CareNZ supports anyone concerned about their own or someone else's use of alcohol or other drugs. We provide a range of services throughout the country, in both the community and prison settings. We currently operate Community Services in Counties Manukau, the Waikato Region, Greater Wellington and Christchurch. Here you can access a variety of services, from assessment and individual counselling to group work and whanau support. We are operating eight Drug Treatment Units (DTUs) in prisons around the country, in conjunction with the Department of Corrections. These programmes offer prisoners the opportunity to address their drug and alcohol issues while serving their sentence, and offer them a pathway to sustainable life changes after their release.
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Services Offered
Therapeutic communities - Drug Treatment Units - CareNZ has worked alongside the Department of Corrections in facilitating Drug Treatment Units (DTUs) across New Zealand since 1997, when the first DTU in Arohata Women's Prison was opened. Alcohol or other drug use and offending are often connected. More than 50% of crime is committed by people under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and two thirds of New Zealand prisoners have substance abuse issues. We are currently operating prison-based Drug Treatment Units in Arohata Prison and Otago Corrections Facility. Drug treatment units (DTUs) are separate units, away from the mainstream prison. Operating as a therapeutic community, the DTUs provide a safe and supportive environment within the prison, in which prisoners can address underlying issues with alcohol or other drugs and develop skills for successful change. The programme is supported by the use of mentors, who themselves are graduates of the DTU programme.
Single Point of Entry Service (Wellington/Wairarapa) - This service supports offenders serving a community sentence, helping them to get support for problematic use of alcohol and drugs at the right time. Our Criminal Justice Team receives referrals from Probation Officers and meets with offenders to assess their situation and refer them on to other services to get the help they need. Our team also provides brief interventions and works with offenders to be motivated for working with other services. The Criminal Justice Workers meet offenders at Probation Offices across the Greater Wellington and Wairarapa region. They identify their needs, talk with them about their concerns, consider options for support and help them to make connections between their alcohol or other drug use and their offending. They continue to support them while they access the services they need, until they have been successfully engaged with other agencies. Our Team provides reports and feedback to probation staff.
Fees and Payment
Our counselling and group work services are free of charge. Charges apply for NZTA services (e.g. re-assessment) and documentation like reports and letters, which are provided on request.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Payment: Pro-bono
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Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.