The Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Center Substance Abuse Coordinating Agency (SACA) record group consists of materials from 1970 to 1988 which document the coordination of substance abuse prevention and treatment efforts in Washtenaw and Livingston counties. Overall strengths of the collection include materials which document the agency's approaches to management, credentialing, and funding, and the records of the Michigan Association of Substance Abuse Coordinators, a statewide network of coordinating agency administrators.
This record group can be studied to gain insight into the actual processes involved in coordinating a variety of local service provider agencies by SACA, which is in the middle echelon of the state substance abuse hierarchy. The researcher can also gain an understanding of how, and what types of information flow up and down that hierarchy. Agency functions, as listed previously in the History section, which are well documented are the development of comprehensive plans, review of license applications, and the preparation of annual budget requests.
This agency is the focal point for the allocation of federal and state funds for substance abuse in Washtenaw and Livingston Counties. The researcher can gain an understanding of the myriad types of substance abuse services local agencies provide, including prevention, casefinding, emergency care, intermediate care, inpatient care, outpatient care and rehabilitative/supportive care.
The record group consists of folders arranged alphabetically within four series. The Administrative Files and Agencies and Programs series have been maintained in their original order, while the Professional and Citizen Advocacy Groups and Topical Files series are artificial groupings created to facilitate order and access to the records.
The history of substance abuse coordination by the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Center (WCCMHC) dates back to 1970 when the center received a mandate from the state to provide a coordination effort in drug programming for Washtenaw County. In 1971 the Office of Drug Program Coordination (ODPC) was established by the Center and the first Comprehensive Drug Plan for Washtenaw County was drafted.
Coordination of substance abuse services received its current legislative mandate by Public Act 56 (PA 56) of the Michigan Public Health Acts of 1973. Prior to this time, agencies were classified as dealing with either alcohol or drug problems. PA 56 combined all of these agencies into one coordination system under the direction of the Office of Substance Abuse Services (OSAS). The Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Services Board (WCCMHSB) was initially designated the Substance Abuse Coordinating Agency for the county by the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners in 1974, as authorized under PA 56. The redesignation of ODPC as the Office of Substance Abuse Coordination reflects the increased responsibilities under PA 56.
WCCMHC serves the following functions in order to fulfill the responsibilities of substance abuse coordination:
- Development of a comprehensive county plan for substance abuse treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention services.
- Collection and transfer of data from local licensed agencies.
- Preparation and submission of an annual budget request for the allocation of state-administered substance abuse program funds.
- Establishment of subcontracts with local agencies to provide direct services.
- Regular evaluation of substance abuse services in the county.
- Provision of technical assistance to local substance abuse service organizations.
These functions allow the Coordinating Agency to exert considerable control over county-wide priorities and budgets and some control over programming and policies by virtue of its role in the licensing process.
Community input regarding drug issues and services was provided through the Drug Advisory Council until 1975, when the council was reconstituted as the Substance Abuse Advisory Council (SAAC) in keeping with its new role under PA 56. The twenty-five citizen members provide community input directly to WCCMHSB by their review of the annual "Comprehensive Plan", and comments on substance abuse issues and the effectiveness of services.
In 1976 the Michigan Department of Public Health, in an effort to eliminate duplication and high administrative costs, consolidated the Livingston and Washtenaw County Coordinating Agencies. The consolidated Livingston-Washtenaw Substance Abuse Coordinating Agency is governed solely by the WCCMHSB. Input, direction and guidance are provided by the Bi-County SAAC, and by licensed substance abuse programs, local municipalities, and the general public. A forum is made available at regular Board meetings as well as regular meetings of the Advisory Council for input from all of the above-named groups.
