Our Story

Upon opening Choices, the California Department of Corrections (CDCR) began looking for facilities that would treat individuals affected by the criminal justice system who required substance abuse treatment, under their program known as Substance Abuse Service Coordinating Agency (SASCA). Steve did not hesitate to offer services with specific curriculum to address criminogenic needs. Choices continues to provide Withdrawal Management Services and Residential Long Term (LTR) services to this population through CDCR's Specialized Treatment for Optimize Programming (STOP). 

Then in 1998, Steve was approached by National Alliance of the Mentally Ill's Intensive Case Management (ICM) program to provide detox and longer-term treatment for persons affected by HIV. At the time, ICM was providing Intensive Case Management Services to their clients who are incarcerated, but they had very few referrals for them after release. At that time there was still apprehension when working with those affected by HIV making treatment placement even more difficult. Since that time ICM has expanded services to clients outside the criminal justice system who are affected by HIV. When Tim Smith from NAMI's ICM approached Steve with an opportunity to broaden his client base, he enthusiastically opened his program to even more individuals who sought relief from substance abuse. After 23+ years, Choices proudly continues to work with ICM clients.