Mission Statement

The mission of JACOA is to provide the highest quality of care possible to people who are suffering from substance use disorders or co-occurring disorders in an environment that preserves and promotes the dignity of the persons served without regard to race, color, creed, gender, economic or social circumstance, sexual orientation, or national origin.

History

JACOA was chartered in the summer of 1964 as The Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism by three local citizens who saw the growing need for substance abuse treatment in the community. The founders were a housewife (Nancy Tuchfeld), a physician (Frank Moore) and a business man (Sam Bergel) whose first collective act was to hire a recovering alcoholic, Robert Aspell, as the first Executive Director. The charter was amended in 1970 to add the descriptive words "And Drug Dependency" to its official name. In the 1980's JACOA moved to its present location on East Chester Street and began to offer Residential treatment for men and women. At the present time JACOA has 100 beds in Treatment and Transitional services and continues to serve all the counties of West Tennessee.

Vision Statement

The vision of JACOA is to be reposed to the ever changing and dynamic needs of our community environment to treat and prevent the diseases of addiction and drug abuse through services to all people, with programs and services that improve the quality of life of the individual and our society.

Community Services

Provides over 48,000 meals for clients and homeless annually
Provides inpatient treatment for 700 men & women annually
Provides prevention life skills education for at-risk youth
Provides education, screening & treatment for D.U.I. offenders
Provides education & referral for underage offenders
Provides employment & pre-employment drug screening
Provides job placement & vocational rehabilitation services
Provides a 33 bed men's transitional living facility
Provides a 10 bed women's transitional facility
Provides housing for 8 homeless women
provides housing for 12 homeless men
Provides preferential treatment for pregnant mothers and IV drug users
Provides intensive outpatient counseling services
Responds to over 3200 inquiries for services annually
Serves the whole family through family group counseling