Rap,
Inc. opened the doors to its first location in June 1970, providing
outpatient counseling to 15 young people. Shortly thereafter,
the organization moved to 1904 T Street, N. W., Washington,
D. C. and began its first therapeutic community.
Over the years since then, RAP has served thousands in highly
structured and creatively run environments. Within RAP, “giving
back” to the community always has been a requirement for
clients, so the organization has incorporated programs for the
community good in both its treatment and prevention programs.
Through the years some
of those programs have been:
Youth Prevention
The
Chancellor Williams Youth Learning Center
The Learning Center provided after school drug prevention
programs such as educational/cultural classes and seminars,
tutoring, recreation, field trips and other supportive activities
for high risk community youth.
Citywide Drug Prevention
and Education Program
Conducted in conjunction with the D.C. Board of Education
to illustrate by means of an essay and poster contest just
how young people see drug prevention through graphics. The
ASink the LUV Boat@ youth-designed poster under this program
won first place and was printed for distribution in public
places. Other posters of young people also were awarded.
Drug Prevention Project
and Poster Contest
Conducted in conjunction with the University of the District
of Columbia for students to submit poster design to raise
community awareness regarding the harmful effects of cocaine.
AKnock out Cocaine@ poster was selected and distributed in
the community.
Consortium for Substance
Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Program for
Youth at High Risk
This was a three-year demonstration project conducted by a
consortium of community-based organizations to provide a wide
range of services to high risk youth with multiple challenges.
Some of these were substance abusing youth from economically
disadvantaged families; children of substance abusers who
have been committed for delinquent acts due to mental health
problems and/or who have been disabled by injuries. The consortium
was made up of the following groups: The Community Foundation
of Greater Washington, RAP, Inc., the Washington Area Council
on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Sasha Bruce Youthworks, Inc., and
the Latin American Youth Center
HIV/AIDS
Ryan
White Title I
Program reinforces residential treatment services for those
substance abusers dually-diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
Residential
Facilities for Substance Abusers Living with HIV/AIDS
RAP, Inc. provides comprehensive substance recovery services
specifically designed to meet the needs of both dually-diagnosed
males and females and HIV diagnosed. As a result of the identification
and increase of dually-diagnosed clients, RAP, Inc. =s mission
expanded in 1988 to include specialized residential treatment
and support services for people with HIV/AIDS. Like other
RAP programs, specialized holistic strategies and services
are utilized along with creative methods for substance abuse
education, prevention, and treatment.
GTN Project
Named the Gaston T. Neal Project in honor of the well-accomplished
educator, poet, and playwright, who was a pioneer and innovator
in the fight against HIV/AIDS and substance abuse, the project
focused on outreach, education, and prevention. The outreach
workers and health educators in GTN Project for HIV/AIDS and
sexually transmitted disease would conduct small, impromptu
group discussions on HIV/STD prevention and substance abuse
with at-risk persons anywhere, and seek to conduct repeat
sessions in that same area and distribute condoms and information
on condom use, contraceptive use, and health education.
COMMUNITY
SUPPORT
Victims of Crime Support Services
These services involved the participation of RAP residents,
staff and other community organizations who helped victimized
families who needed locks replaced after their homes were
burglarized; financial assistance, food and clothing for people
who had been robbed; provision of legal services; transportation
to and from court, police department; and other services.
The
RAP Jazz Dance Mobile and Audio Video Project
This project provided RAP residents an opportunity to discover
their individual artistic talents and at the same time to
give back to the community. They presented culturally relevant
musical and dance performances to those usually unable to
pursue entertainment such as hospitalized persons; organizations
serving physically challenged persons, incarcerated persons,
senior citizen groups and others.
Co-ed
residential substance abuse treatment center
provided a full range of services, including counseling opportunities
for clients and family members in individual and group settings,
cultural awareness, vocational training, health care and good
health awareness, and educational support.
Fifteen-bed
residential Re-Entry Demonstration project
Provides transition from therapeutic residential living to
community living with individualized support services in a
separate re-entry residential facility.
Thirty-five-bed
residential substance abuse treatment Center for pregnant
and postpartum women and their children living in public housing
RAP used the therapeutic community approach to treatment in
this program to help women build a strong self concept. It
was known as DREAMBDrug Rehabilitation and Education Aimed
at Mothers.
RAPGraphics Vocational Training Program
The Graphics project provided on-the-job vocational training
for offset printing and graphics communication skills for
residents interested in advancing into the printing and publishing
industry.
RAPGraphics
This was a vocational training program for residents interested
in screen printing and in developing skills in business/office
management, production, sales and marketing.
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