Please see the following e-mail which has been approved by Director Corsi from the Wyoming Department of Family Services regarding the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) and Prevention Services.
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On July 22, 2016, President Obama signed into law the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). This is the first major federal addiction legislation in 40 years, and the most comprehensive effort undertaken to address the opioid epidemic, encompassing all six pillars necessary for such a coordinated response – prevention, treatment, recovery, law enforcement, criminal justice reform, and overdose reversal. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) establishes a comprehensive, coordinated, balanced strategy to expand prevention and education efforts while also promoting treatment and recovery.
The Wyoming Department of Family Services (Department) would like to coordinate efforts with you, physicians and other medical personnel across the state, to serve children and families who are affected by these difficult situations. The Department, in collaboration with many service providers, works with many families to help them access available services to prevent possible abuse and/or neglect and prevent problems from escalating to a level where there is severe abuse and/or neglect to the child(ren) and a higher level of intervention is needed.
The Department works with the family to identify strengths and needs so they may resolve issues that have become problematic, identify natural supports for the family so the family has a functioning referral network, and locate and provide community services to meet the needs of the family to improve the problems identified by the family.
In efforts to help children and families, the Department would ask that you help us serve those children and families who need assistance now, today. Please make a referral to your local Department of Family Services office if you have knowledge that a parent or parents are affected by an addiction or if you are aware of or suspect any form of abuse and/or neglect so we can serve the family through our Prevention Services.
Thank you in advance for your assistance and please call me directly if we can assist you or our office in any way.
Steve Corsi, PhD
Director, Wyoming Department of Family Services
2300 Capitol Ave
Hathaway Building, 3rd Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0490
(307) 777-5479