What is the ASAM?

New Directions for Women is proud to announce that we are now ASAM Level of Care certified by the Addiction Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) for a three-year time frame. Achieving this distinction is an important accomplishment for our women-only substance use disorder treatment center. It positions us in a place of excellence with insurance companies and Managed Care organizations that authorize treatment services.

At NDFW, we have been helping women get sober for more than 40 years. To remain current with the ever-evolving field of addiction medicine, we are always on the lookout for ways to build trust with potential clients.

We understand that when a woman is battling a substance use disorder, she is in a life or death crisis. We want women and their families to know they can count on us to deliver life-changing and effective addiction rehabilitation? services at every level of care.

At NDFW, we know that choosing a treatment program can be a daunting task. We believe having the ASAM Level of Care Certification will help alleviate any fears our potential clients may have about our credibility.

What is the ASAM?

The American Society of Addiction Medicine was founded in 1954. It is a professional medical society representing over 6,000 physicians, clinicians and associated professionals who specialize in the field of addiction medicine.

The ASAM is dedicated to increasing access to addiction treatment and improving the quality of substance use disorder treatment across the United States. The organization educates physicians, informs the public, supports research and prevention, and promotes the role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction.

What is the ASAM Level of Care Certification?

The ASAM Level of Care certification is delivered in partnership with [CARF International (CARF)]{.underline}. NDFW has been CARF accredited for some time. This newly acquired certification simply provides yet another level of validation of the services we provide at New Directions for Women.

ASAM Level of Care Certification is different from accreditation. Specifically, this is the first program of its kind to independently assess and verify a treatment program’s ability to deliver services consistent the with Levels of Care described in The ASAM Criteria^®.

The ASAM Criteria is now the most respected, comprehensive, and widely used set of research-validated standards in the United States. It provides outcome-driven care in the treatment of addiction, allowing rehabilitation? centers to match patients to the right level of care based on the severity of their substance use disorder.

What are Levels of Care?

At New Directions for Women, we provide a full continuum of care for women of any age, women with children, and pregnant women. This means we provide treatment across a complete spectrum that allows us to meet an individual wherever she may be in the progression of her addiction.

We provide medical detox, outpatient services, residential treatment, aftercare, and sober living. We believe that extensive, long-term treatment is essential to the success of the newly recovering woman. However; we recognize that some women require certain levels of care where others do not.

For example, not every addicted woman requires a medical detox. Many women establish recovery by attending out Intensive Outpatient Program. Others need more structure and benefit from residential services.

Every woman is different, which is why we provide an in-depth assessment for every one of our clients. We offer custom treatment plans. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to addiction treatment.

Here is a diagram that might help explain the various Levels of Care, which have been determined by the ASAM Criteria^®:

Image provided by the ASAM

What is Involved in Achieving ASAM Level of Care Certification?

Currently, the ASAM Level of Care Certification covers adult residential programs at Levels 3.1, 3.5, and 3.7 of ASAM Criteria^®. (See diagram).

In order to get certified, we submitted an application directly to CARF, which then conducted an onsite survey to evaluate our levels of care. We were required to sufficiently satisfy very strict scoring requirements, which demonstrated that our levels of care are up to specific standards. The certification was granted by an independent panel. An ASAM Level of Care Certification is not just an expensive piece of paper. Having this distinction means that New Directions for Women is committed to providing the most advanced evidence-based addiction treatment services at every level of care.

What This Certification Means for New Directions for Women

We believe that when potential clients and their family members see that we have an ASAM Level of Care Certificate, they will feel a sense of safety and security.

There are so many different substance use disorder treatment centers to choose from. There is peace of mind in knowing that New Directions for Women is equipped to deliver the necessary evidence-based treatment needed to effectively overcome addiction. It is our sincere hope that this will give women and their loved ones the reassurance that we are the RIGHT treatment center.

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