About ECS

I. Introduction

East Coast Solutions is a program that provides quality, innovative substance abuse services in a difficult fiscal era.  Budget reductions and a history of under funding threaten the existence of quality recovery programs.  Along with diminished gifting by an already overwhelmed citizenry, critical infrastructure needs, and the growing need for program development there is a decreased opportunity to provide high quality recovery programs with area citizens.  However, with current budget projections which show ECS (Earney & CO.) fiscally sound, and the anticipation of moving clients to apartments with more space and which is inclusive in their applications requirements, ECS is in a prime position to maintain and improve existing services for clients in this community.  This plan will address facilitating our mission and striving towards our vision in concert with our core values for the next five years.

With input from the director, and a board selected strategic planning committee, the strategic plan explains the uniqueness of a nonprofit organization with its own regulation, state regulation and accreditation agencies.  Annually, ECS evaluates program development, client services, and funding issues with an annual board review.  Staff, clients, the ECS board and director participate in the evaluation of the program.  Current assessment points to the need to increase funding efforts using marketing expertise to increase exposure (Public Relations), the need to develop a fund balance and improve living arrangements of clients in Stepping Stone Manor.

Also the plan confronts a downward trend for nonprofit organizations in the current socioeconomic environment.  As individuals are feeling less secure in their own finances this has caused a decrease in individuals’ ability to give to non profit organizations.   Today’s reimbursement depends primarily on Medicaid and state funding.  Fortunately, a recent financial report by Earney & Co. demonstrates a healthy financial picture.  The ECS mission is solid and continues to guide staff, the board and clients.   Along with the vision and mission, the board subcommittee examined past accomplishments, solidified its values and developed goals.  To be successful, goals determined by the subcommittee and board as a whole, will warrant new resources.  Resources will be allocated to building improvements for Stepping Stone Manor, Kelly House, and staff recruitment.   Also addressed is the need to update marketing plans to increase exposure of East Coast Solutions as a community resource and identify viable competition in the marketplace.

East Coast Solutions: A History

As the Board of Directors embarks on the development of a strategic plan, a review of the historical development of East Coast Solutions would seem beneficial to understand the agency’s journey.  Such a review and planning will assist the Board and staff in moving the agency forward while pursuing CARF accreditation.

The agency, currently known as East Coast Solutions, initiated services when Stepping Stone, a half-way house for men in recovery, opened its doors to residents in 1974 and was officially licensed in 1984.  By that time, the need for treatment for women was recognized and Pathways opened its doors to women in 1984.  Pathways, a half-way house designed for women, was founded by Mary Kelly (well-known for her active commitment to the recovery community). By 1994, Mary Kelly successfully wrote a grant that allowed the agency to expand services to include a perinatal half-way house for women and children.  This facility was named Kelly House in Mary’s honor and provides residential treatment and parenting supervision for six women and their infants.
In 2001, East Coast Solutions received a CASAWORKS grant which provided residential apartments for women, with children, to continue their recovery as they transitioned into the community.  This program, called SEARISE, opened in the Village of Greenfield which proved to be a challenging location as the apartments were located across the street from a neighborhood where drugs flourished.  Consequently, the program relocated to the Forest Hills Apartments in 2002, where it is currently housed.  However, new screening requirements for these apartments, set in place by the apartment corporate mangers, has restricted the accessibility of these apartments for many potential clients, thus necessitating the need for East Coast Solutions to explore alternative housing units to successfully continue this program.  Currently a complex at 6th St. and Nixon is under investigation to provide housing for these families in recovery.  Then in 2005, a dynamic social work clinician and substance abuse counselor, with excellent managerial skills, Jane Albers, joined East Coast Solutions as the Director.  Jane focused on high standards of clinical practice, and successfully moved SEARISE through the state licensure process with the Division of Facility Services (now named the Division of Health Service Regulation) in 2006.

Meanwhile, on a parallel track, Southeastern Center Mental Health was awarded a grant in 1994 to initiate outpatient services for women in recovery and this program was named New Visions.  While this program was not part of the East Coast Solutions organizational structure initially, it was a significant contribution to the services for women in recovery in the Wilmington community.  However, with the statewide restructuring of the mental health system, Southeastern Center Mental Health was required to divest itself of all direct services.  Hence, the program was put up for bid and East Coast Solutions successfully landed the contract to provide these community based outpatient services to women in 2006. 

Now with a comprehensive service continuum for women in recovery, as well as the half-way house for men, East Coast Solutions is embarking on yet another stage of development which includes the acquisition of accreditation by CARF while developing a strategic plan to enhance the growth and quality of services provided by East Coast Solutions.          

Accreditation and Approval Agencies

East Coast Solutions is approved by state agencies and is has earned a full three-year accreditation by CARF as of 2009, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.  ECS is also endorsed by LME (Local Management Entities.)  Additionally, Kelly House, SEARISE, New Visions and Stepping Stone of ECS are licensed by the Division of Health Service Regulation.

ECS Organization

East Coast Solutions is organized with a mission statement, vision statement and bylaws ratified by the board.  The mission reflects core values of respect for the client and service to the public. The vision statement reflects core values of honesty, transparency and confident competence.  The East Coast Solutions organization functions under bylaws that allow for shared governance through election of the board president.  The board meets monthly with the elected president, administrative presence, and the director of ECS.  A quorum of five members is required on any voting procedure.  The board is currently revising the bylaws to include email voting. 
     
East Coast Solutions administers a number of programs, all designed to support individuals who are in recovery and wish to be self-sufficient, substance-free members of their communities. These programs include:

  • Kelly House, a therapeutic home for women with substance abuse problems who have infants (0-6 months) or who are pregnant.
  • Stepping Stone Manor, a 6-month residential recovery program for men dealing with substance abuse problems.
  • CASAWORKS/SEARISE, a program for women who are 18 years of age or older and have physical custody of a child 11 years of age or younger that provides an integrated drug treatment/job coaching program that leads to self-sufficiency.
  • New Visions, a gender specific substance abuse outpatient treatment abuse program serving pregnant women and women with children with comprehensive substance abuse treatment.

The competitive environment includes organizations such as Coastal Horizons Center, Incorporated; Assisted Care Behavioral Health; Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center; and Wilmington Treatment Center.

Core Values

Respect for the client
We promote a culture of success and improvement for each client who seeks substance abuse treatment at ECS, irrespective of culture, race, ethnicity or any other barrier.

Service to the public
      Serving the community of southeastern North Carolina is a stated goal of ECS.  This is viewed as an opportunity to enhance collaborative partnerships, improve access to our programs and services, and maintenance of current regional initiatives.

Honesty
      We are committed to ethical conduct, to a personal sense of accountability and maintaining the highest personal and professional standards of staff, administration, and board members.

Transparency
We are committed to an environment of openness and maintaining professional and personal standards that support the goals of ECS.

Confident competence
      ECS demands and expects the highest level of competence from staff, board members and administration.  To this end, ongoing education and review enhance and support competence.