The Gavin Foundation

Commitment To Effective Services Provided By Well-Trained Staff

Well-Trained & Supervised Staff: Gavin Foundation has a comprehensive program to promote learning, which includes community partnerships generating scholarship and other financial support for staff and graduates wishing to purse education. In addition, monthly, in-service develop and hone staff skills. In-service sessions include such topics as:

Substance use disorders
Treatment Planning
Relapse prevention
HIV/AIDS, and HepC prevention and treatment
Addictive Behaviors
Psychopharmacology

All Gavin Foundation staff receive regular supervision. Direct service staff are supervised by licensed clinicians.

Effective Programming: Gavin employs evidence-based practices in all of its treatment programs, including:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: recommended to assist individuals, including offenders, in identifying, correcting and eliminating thinking errors, and to distinguish among feelings, thoughts and facts. CBT is a component of NREPP listed programs, MET-CBT, 12-Step Facilitation, and A-CRA. Gavin applies this methodology in all settings.
Motivational Enhancement-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MET-CBT) 5 and 7: documented to be effective with marijuana users, Gavin staff are trained and certified in using MET-CBT.
12-Step Facilitation: Gavin uses this manualized methodology to engage individuals in 12-Step group participation. Gavin provides substantial ‘scaffolding’ of 12-step involvement through its community based AAWOL program.
12-Step Participation: involvement in 12-step programs facilitates recovery and integration in communities by providing opportunities for form positive, supportive relationships with individuals and groups. Gavin structures 12-step involvement by requiring participation in the AAWOL program for all TIP enrollees, and all clients of residential rehabilitation programs.
A-CRA: A 12- to 14-session, community based manual-guided treatment that uses individualized, flexible behavioral approaches focusing on the development of coping skills for both the youth and the primary caregivers.
Relapse Prevention: Evidence based methodologies Gavin uses (motivational interviewing and enhancement; MET-CBT; 12-step participation) have been shown to promote skill development and attitude change contributing to preventing relapse. Gavin has recently implemented a new evaluation system which uses the Alcohol & Drug Self-Efficacy Scale, an instrument which has clinical applications in identifying individual vulnerabilities for relapse.

Assessing Effectiveness: Mindful that continued growth and improvement requires periodic assessment and reflection, Gavin Foundation has established a comprehensive system of program evaluation and client and staff feedback. This system includes:

Alcohol & Drug Self-Efficacy Scale: A 20-item instrument, using a 5 point scale to measure confidence to refrain from drinking alcohol or using drugs during the past week. In addition to serving as a reliable, valid outcome measure, this scale allows clinicians to differentiate specific relapse risk-related circumstances.
12 Step Participation Questionnaire: A questionnaire with 10 items related to active involvement in 12-step programs, and one item allowing client to check off which steps he or she has worked.
Client Self-Evaluation: A 15 item instrument using a 5 point scale to measure client assessment of self-esteem and decision making ability. It is made up of two subscales, self-esteem and decision-making, drawn from the Texas Christian University, Institute of Behavioral Research Client Evaluation of Self and Treatment Scale.
Satisfaction Surveys: Clients and families of youth program residents are asked to complete quarterly surveys, rating their satisfaction with services, the effectiveness of services received, interactions with staff, and their own progress.