1. CO-OCCURING DISORDERS
WELCOMING EXPECTATIONS for
INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS

2. Objectives Understand and accept the primary goal of welcoming
Understand the meaning of welcoming
Prepare for the way welcoming will affect you and your program
Implement welcoming in your program
Learn how to make referrals that are welcoming

3. What is the primary goal of welcoming?
REMEMBER THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO MAKE A FIRST CONNECTION THAT IS:
Cordial
Informative
Hopeful and
Empathic

4. What does welcoming mean?
Clients with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health issues are expected-they are NOT exceptions
There is “no wrong door” to facilitate engagement in services
Screening routinely will include substance use and mental disorders to recognize the population and plan for treatment needs

5. What doesn’t welcoming mean?
Welcoming does NOT mean that a program must treat all of these clients
RATHER, IT DOES MEAN
Programs will provide services they have, if appropriate, AND
Help clients find the other services they need

6. How your program will be affected
Persons with dual diagnoses should be expected to show up routinely
Some of them will be actively using
Policies and procedures need to address dual diagnosis:
Assessment
Treatment
Medication
Discharge planning
Programming etc.

7. How your program will be affected (continued)
Clinicians must develop familiarity with diagnostic criteria for abuse vs. dependence and for common mental disorders
Intake assessment should include integrated substance abuse history and mental health history to identify probable concerns or diagnoses

8. How your program will be affected (continued)
Treatment and referral should address dual diagnosis problems and goals openly
Treatment and referral should be stage-specific i.e. meeting the client where he or she is in the stages of change
REMINDER: Welcoming does not mean that each program must treat all of these clients, rather...
Clients will obtain the services you have, if appropriate, and you will help them find other services they need

9. Ways to implement welcoming
Routinely accept those with co-occurring disorders
Directly communicate to them that the program does accept them
Staff behaviors reflect welcoming:
Voice (tone, volume, speed...)
Body language (eye contact, posture...)
Use of language (pleasant, calm communication...)

10. Making referrals
If you are not the appropriate program for an individual, then it is imperative to help the person make the connection to a program that is appropriate by doing more than merely giving a phone number
Remember to be: cordial, informative, hopeful, and empathic