Substance Abuse Services
Overview and History
Employee & Family Resources was established in 1964 as an alcohol awareness and education organization, an affiliate of the then-named National Council on Alcoholism. Since that time, the organization has provided substance abuse education, prevention, assessment, and referral services to thousands of central Iowans.
In 1980, EFR was contracted by the State of Iowa to provide independent substance abuse assessment and referral programming within Polk County. This action by the state was a result of the recognition that assessments completed by treatment providers may, at times, be biased by provider needs with subsequent referral recommendations meeting the fiduciary interests of the provider rather than the clinical needs of the client. For almost three decades, EFR’s Substance Abuse Services have continued to provide this valuable service to individuals, families, the courts, and correctional services.
EFR currently provides substance abuse assessment, referral, and related services to a wide range of clients in diverse settings. In addition to self- and corrections-referred clients served at our downtown office, these include:
Jail-Based Assessment
Counselors provide assessment, referral, and case management regarding coordination of care for clients incarcerated in the Polk County jail. These counselors also provide consultation to Fifth Judicial District judges, probation and parole officers, and Polk County Sheriff’s Department staff.
Drug Court Case Management
EFR’s counselor serves as a member of the Fifth Judicial District’s multidisciplinary intensive supervision Drug Court team, providing case management, assessment, and drug screen urinalysis monitoring. The Drug Court’s goal is to address, with a holistic approach, clients’ substance abuse-related behavior problems which lead to criminal behavior.
Juvenile Assessment and Referral
Substance abuse assessment, referral, and consultation to juvenile court staff are provided at the Polk County juvenile detention facility and at Juvenile Court offices.
12-Hour Drinking Driver Education Classes
Iowa law stipulates that individuals, convicted of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, complete a mandated drinking and driving course. EFR offers a class approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation.
