North County Connection

ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE: PROVIDING A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF AND RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE, OTHER ADDICTIONS, AND RELATED PROBLEMS.

MEETING ROOMS: WE MAINTAIN 3 MEETING ROOMS, A CHILDCARE ROOM, PRIVATE AND CONFERENCE ROOMS FOR PEER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND ROOMS FOR SOBER SOCIALIZATION. THESE ROOMS ARE USED BY AA, NA, SAA, OA, DRA, AL-ANON, ALATEEN, AND CODA. THERE ARE 16-18 MEETINGS PER WEEK, 52 WEEKS PER YEAR WITH TOTAL MEETING ATTENDANCE OF 10,000-15,000 PER YEAR. THE FACILITY IS USED ON HOLIDAYS FOR SOBER EVENTS. THESE EVENTS ARE ATTENDED BY 150-200 PER EVENT, OR 600-1,000 PER YEAR. WE ARE OPEN ALL NIGHT ON THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS. WE HOST POTLUCK MEALS AND HAVE FACILITATED WEDDINGS AND CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE EVENTS FOR MEMBERS. WE HAVE PROVIDED A LOW-INCOME HOUSING UNIT FOR A DISABLED VETERAN, AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY OF ATASCADERO.

DROP IN CENTER, PEER COUNSELING, CRISIS TELEPHONE LINE: NCC MAINTAINS DRUG AND ALCOHOL INFO/CRISIS PHONES 24 HOURS, 365 DAYS PER YEAR. WE HAVE A DROP-IN ROOM WITH INFORMATION AVAILABLE AND CLEAN AND SOBER SOCIALIZATION. 30 OF OUR CALLS ARE FAMILY CRISES & THE REST ARE REFERRAL/INFORMATION. THE DROP-IN ROOMS ARE OPEN BEFORE, DURING & AFTER MEETINGS. THERE IS A TV/AUDIO AND MEDIA AREA TO ENJOY. OUTSIDE WE HAVE A PARK-LIKE SETTING FOR THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION & MEDITATION. WE HAVE NEARLY 1,000 DROP-INS PER YEAR, 400 CRISIS CALLS AND AN ADDITIONAL 1,200 REFERRAL AND INFORMATION CALLS. THE SERENE ENVIRONMENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CENTER IS A PLACE FOR RENEWAL FOR BOTH THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY AND THE HOMELESS.

INFORMATION DISSEMINATION: CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION TO EDUCATE AND FACILITATE RECOVERY FROM AND PREVENTION OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. WE INCLUDE ALCOHOLICS, ADDICTS, SPOUSES, FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. WE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON GAMBLING, SEXUAL ADDICTION AND OVEREATING. WE MAINTAIN A FACILITY MEETING CALENDAR AND DISTRIBUTE A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER. WE EMAIL 200 COPIES AND HAND DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN 100 PAPER COPIES PER MONTH 2,400 EMAIL AND 1,200 PAPER COPIES ANNUALLY. WE STOCK ALL RECOVERY LITERATURE THAT WE CAN FIND AND PROVIDE IT AT NO COST. OUR VOLUNTEERS AND CLIENTS PRODUCE, COPY AND DISTRIBUTE VARIOUS RECOVERY-RELATED LITERATURE TO COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS WITH MANY COUNTY AGENCIES. OUR BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATES FOR RECOVERY & TREATMENT SERVICES FOR THE PAST 33 YEARS. WE HAVE SERVED ON AND ARE MEMBERS OF MANY COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES, HEALTH GROUPS AND AGENCIES. MEMBERS ARE ON CHILD WELFARE BOARDS AND THE HEALTH COMMISSION IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.