The Guadalupe Centers, Inc. (GCI) is the longest continually operating organization serving Latinos in the United States. GCI was established in 1919 and became one of the nation’s first social service agencies serving Latinos in the country. GCI is presently celebrating 100 years of service, meeting the needs of Latinos and non-Latinos alike. GCI currently operates as a non profit, non-sectarian agency serving the community from several facilities.  

Among GCI’s programming and services is the Guadalupe Center's Outpatient Treatment Program located at the agency’s Casa Feliz Counseling Center in Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood. The program began in 1991 and is a Level 3-Drug Counseling program certified by the Department of Mental Health and Division of Behavioral Health, and is staffed by bilingual, Spanish/English, qualified counselors. The proposed treatment services and activities will reach an estimated 85 unduplicated Jackson Country residents.  Primarily, but not limited to, Latino adult men and women, who are low income and uninsured, facing life challenges due to use of an or multiple illicit substances. 

The target population resides within the 19 areas of interest identified by Jackson County's COMBAT data, primarily from Northeast Kansas City and South Budd Park among other areas. They are generally referred by the Missouri Department of Corrections as a result of an alcohol/drug related offense.

The program proposes to continue offering alcohol/drug assessments, individual and group counseling, client education, community support services, case management and referral to Medication Awareness Recovery services, as well as referral to psychiatric services with a partnering agency. The program also relies on a Qualified Diagnostician who works on-site with counseling staff to appropriately diagnose participants for admission and/or referral to other treatment settings.

Also new to Guadalupe's treatment approach is the intention to implement a new evidence-based curriculum named Interactive Journaling. It is available in both Spanish and English. This tool focuses on behavior change utilizing motivational strategies, cognitive-behavioral therapy and use of the transtheoretical model of change. 

Additionally, staff have recently completed the certification as Missouri Recovery Support Specialists (MRSS) and this modality is also proposed as a new service.  

The program materials, services and activities are designed to help the target population gain awareness of the impact of their substance use disorder and provides counseling services that support abstinence, as well as other comprehensive services that promote changes in other life areas affected by their use. Additionally, staff will utilize an array of in-house services for a holisitic approach to treatment.  This includes emergency assistance, job training, financial planning, among others.

The program's expected outcome is to reduce or eliminate drug use among the target population through the availability of accessible counseling services. Ultimately, long-term abstinence of substances will lead to a healthier individual, and families will have an increased opportunity to lead a safe and healthy lifestyle, thereby creating a safe and healthy community.

COMBAT Funding: $109,770.00