SACC is certified by state as prevention service provider

By DREW STAMBAUGH

Expositor News Editor

The Swanton Area Community Coalition (SACC) is now certified for prevention services. The drug-use prevention organization is now deemed prevention certified by the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS).

"This certification shows that we are recognized by the State of Ohio and are fully qualified and capable of providing prevention services," said Adorn Grabarczyk, director of Community Outreach for SACC. "In a nutshell, we are not just a group of people offering services without specific training and qualifications to do so."

Last year, SACC was awarded a grant from the Center for Non-profit Resources in Toledo. The grant allowed the organization the opportunity to hire and work closely with an independent prevention certification consultant to meet the ODADAS requirements.

"The Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) states prevention standards are applicable to all prevention programs regardless of funding source," said Grabarczyk. "Therefore, SACC needed to be compliant with our policies and procedures in order to meet these standards."

The standards necessitated that SACC add roughly 200 new policies to their employee handbook and bylaws explaining what the coalition expects from employees and members. Employees also had to attend specific training such as cultural diversity and first aid.

"We worked very hard on changing our company policies and procedures to reflect the requirements of both ODMH and ODADAS certification standards, said Grabarczyk. "All present and future SACC employees must be certified or licensed with the Chemical Dependency Professionals Board or be a registered applicant and complete the education and hours necessary to do so."

The organization is now the only licensed prevention coalition in Fulton County and Grabarczyk believes there is only one in Lucas County.

"This is a wonderful accomplishment for us," she said. "This status gives SACC eligibility for ODADAS funding opportunities in the future and will allow for accurate descriptions and marketing of who SACC is, what SACC does and why SACC is valuable to the community. SACC will continue to promote our mission and make positive impacts on our community members."