APRA’s Office of Special Population Services (OSPS) ensures that alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) abuse prevention and treatment services provided by the District of Columbia are responsive to the needs of the city’s diverse populations who are at-risk or living with substance abuse.
OSPS’ mission is to achieve culturally and clinically competent substance abuse services for “Special Population” individuals.
Office of Special Population Services -- Department of Health
825 N. Capitol St., NE, Washington, DC 20002, Chief: Kevin Shipman, Telephone: (202) 442-9182
Hours of Operaton: 8 am - 5 pm
Current Special Population Programs:
Sexual Minorities (Gay Men, Lesbian Women, Bisexual and Transgender Persons):
The first ever continuum of adult inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment services is provided through a grant with the Whitman-Walker Clinic and the Lambda Center at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington.
Latino and Latina Persons
OSPS administers funds to several community-based Latino agencies that provide the following services:
- Substance abuse treatment for Latino youth
- Substance abuse treatment for Latino adults with co-existing mental health and substance abuse disorders
- Day and residential treatment for homeless substance abusers
- Outpatient treatment for Latino substance abusers living with HIV/AIDS
- Pre and post release substance abuse counseling for Latino correctional residents
- A fetal alcohol syndrome media campaign targeting Latina women at risk or abusing alcohol and
- Outreach and linkage services for Latino women who are homeless and chemically dependent
Asian American and Pacific Islander (API) Persons
OSPS provide grants for substance abuse services targeting API youth.
Substance Abusers at risk or living with HIV/AIDS
In partnership with the DOH HIV/AIDS Administration, Unity Health Care, Inc., Family & Medical Services, Inc., and the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), OSPS administers key programs throughout the city that targets substance abusers suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Persons Living with a Co-existing Mental Health Disorder
OSPS, in partnership with the Department of Mental Health, provides a 150-slot outpatient treatment program.
Substance Abuse Awareness for Seniors (SAAS)
The first-ever coordinating program specialized to implement ATOD prevention, education, advocacy and counseling services for seniors living with chemical dependency.
