A Call for Collaboration

A new organization, TPAS, (Treatment Professionals in Alumni Services) is putting out a call to collaborate! Many treatment center organizations across the U.S. have vital alumni programs; other organizations are just starting to offer alumni activities to their graduates. Those of us who are charged with this responsibility attempt to keep our alumni connected to our centers and most importantly, to a community that will support their recovery. TPAS is the first organization in the addiction treatment industry that provides a forum for individuals in alumni services to collaborate, learn, and support one another.

Through TPAS, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to get to know quite a few of my alumni colleagues across the country. We talk about the activities that work and the ones that are not so successful, the challenges of enticing our alumni to stay connected to our organizations, the successful programs that we’ve put into place, the joy of seeing alumni who are growing and learning, the opportunities to help alumni who have stumbled. We may have different titles and may have other responsibilities, but our common bond is our commitment to stay connected with our alumni….and support them in their recovery journey.

I’ve learned a tremendous amount from my colleagues. I am humbled by their creativity, and blessed by their willingness to share their ideas. These positive experiences have moved us to create TPAS and to extend invitations to others to step up and join the discussions.

There are many ways that you can get involved:

• · On June 3, 2011, at the West Coast Symposium on Addictive Disorders, professionals involved in alumni services will have a full day to share, learn and collaborate. Click here for more information.
• · In September, at the NACD conference, a TPAS meeting has been scheduled. Details will be available soon.
• · Be a guest blogger on this Addiction Professional Blog. Send me your blog post about alumni activities at your organization and I’ll share it with Addiction Professional readers.
• · Are you a “web site” wizard? Help us create a web site for TPAS so that we can have a place where we can learn.
• · Are you a “Facebook” aficionado? Help us start a TPAS page where we can easily communicate with one another.
• · Join the TPAS Steering Committee, a small group of individuals collaborating to make TPAS a viable national organization. Be part of the group to plan the first ever TPAS national event!

If you are interested in growing, learning and being of service, get involved with TPAS. If you like to be on the cutting edge, on the ground floor of something completely new in the treatment industry, join TPAS. Contact lorie.obernauer@uch.edu for more information.