Phoenix Houses NY/LI Earns Three-Year CARF Accreditation

BROOKLYN, NY (08/08/2022) (readMedia)-- CARF International announced that Phoenix Houses of New York and Long Island has been accredited for a period of three years for its Substance Use Disorder and mental health treatment outpatient and residential programs, and its assessment and referral services for Substance Use Disorder. The latest accreditation is the third consecutive Three-Year Accreditation that the international accrediting body, CARF, has given to Phoenix Houses NY/LI.

This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization and shows the organization's substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.

"I am so proud to receive this CARF accreditation, which is a testament to the incredible work that Phoenix Houses of NY/LI staff provide our community every day. It's never been a more challenging time to be part of the addiction treatment workforce, but our staff continues to provide high-quality care to everyone who walks through our doors," said Ann-Marie Foster, president and CEO of Phoenix Houses of NY/LI. "Especially after the challenges of the past few years - budget cuts that haven't yet been returned, and a rising demand for treatment, this accreditation is crucial, and will help us continue to provide the type of high quality care that has come to be associated with Phoenix Houses of NY/LI."

This CARF accreditation comes as Phoenix Houses of NY/LI works to expand, innovate, and advocate amid high demand for treatment, after a particularly difficult few years for people with Substance Use Disorder and treatment providers alike. Over 100,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses from May 2020 to April 2021, up almost 30 percent from the previous year. The rate of overdose deaths also rose in New York City, with 30.5 per 100,000 NYC residents losing their lives to overdoses in 2020 compared with 21.9 in 2019. In Suffolk County, there were 415 fatal overdoses in 2021, up from 411 in 2020 and 345 in 2019. This drastic increase is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic's devastating effects for people with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and the rising prevalence of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, cut into nearly every type of substance.

In addition to innovating with treatment services such as the Brooklyn Community Recovery Center's new telebooths (designed to provide access to treatment for people without reliable internet access), Phoenix Houses of NY/LI has expanded its staff, who will help steer the organization as it continues to beat back the addiction crisis. Dionne (JoJo) Adsuara will serve as the new Director of Medical Services, and nurse practitioner Dave Ofori will provide medical care to patients.

CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org.

About Phoenix House

Since 1967, Phoenix Houses of New York has helped thousands of people overcome substance and alcohol use in order to lead healthy, productive, and rewarding lives. Phoenix Houses of New York offers short-term and long-term residential, intensive outpatient, and general outpatient treatment. Phoenix House also offers treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders, medical, psychiatric, and dental services, and impaired driver programs. These services are designed to meet the individual needs of adults at various stages of recovery, including military personnel, and veterans. In addition, Phoenix House provides educational and supportive services to family members, friends, significant others, and the community.