MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, San Diego -- The Substance Abuse Counseling Center at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego received a three-year recertification in March as a top program by the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities International.
The SACC was recognized for having an outstanding program for its outpatient treatment which includes education, outreach services and counseling for alcohol and other drug addictions for adults.
CARF International accredits organizations for either one or three years depending on the quality of the program.
Headquarters Marine Corps wanted to make sure all the counseling centers in the Marine Corps maintain a high level of excellence so MCRD was asked to be the first Marine Corps site to be accredited in 2008, said George Mangual, director of SACC at MCRD San Diego.
Due to the Marine Corps’ tight standards, only small adjustments and equipment purchases, such as first aid kits, were needed to give them the necessary requirements to apply for the initial accreditation, said Mangual. They also needed to incorporate existing Marine Corps policy and add additional safety standards, a process that took about six months of preparation to get ready for the inspection.
CARF International standards ensure patients receive the best quality care. They have surveyed hundreds of thousands of programs throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia since it was founded as an independent, nonprofit accreditor in 1966.
Not only did MCRD obtain this re-accreditation, but they were able to place in the top three percent of the nation. The CARF surveyors found no discrepancies with their program.
The MCRD SACC team is comprised of military retirees who understand the demands of military life. Three counselors have served in combat. Each team member specialized in a specific field, giving each counselor an equal part in the treatment process.
Being a staff of military retirees also allows for a deeper understanding of the Marines who walk through the door, said Mangual.
“We all have that pride, that even though we’re not in uniform anymore, we are still serving,” said Mangual. “It’s not just a job for us. We’ve changed uniforms and our hair is a little longer, but we all still feel like we’re active duty serving our brothers and sisters.”
The MCRD SACC team works with patients from across the Western Recruiting Region in addition to Marines on the depot.
The team also provides guidance to other Marine Corps installations on how to prepare and fill out the necessary paper work to receive accreditation for their own offices, by either sending technical consultants for onsite training or assisting over the phone.