Satellites contribute to excellent service delivery in rural counties and GCASA leads the way.

For a rural substance abuse agency in Western New York State, GCASA is very innovative and has done many innovative things. These things are not rocket science, but they do add up to excellent service delivery.

Serving Genesee and Orleans Counties with a combined population of 100,000 people transportation becomes a major barrier for people in accessing outpatient services especially when they may have lost driver's licenses because of DWIs.

Over the last 10 years GCASA has embarked on developing satellite clinics at the western and eastern perimeters of both counties. In addition to the main clinic in Batavia in Genesee county, GCASA also operates a satellite clinic which is celebrating its 10 year this month, May, 2009 in LeRoy, and another satellite in Indian Falls.

Likewise, GCASA operates two satellites in addition to its main Orleans County clinic in Albion in Holley and in Medina.

In 2008 these satellites produced the following units of service:

LeRoy = 1,429
Indian Falls = 761
Medina = 703
Holley = 520

All the satellites covered their own expenses except Holley which came close.

Staff who operate in the satellites have to work very independently registering clients, providing clinical services, making the coffee, turning on the heat and lights, etc.

GCASA has excellent counselors in its satellites with Bill Preston in LeRoy, Jim Garber in Indian Falls, Bill Carpenter and now Mike Wright in Medina, and Alan Nersinger in Holley.

The Assistant Director for Treatment in charge of satellites in Genesee County is John Walker and in Orleans County is Kathy Hodgins.

GCASA strives to provide excellent care to its service area and its ability to take services to clients in rural areas is outstanding. We know of no other agency in New York State who has the service delivery strategy as fully developed as GCASA does.

GCASA is proud of its accomplishments and its staff who make it happen.

GCASA employee longevity contributes to great service!

I asked GCASA staff what they thought about working at GCASA? How are we doing from a human resources management perspective. I got some interesting feedback.

One employee said that she is amazed at the number of employees who came to GCASA right out of college and who have stayed here for a number of years because of the work opportunities to try new things, grow in their jobs, and professional develop in the agency.

I asked Kim Corcoran, GCASA's Director of Human Resources, to do a little research on the longevity and here is what she found out.

Out of 97 employees, 37% or 36 have been at GCASA 6 years or longer.

Out of 97 employees, 9% or 9 have been at GCASA 11 years or longer.

Out of 97 employees, 6% or 6 have been at GCASA 16 years or longer.

I don't know how this compares to other community based non-profit substance abuse agencies, but it strikes me as unusually good. Having long term dedicated employees enables GCASA to provide high quality, caring services to its clients and referral agents.

Recently, I have heard of a lot of other agencies which have had high turnovers of staff which is very disruptive to clients, agency operations, and collaborative relationships with other providers.

GCASA can be very proud of creating work environments and work teams where people are engaged, enthusiastic, and care about their work.

What enables effective team performance in the human services?

Erica G. Foldy, NYU Assistant Professor of Public and Nonprofit Management, discusses how to enable teams of social workers to be more effective.

Video lasts 4:03.



I wonder if this information is applicable to Substance abuse treatment teams and Substance abuse prevention teams.

What made a difference for effective team functioning?

1. Clear direction, purpose, and mission.
2. Clear membership of the team - Who's in and who's out.
3. Effective team leader
4. Support for team activities from superiors
5. Team's capacity for reflection on their own experience.

I wonder if we could do a better job at GCASA on the development and management of work teams?