MAKING A DIFFERENCE : One Agency’s Approach: Conquer Addiction With Literacy.

One in three of the clients who enter Los Angeles County’s Antelope Valley Rehabilitation Centers are functionally illiterate. Drug-addicted and alcoholic residents who learn basic language and math skills have higher rates of recovery, employment and educational attendance.

MILESTONES

1988

One in three residents of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services’ Antelope Valley Rehabilitation Centers read at or below the seventh-grade level, finds Associate Director Richard Rioux. He applies for and receives a $57,000 grant for adult literacy from the California Department of Education.

January, 1989

The Antelope Valley’s Warm Springs and Acton Rehabilitation Centers introduce the Language Improvement Program for residents who suffer from alcoholism or drug addiction.

March, 1989

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approves a $125,000 contract to provide additional literacy training at the rehabilitation centers.

November, 1990

A $30,000 grant from the California Community Foundation underwrites a six-month study of LIP program participants a how-to manual and preliminary groundwork for a national conference on literacy and recovery.

April, 1991

VISTA volunteers offer mini-workshops to other agencies interested in trying literacy programs.

March, 1992

Rehabilitation Centers host National How-to Conference on Literacy and Recovery.

December, 1992

More than 1,700 residents have received literacy instruction. More than 800 volunteers have received training as literacy tutors.

THE PROGRAM

Test all new residents’ reading and math skills.

Recruit as students residents who test poorly. Recruit as tutors those who test well. Participation is optional.

Match students and tutors based on common interests and experiences.

Provide weekly training for tutors.

Arrange for students to meet with tutors at least three times each week.

RESULTS

Stay with rehab program until completion:

Residents who choose to participate in literacy program-- 80% Residents who decline to participate in literacy program-- 55% Status six months after completing 90-day rehab program:

Residents who choose to participate in literacy program sober-- 79% employed-- 51% in school-- 46% Residents who decline to participate in literacy program sober-- 41%

employed-- 15%

in school-- 12%

Source: Study conducted by VISTA volunteers with a grant from the California Community Foundation.

Editors note: Since program participants are not randomly selected, this study is indicative, but not conclusive, concerning the program’s benefits.

WHAT MAKES THIS WORK?

“If you’ve been around recovery (programs) a long time you recognize that unless a person has hope for the future the chances of recovery are slim. What’s the reason to give up your habit, to give up your desire for alcohol or drugs, if there’s nothing out there for you? It’s a subjective evaluation, but the program has to do with building hope in the individual so that there’s a purpose to giving up alcohol or drugs.”

Dr. Richard Rioux, Associate Director, Antelope Valley Rehabilitation Center