1966-Articles of Incorporation signed
February 8, creating Wisconsin Association on Alcoholism
(WAA). New association included Board of Directors with
7 members and total association membership of 21, established
to “examine and exchange techniques and knowledge related
to alcoholism and promote community programs on education
and treatment of alcoholism and further make this knowledge
effectual in solving the problems of alcoholism and promote
the tenet that alcoholics can be helped.” Spring 1966-WAA
organizes first major statewide conference on substance
abuse and addiction, establishing Association’s strong commitment
to education and training, which continues today.
1967-WAA initiates effective advocacy
efforts. Wisconsin Supreme Court rules “alcoholism
is a disease” and, in 1969, state establishes Bureau
on Alcoholism.
1968-Association expands education,
training and advocacy efforts to include “other drug
abuse” and changes name to Wisconsin Association on
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (WAAODA). In 1970, Wisconsin’s
Bureau on Alcoholism becomes Bureau on Alcohol and Other
Drug Abuse.
1973-With central role in alcohol
and other drug abuse (AODA) field expanding, WAAODA establishes
office in Madison and hires first Executive Director.
1974-WAAODA advocates decriminalization
of public intoxication. Governor Patrick Lucy signs Uniform
Alcoholism Intoxication Act, promoting treatment over incarceration
for persons found to be publicly intoxicated. Also, WAAODA
advocates for mandated health insurance coverage for AODA
and mental health treatment, which was soon applied to all
group-based policies in Wisconsin.
1975-WAAODA joins National Council
on Alcoholism for nationwide issues networking, chairs statewide
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Symposium, and advocates for establishment
of Wisconsin Substance Abuse Clearing House.
1979-Grant from National Institute
on Alcohol Abuse for Women Reaching Women Project focusing
on AODA first coordinated by WAAODA. Subsequent Women Reach
Women AODA projects coordinated by WAAODA through federal
block grants allocated by the State Bureau of Substance
Abuse Services (1979-1996).
1980-WAAODA initiates networking of
AODA counselors throughout state, collaborating with Wisconsin
Counselors Alliance for annual spring Conferences.
1981-85-WAAODA works to develop a
strong, unified voice for AODA advocacy and education throughout
Wisconsin, becoming “umbrella” organization for
AODA “constituent councils” such as Counselors
Alliance (AODA counselors), Wisconsin Council of Councils
(specializing in AODA prevention), Wisconsin Alcohol/Drug
Treatment Providers Association (WADTPA) and Counties Association
Subgroup. WAAODA maintains presence on Wisconsin Alcohol
and Drug Abuse Counselor Certification Board.
1986-U.S. Surgeon General Everett
Koop attends WAAODA annual Conference, which focused on
cocaine, one of major targets of federal “War on Drugs.”
WAAODA advocates for treatment of cocaine addicts, becomes
key member of Governor’s Cocaine Task Force.
1988-WAAODA collaborates with Governor
Thompson in the first Governor’s Conference on AODA. Recognizing
AODA prevention and treatment needs of special populations
in Wisconsin, WAAODA participates in Governor’s Youth Task
Force.
1990-WAAODA advocates for recovering
alcoholics and drug addicts to be included in the Americans
with Disabilities Act. Also, WAAODA strongly supports legislation
to prohibit health and life insurers from discriminating
against recovering alcoholics.
1992-WAAODA becomes a member of the
State Council Sub-Committee to develop a state plan on AODA
and helps secure “mandated benefits provision”
in state-licensed health insurance to allow “transitional
benefit” for AODA and mental health treatment.
1993-94-Healthcare and insurance reform
remain top priorities for WAAODA advocacy. Also, WAAODA
continues strong advocacy in support of youth and families,
helping to prevent a lower legal drinking age in Wisconsin
and co-sponsoring Right from the Start legislation, which
enables counties to identify and provide support for newborns
and their families.
1995-WAAODA successfully advocates
against cuts in Drug Free School funding, continuing to
support Wisconsin Clearinghouse mission of education and
prevention.
1996-Public Policy Committee of WAAODA
monitors W-2 Welfare Reform and requests hearing for proposed
legislation for healthcare reform. But WAAODA’s contract
for coordinating the Women Reaching Women Project is not
renewed due to cuts in federal funding-“a casualty
of the War on Drugs.”
1997-With lower revenue, WAAODA
falls to single Administrative Coordinator. Contract for
WADTPA administration continues, but other WAAODA collaborative
efforts and activities of collaborators weaken in general
trend at federal and state levels to punish those with addictive
disorders.
1998-WAAODA receives contract to provide
administrative services for Wisconsin Women’s Education
Network on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (WWEN) grant program
through University of Wisconsin. WAAODA also receives contract
to coordinate state’s Minority Training Project (MTP), innovative
project to increase number of minority certified AODA counselors
in Wisconsin.
1999-WAAODA establishes MTP office
in Milwaukee and coordinates contracts for minority candidate
career consultants and trainers statewide. Additional part-time
staff person focuses on public policy, The Voice quarterly
newsletter and WADTPA administration. Annual Conference
involves collaboration with state Department of Corrections
(DOC) and Bureau of Mental Health and achieves record attendance.
