The evidence is clear -- treatment for alcohol and other drug problems is a critical component of welfare reform. Treatment is one successful strategy to end long-term public assistance dependency.

Case managers with the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) who work with public assistance clients realize that substance abuse is among major obstacles some clients have in moving into the work force and toward self-sufficiency. And statistics compiled by SRS's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Commission (ADAS) show that treatment for alcohol and drug problems works: once through treatment, people can lead more stable and productive lives.

Recognizing the barriers of addiction and the positive effects of treatment led SRS to begin a drug and alcohol abuse screening program for public assistance recipients in the jobs program, KanWork. The screening was called for by the 1996 Kansas Legislature and begun by SRS Nov. 1.

Under the program, if sufficient indicators of possible substance abuse exist, the KanWork case manager will refer a client to Regional Alcohol and Drug Assessment Centers (RADAC) for further screening and an overall assessment. If the assessment by RADAC indicates there is a drug or alcohol problem, clients are set up in a treatment program that matches their need.

Alcohol and drug treatment can result in major, life-saving benefit to clients and their families," said SRS Secretary Rochelle Chronister. Treatment works and can lead to healthier and happier lives.

Getting clients into treatment can also be of major benefit to welfare reform," she said. In Kansas, reform has as its centerpiece moving recipients from public assistance to the work force. Drug testing and subsequent treatment is a big part of any successful strategy for ending welfare dependency."

The results of a recent Kansas State University Study show the positive effects of ADAS-funded alcohol and drug treatment. The study reported the average monthly income from employment at six months after treatment increased 33 times over employment income prior to entering treatment. From before treatment to the follow-up period after treatment, there was a 50 percent increase in the number of days worked in the previous month.

The drug screening program is a coordinated effort between SRS caseworkers in the Income Maintenance/Employment Preparation Services Commission (IM/EPS), SRS Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (ADAS), and the Regional Alcohol and Drug Assessment Center (RADAC).

For SRS caseworkers, clients who meet one of the following criteria are referred to RADAC for drug and alcohol screening:

*A positive outcome from administering a series of questions in a drug and alcohol screening instrument.

*Well-documented incidence of intoxication while in the SRS office.

*Dismissal from employment or any EPS activity for substance abuse related causes.

*Any substance abuse related legal problems such as a DUI conviction.

*Participant admission or a medical diagnosis that an alcohol or drug-related problem with abuse or dependency exists.

ADAS Commissioner Andrew O'Donovan said there is a definite link between efforts at welfare reform and efforts to curb alcohol and other substance abuse. He pointed to national figures, which show that substance abuse problems act as barriers to self-sufficiency and affect as many as one in five persons who head households receiving public assistance.

If welfare reform is going to work well, we must recognize this problem as a major obstacle and move people into treatment," he said. With treatment, other needed antidotes to welfare dependency such as child care and job search can be successful."

Connie Hubbell, SRS' IM/EPS commissioner, said in order to meet stringent work requirements of the federal welfare reform law, SRS must work with clients who have alcohol and drug problems to help them move into the work force. She said moving those with abuse problems into treatment will help bring this result.

Substance abuse is one of the most frequent barriers to self-sufficiency," she said. What we do to end this barrier will help determine the success of welfare reform."

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001