Service coordination is the action that brings the client, treatment services, and community resources together in order to address issues and needs identified in the treatment plan. It includes case management and client advocacy; all of this to enable the client to achieve specified goals.

Services coordination includes these three main activities:

• Implementing the Treatment Plan
• Consulting
• Continuing Assessment and Treatment Planning

Implementing the Treatment Plan

Our goals in this area are:

• To initiate collaboration with the referral sources.
• To obtain, review, and interpret information from screening and assessment processes.
• To make sure that our client is eligible for admission into specific treatment.
• To assess readiness for treatment and change.
• To complete necessary administrative procedures for admission to treatment.
• To establish accurate treatment and recovery goals with the client, making sure the family is also involved. Things to discuss with our client and his/her family are:
  • Nature of services
  • Program goals
  • Procedures
  • Rules of conduct
  • Schedule of treatment activities
  • Cost of treatment
  • Duration of care
  • Client’s rights and responsibilities
  • Effects of treatment and recovery on client and significant others

Consulting

Our main goal here is to continuously evaluate our client’s recovery process and the problems interfering with this progress, always considering the client’s background and treatment plan. This action will provide us, the counselors, with good feedback to adjust the treatment. Our main responsibilities are:

• To be familiar with methods for assessing the client’s past and present biopsychosocial status.
• To understand the terminology, procedures, and functions of other disciplines related to the treatment of substance abuse disorders.
• To collaborate as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team.
• To maintain confidentiality and respect regulations.
• To establish and maintain nonjudgmental relationships with clients and service providers.

Continuing Assessment and Treatment Planning

We are responsible for maintaining an ongoing contact with client and   involved significant other to make sure they are following the treatment as planned. Although we cannot make the client do anything, including staying in treatment, we can still try to engage the client and significant others in the treatment process. Therefore, we need to:

• Understand the stages of change
• Assess treatment and recovery progress in consultation with our client and significant others
• Make appropriate modifications to the treatment plan
• Describe and document the treatment process, progress, and outcomes accurately
• Engage the client and significant others with continuing care
• Help the client develop a relapse prevention plan
• Address confrontation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving with the client
• Discuss discharge planning with the client and significant others.

TAP 21