ANSWER:

The Phoenix Program was a structured recovery program for high school students, Grades 9–12, with substance abuse problems that interfere with school attendance, performance, and behaviors. Students were referred directly by agency drug treatment partners or through the home school Collaborative Problem Solving process, facilitated by the pupil personnel worker.

MCPS staff members supported the recovery program, which included academic classes for credit towards a high school diploma, Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA) and Al-Anon sessions, character education, community treatment programs, weekly parent meetings, adventure education programs, community service opportunities, daily support groups, speakers program, and urinalysis. Phoenix Program staff members participated in these activities and developed an awareness of addictive disease. It should be noted that the Phoenix Program was not a treatment program, rather it is a support program for students in treatment or immediately after treatment.

In the Phoenix class, students work on recovery and academic assignments. Phoenix students work with social worker interns for one class per week or more often as needed.

The model cost estimate for the Phoenix Program is based on an enrollment of 30 students and colocated at the Blair G. Ewing Center. The estimate is based on an integrated program that utilizes existing instructional staff in Alternative Education Programs with additional staff to support the needs of the students in Phoenix recovery program. The cost of reestablishing the program is estimated to total 5.1 FTE and $373,069 including a 1.0 FTE coordinator position, 2.0 FTE classroom teacher positions, .6 FTE social worker position, .5 FTE counselor position, .5 psychologist position, and .5 FTE paraeducator position. In addition the estimate includes $5,000 for health services, $5,000 for professional part-time salaries, and related employee benefits.