WAAODA joins forces with Coalition for Fairness in Substance
Abuse and Mental Illness Health Insurance Coverage to advocate
for “parity” medical insurance laws, and helps
sponsor Wisconsin Alliance on Addictions Public Policy and
Education (WAAPPE), which includes registered lobbyist to
represent AODA field. WAAODA organizes six one-day workshops
throughout state on Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Disorders, co-sponsored by state Bureau of Substance
Abuse Services (BSAS). WAAODA Board updates mission statement:
“To assure that the people of Wisconsin know and believe
that prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse
work.”
2000-Statewide collaboration increases,
with numerous co-sponsors for WAAODA Conference, including
WADTPA, DOC, MTP, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill,
Tellurian UCAN and BSAS. Administration-coordination contracts
include BSAS, WWEN and WADTPA. Active working relationships
involve Coalition for Fairness, WAAPPE and nationwide Alliance
Project, which is based in neighboring Minnesota. Additional
funding for WAAODA comes through Combined Health Charities
of Wisconsin-a United Way affiliate. WAAODA staff strength
rises to two full-time employees, including Executive Director,
serving 600 members.
2001-WAAODA’s Conference Planning
Committee increases science content of annual Conference,
with participation of UW Medical School, Wisconsin Society
of Addiction Medicine (WSAM), National Institute on Drug
Abuse (NIDA), U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
(CSAT), U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)
and others. WAAODA Board revises original mission statement
to incorporate “recovery”: “To assure that
the people of Wisconsin know and believe that alcohol and
drug abuse prevention, treatment and recovery work.”
In September-National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery
Month-WAAODA organizes Recovery Picnic that provides public
platform for Wisconsin’s recovery advocates and becomes
annual Recovery Rally. WAAODA Vice President attends National
Recovery Summit.
2002-WAAODA receives contract through
state Division of Supportive Living (DSL) to provide administrative
support for WI Wins program against illegal tobacco sales
to minors. Annual Conference focuses on “global perspective”
to improve prevention, treatment and recovery, features
State Sen. Panzer speaking on Parity Bill progress. WAAODA
Executive Director chairs Community Norms working group
of Governor’s Underage Drinking Task Force. Task Force recommendations
become key elements of the Four-Year Strategic Plan of the
State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA).
WAAODA organizes first annual Recovery Rally in September
at West Wing of State Capitol, featuring national recovery
advocates Rook and Farley Family (family of comic Chris
Farley, who died of drug overdose) along with State Rep.
Erpenbach and many “coming out” to speak for recovery
and against stigma of addiction.
2003-WAAODA membership grows to 800,
mostly direct-line treatment providers, but also many “payers”
and private citizens. State budget cuts force merger of
BSAS and Bureau of Mental Health into single Bureau of Mental
Health and Substance Abuse Services (BMHSAS).WAAODA expands
advocacy for recovery by partnering with newly created Alliance
for Recovery Advocates (AFRA), with start-up funding from
BMHSAS. On regulatory front, WAAODA advocates “correct
interpretation” of Wisconsin Act 80 to reinforce AODA
counseling as “specialty” requiring specialized
training and certification: “Reducing professional
rigor of AODA counselor certification in Wisconsin would
undermine quality of AODA treatment.” WAAODA Conference
sets records: More than 60 presenters and 450 participants.
State lowers drivers’ illegal blood alcohol content to 0.08%.
WAAODA strongly supports new Treatment Instead of Prison
(TIP) legislation. Governor Doyle announces “new direction”
for Wisconsin’s corrections policy, including specialized
facility for 450 non-violent inmates at Chippewa Falls.
Recovery Rally at Capitol features Farley Family, State
Rep. Erpenbach, Rev. Ellwanger of faith-based multi-racial
group WISDOM and other recovery advocates.
2004-Annual Conference expands on WAAODA mission components of education and training, setting records for a second year?more than 460 participants, who gave the three-day education and training event an overall satisfaction rating of 98% (participants scoring the Conference “good” or “excellent”). The Conference introduces new programs, including the Management Institute (for executives and managers of AODA facilities and programs) and the Legislative Breakfast (sponsored by WADTPA to network with state legislators). The Conference’s Diversity Evening on the theme of “One Spirit, Many Dancers” presents dance and music of several of Wisconsin’s ethnic and racial minorities to increase awareness of the diversity of AODA healing. Also in 2004, the Minority Training Project (MTP), which WAAODA manages under contract with the state government, undergoes major restructuring to streamline administration and improve the AODA counselor training curriculum. MTP’s importance grows as Wisconsin’s way to increase the number of culturally competent AODA counselors in our increasingly diverse state. Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (GLATTC) director Lonnetta Albright and MTP Career Consultants presented certificates to 50 MTP Graduates from recent years at the Graduation Celebration, which henceforth is planned to be an annual event. The Fourth Annual Recovery Rally ? ?Celebrating Recovery? ? held in September at the State Capitol attracts a record-setting 560 ralliers. With co-sponsorship by AFRA and support from 25 Wisconsin businesses and organizations, the Rally garners bi-partisan political support for AODA advocacy, including support for TIP legislation and other pro-recovery legislation in speeches by Democratic and Republican County Executives. WAAODA collaboration with state government increases with the award of contract management of the new state-funded Mental Health/Substance Abuse/Emergency Human Services program. To handle increased workload, expanded memberships, etc., WAAODA staff increases to nine, and requires move to a new, larger office.
