Guilford County awards recovery center contract to Volunteers of America

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners is one step closer to realizing a Women with Children Recovery Center after it unanimously approved a $377,000 service contract last week. 

The contract was awarded to Volunteers of America of the Carolinas using funds from the county’s opioid settlement. Services offered in the center will focus on residential recovery treatment and withdrawal management for expectant mothers and mothers experiencing substance use disorder with children up to 12 years old. 

High experience, lowest bid

Based on early estimates, Volunteers of America aims to operate a 28-bed facility serving around 150 mothers and their children annually.
 
The decision followed a recommendation from an evaluation committee consisting of behavioral and public health staff, Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services administrators and the county manager’s office. 

According to the committee’s written recommendation, Volunteers of America stood out among the three bids placed for the contract due to its track record working with similar populations, experience with health insurance organizations and for putting forth the lowest bid of three applicants. 

Family Focused Recovery

Vice President of Carolinas Programs for Volunteers of America Ron Flack says his organization has used what he calls a "family-focused recovery model" for more than 25 years in centers and programs across multiple states. 

“It includes three basic components,” Flack said. “It includes an outreach and engagement component, a residential treatment component, and recovery with clinical services and a wraparound approach.”

Per the organization’s submission to the county, the Volunteers for America model will also offer follow-up services for moms after they leave the center through outpatient treatment, the organization’s Mom2Mom peer support program and housing support. 

With the funds now approved, Volunteers of America will first hire and train a program manager, case manager and therapist for the center. 

Two-phase plan

In a media release announcing the contract approval, Guilford County Commissioner Kay Cashion said the support the recovery center could provide will improve health outcomes for children and help their mothers get access to housing and employment. 

“We are not taking a Band-Aid approach to care, rather we want to address the root causes of addiction and relapse and help families succeed,” Cashion said.

The commissioner’s contract approval marks the start of the first of two phases for establishing the recovery center. Phase two of the plan will see the center opening after getting the proper licenses and permits and beginning the process of residential treatment. 

According to an agenda item from the county’s Aug. 1 Board of Commissioners meeting, phase two will likely be funded by opioid settlement and American Rescue Plan Act funds from the county. 

The new center will be located in Gibson Park, where Daymark Recovery Services currently operates. The project is still in its early phases and no opening date has been set.