Mission Statement
AVRASA’s mission is to provide professionals within the rehabilitation field with the support, knowledge and skills to effectively provide comprehensive, integrated services to individuals with chemical dependency and co-existing disabilities
What is a Rehabilitation Counselor?
A Rehabilitation Counselor is a professional who specialized in understanding the impact of disability on a person’s life. The Rehabilitation Counselor plays a unique role in the recovery process as it relates to chemical dependency and other disabilities by helping individuals realize personal goals, and achieve their physical, social, emotional and vocational potential.
Who Are Our Members?
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselors
• Vocational/ Educational Rehabilitation Counselors
• Vocational Training Providers
• Job Placement Specialists
• Treatment Providers
• Licensed Mental Health Counselors
• Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors
• Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor - Trainees
• Social Workers
• Workforce Development Professionals
• Human Service Providers
History of AVRASA
Original article published in 2001 in the AVRASA Voice Newsletter by Linda Barlow
The Early Days
AVRASA was founded in January 1980 at a statewide DSAS (now OASAS) conference held upstate at Grossinger’s Hotel. A group of people informally got together to discuss their mutual concern about the lack of vocational rehabilitation initiatives in treatment. The general consensus and concern amongst the group was that the treatment field was abrogating its responsibility to help clients prepare for societal re-entrance.
The group’s initial goal was to discuss the possibility of forming a central organization with goals, objectives and a mission. Six different names for the organization were proposed but none of them were right. Doris Jackson (Daytop Village) stated that the group was an advocate for the utilization of vocational rehabilitation for substance abusers in treatment. The name AVRASA was chosen and Lester Futernick (Odyssey House) was chosen as chairperson. Sylvia Maples (Project Return) was chosen as First Vice Chairperson.
The first AVRASA meeting was held at the Urban Coalition. Nine people attended. Within six months, twenty-two people were representing many of the treatment programs. Within two years, AVRASA was represented at national conferences and was a force in the treatment community.
Founding Members
Lester Futernik, Odyssey House
Doris Jackson, Daytop Village
Marilyn White, Phoenix House
Diana Fred, Education & Assistance Corporation
Fred Levine, Odyssey House
Naomi Richmond, OVR (now VESID)
Andy Garcia, Buffalo
Sylvia Maples, Project Return
AVRASA
Mailing Address: 1461-A First Avenue #131 New York, NY 10075
Telephone: (212) 252-2378 Email: [email protected]
"Special thanks to our members, and affiliates for their on-going support; we appreciate you!"
AVRASA’s mission is to provide professionals within the rehabilitation field with the support, knowledge and skills to effectively provide comprehensive, integrated services to individuals with chemical dependency and co-existing disabilities
What is a Rehabilitation Counselor?
A Rehabilitation Counselor is a professional who specialized in understanding the impact of disability on a person’s life. The Rehabilitation Counselor plays a unique role in the recovery process as it relates to chemical dependency and other disabilities by helping individuals realize personal goals, and achieve their physical, social, emotional and vocational potential.
Who Are Our Members?
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselors
• Vocational/ Educational Rehabilitation Counselors
• Vocational Training Providers
• Job Placement Specialists
• Treatment Providers
• Licensed Mental Health Counselors
• Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors
• Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor - Trainees
• Social Workers
• Workforce Development Professionals
• Human Service Providers
History of AVRASA
Original article published in 2001 in the AVRASA Voice Newsletter by Linda Barlow
The Early Days
AVRASA was founded in January 1980 at a statewide DSAS (now OASAS) conference held upstate at Grossinger’s Hotel. A group of people informally got together to discuss their mutual concern about the lack of vocational rehabilitation initiatives in treatment. The general consensus and concern amongst the group was that the treatment field was abrogating its responsibility to help clients prepare for societal re-entrance.
The group’s initial goal was to discuss the possibility of forming a central organization with goals, objectives and a mission. Six different names for the organization were proposed but none of them were right. Doris Jackson (Daytop Village) stated that the group was an advocate for the utilization of vocational rehabilitation for substance abusers in treatment. The name AVRASA was chosen and Lester Futernick (Odyssey House) was chosen as chairperson. Sylvia Maples (Project Return) was chosen as First Vice Chairperson.
The first AVRASA meeting was held at the Urban Coalition. Nine people attended. Within six months, twenty-two people were representing many of the treatment programs. Within two years, AVRASA was represented at national conferences and was a force in the treatment community.
Founding Members
Lester Futernik, Odyssey House
Doris Jackson, Daytop Village
Marilyn White, Phoenix House
Diana Fred, Education & Assistance Corporation
Fred Levine, Odyssey House
Naomi Richmond, OVR (now VESID)
Andy Garcia, Buffalo
Sylvia Maples, Project Return
AVRASA
Mailing Address: 1461-A First Avenue #131 New York, NY 10075
Telephone: (212) 252-2378 Email: [email protected]
"Special thanks to our members, and affiliates for their on-going support; we appreciate you!"