Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC), Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Overview of ASAC Heart of Iowa

Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) Heart of Iowa offers treatment services to pregnant women and women with children against addiction and substance abuse. The mission at ASAC is to provide accessible and comprehensive substance abuse services to troubled women in a compassionate, respectful, and dignified manner. The center offers a complete continuum of care which starts from Prevention and Intervention and then consequently moves through the different levels of care in the treatment. The program is specifically designed for women with children who cannot join any other treatment program because of leaving their kids during treatment. Heart of Iowa offers quality childcare services and educational opportunities to children of women suffering from substance abuse. These services help female patients to focus on their treatment with the assurance that their children are in good hands during the time they receive treatment while they will be back with them during breaks and at night time. The center offers residential treatment and recovery services to clients along with literacy programming, tutoring, and GED classes. Clients are also offered vocational assistance and taught independent living skills so that they could be self-sufficient and be ready to contribute to society once they leave the center after completion of treatment.

Housing and Food at ASAC

The Heart of Iowa campus of ASAC is located in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The campus is built as a set of units each with twelve apartments where residents stay with their children. There are a total of thirty-six apartments, each with two or three bedrooms. Apartments are fully furnished and are comprised of bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room, a dining room, and a fully-equipped kitchen. Each client stays in one room with her children. Pregnant women without children share bedrooms. Each bedroom is furnished with beds for clients and cots for children. Closets, desks, and chairs are also provided in the bedrooms. Each apartment has one bathroom that all residents share. There are meeting rooms and classes in the campus where patients are offered educational lectures, counseling sessions, and GED classes. Residents of each apartment are responsible for cooking their meals three times a day. All ingredients and products for cooking are supplied by the center. All residents eat together in the dining room. The campus also provides licensed childcare facilities for children of patients. There are playgrounds and play areas available for them. The campus also houses classrooms where older children are provided with academic education and summer programming.

Treatment Options

The different treatment options available at ASAC are:

• Outpatient Program
• Residential Program
• Halfway House
• Transitional Housing Program

The following substances’ abuse is treated at ASAC:

• Alcohol
• Illegal Drugs
• Prescription Drugs

Therapies

ASAC offers the following therapies to its clients:

• Individual Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Case Management Services
• Mental Health Counseling
• Life Skills Training
• Family Therapy

Payment Options at ASAC

ASAC Heart of Iowa offers residential treatment services for addiction to pregnant women and women with children. The center offers good-quality family living along with licensed childcare services for children. The cost of an assessment is $192 whereas all other costs of treatment are based on each individual’s case. Each client’s household income and size is taken into consideration while devising treatment plans and costs. A sliding scale cost is then finalized for each client and her family. The center also accepts insurance payments from a number of insurance companies. The admissions staff can provide all relevant financial information to prospective clients.

Licenses and Accreditations

ASAC Heart of Iowa has the following accreditations and licenses:
Licensed by the Iowa Department of Public Health, Division of Behavioral Health.

ASAC Heart of Iowa Advantages

ASAC Heart of Iowa has been offering its treatment services to women suffering from addiction and substance abuse issues for many years. Pregnant women and women with children are offered an opportunity to recover while having their children around them. This helps women stay focused on their treatment journey without any stressors or worries regarding their children. During their stay at the facility, women are provided with regular medical care including gynecological exams, OB checks, and any additional medical care. Women are offered independent living skills education which includes budgeting, meal planning, nutrition, and parenting skills that help them structure their lives. Clients are offered vocational training to help them get back on their feet once they leave the center. Children of patients are offered educational classes and academic programming so that they do not miss out on their education during the time their mothers are receiving treatment at the facility.

Staff at ASAC Heart of Iowa

ASAC Heart of Iowa provides drug and alcohol treatment services to women while giving them the opportunity to keep their children with them during treatment. Apart from treatment services of female patients, the staff members also provide licensed child care facilities and educational classes to children of patients. The staff at Heart of Iowa is comprised of a leadership team, a clinical team, a medical team, an education team, an administrative team, and support staff. The leadership team comprises directors, managers, and other administrative leads. The clinical team comprises counselors, social workers, licensed social workers, addiction specialists, and case managers. The medical team is comprised of doctors, gynecologists, nurses, and nurse practitioners. The education team includes Master-level education specialists and lecturers who provide academic education to children. The team also comprises specialists who provide GED classes and vocational training to clients. The administrative staff includes all technicians, assistants, admission officers, financial officers, and other members who help in administrative tasks of the facility. The support staff helps in the smooth functioning of the campus by assisting the administrative team.