by a multidimensional team of professionals, including chemical dependency counselors, educators, social workers and therapists.
HCCADA’s past twenty years reflect a history of being awarded federal, state and local grants and contracts for both prevention and treatment. Funding sources have included the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), formerly the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA), United Way, county and city governments, civic groups, corporate grants, and fundraising efforts. The Council is also supported by members who assist through donations of time and talent in addition to financial contributions. Additionally, the Council receives revenue from contracts for services and client fees.
Council Milestones
1984 - Organizational meeting was held November 15, 1984. Volunteers defined goals, established by-laws, articles of incorporation and obtained tax exempt status.
1985 - Start up grant received from Texas Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse (TCADA) for $12,282 to hire director and establish office.
1986 - Began providing school based prevention programs. Expanded program offerings to begin providing community awareness campaigns. Began receiving City of San Marcos and Hays County funding.
1987 - Continued program and financial expansion. Became a United Way funded agency. Received two TCADA early intervention grants – Student Assistance Program (SAP) and Children of Substance Abusers (CSA). Six full-time employees.
1988 - Four school districts participated in school based programs – San Marcos, Hays, Luling and Dripping Springs.
1989 - Lockhart ISD became the 5th school district served. Lending Library established.
1990 - Budget increased to $299,000. Began serving the Wimberley ISD.
1992 - Prarie Lea ISD became the 7th school district served. School based programs serving 19 schools.
1993 - Genesis adolescent outpatient program established.
1994 - Received Council Core Services grant which provided Lockhart satellite office, 1-800 number and screening/assessment services.
1995 - Council assumed responsibility for Drug Free San Marcos and Red Ribbon Campaign.
1996 - Became licensed as adult outpatient treatment provider and offender education provider providing Alcohol Awareness for minors. Took over the Crisis Hotline program.
1997 - 11 employees and operating budget over $420,000.
1998 - During October flood office received 2.5 inches of water Red Ribbon week but still distributed 35,000 ribbons and 5,000 t-shirts.
1999 - School based programs serving 39 schools in 9 school districts.
2000 - Budget of $537,000, 13 staff members and serving 46 schools. Began Lifeskills program for middle school students. First Red Ribbon certified 5K Run was held. Began providing on site UA’s for outpatient clients.
2001 - Began outpatient treatment program at Hays County Juvenile Center. Hosted first 3 day educational seminar. Began Nature of Marijuana class for juvenile offenders.
2002 - Received CSAP grant in partnership with Hays CISD to place 3 social workers on elementary school campuses. Budget of $760,000 and 16 staff members.
2003 - Began Rural Intervention Program for youth on probation in Caldwell County.
FY 2004: HCCADA celebrated its 20th year with many changes. Increases in funding and programs from DSHS brought the budget for FY 2004-2005 to $1,319,935. Existing DSHS funded school based prevention programs (Botvins Life Skills) and school based support groups (Youth Connection) were continued. New programs Brief Strategic Family Therapy and Leadership and Resiliency began Septemer 1, 2004. The Prevention Resource Center (PRC) serving a 30 county area in region 7 also began in September. A website for HCCADA and the PRC were added in November 2004. HCCADA received DSHS funding for the first time for the Genesis supportive outpatient treatment program and the Adult Intensive Outpatient program (IOP) in addition to other DSHS funding. The Genesis outpatient program was added at the Hays CISD IMPACT Center. The apple logo was replaced with a new logo featuring a star with the apple inside, a hand print an outstretched hand. The logo symbolizes the people who have benefited from HCCADA programs and those who will be helped in the future. Ten full time staff members were added for a total of 26 staff members. To accommodate the new programs and additional 1,895 square feet of office space was added in San Marcos on Dutton Drive. HCCADA amended its By-Laws to hold board meetings bi-monthly. HCCADA board voted to replace the Crisis Hotline with the statewide 2-1-1 Texas effective August 31, 2004. HCCADA had been operating the Crisis Hotline since 1997.
FY 2005: TheHealthy Hays three year federal CSAP grant with Hays CISD providing 4 full time case workers on Hays campuses ended on May 27, 2005 reducing funding by $112,546. The Genesis program at Hays IMPACT center was discontinued in May 2005. HCCADA contracted with DSHS to provide treatment services through the Access to Recovery Program (ATR). Caldwell County began again to provide funding that had been discontinued in 2004. HCCADA received $542 and was one of 11 agencies to receive a portion of $10,000 allocated by Caldwell County for human services funding. The Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC) did not continue the funding for the Rural Intervention Program (RIP) provided by HCCADA since 2003. The RIP program was ended July 31, 2005. Clients served under the RIP program will be served by DSHS funded programs. There were 22 full time staff members in 2005.
FY 2006: Board/staff strategic planning retreat was held January 2006. Linda Alexander became Board President. ExecutiveDirector, Sue Cohen, was elected to a two year term as President of the State Association of Substance Abuse Programs. By-Laws were amended in March 2006 to change Board Meetings to monthly. The Lockhart office was moved to 221 N. Main Street in May and was licensed as a site for the Genesis adolescent outpatient program.
FY 2007: Organizational chart restructured. Stacy Batts became Treatment Programs Coordinator and Carla Merritt continued in the Prevention Programs Coordinator Position. A second Adult IOP program was added in September.
FY 2008: A fourth program counselor was added to the Hays County Juvenile Center. A second 16 person weekend group was added to the Adult Intensive Outpatient Program. The Genesis adolescent outpatient program name was changed to Project HOPE. In January, the adolescent outpatient program began using a state mandated curriculum that includes family counseling and home visits. The Hays Impact Center was licensed as a second adolescent outpatient treatment location to serve clients in northern Hays county. In February, the prevention grants were submitted to DSHS for competitive competition. In July, we learned that the PRC grant was awarded to another organization. We were funded for a new YPI curriculum “Project Toward No Drug Abuse.” We were not awarded funding increases in the Prevention programs the budget beginning September 1, 2008 will reflect a $215,000 reduction in prevention programs.
FY 2009: Adolescent Outpatient site at the Impact Center in Buda was closed.
Many changes and growth have occurred over the past 24 years under the leadership and direction of Board Presidents: John Garrison, Marvel Maddox, Bill Hernandez, Pat Price, Scott Friedman, Mark Cusack, Danny Dever, Jo Quinn, Jon McGee, Arturo Cordova, Michele Tuttle, Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, John Roppolo, Linda Alexander, Andrew Cable. Under their direction the organization has grown to be the leader in Hays and Caldwell counties in educational, prevention, intervention and treatment programs.
Since 1984 - 14,000 youth have been served in school based educational support groups 54,414 persons have received information in school based educational programs
Since 1993 - 481 Youth have completed the adolescent outpatient program
Since 1996 - 3,404 youth have completed the Alcohol Awareness Class and 753 Adults have successfully completed the adult outpatient treatment program.
