Our agency is engaged in a wide spectrum of activities including forensic evaluations, therapy, case management, housing, money management, etc. The staff providing these services come from equally diverse professions, such as medicine, social work and psychology; they are further trained in a variety of specialties within their chosen discipline.

There are many well-defined philosophical orientations and service models for specific disciplines and discrete activities. Therapy providers note models such as "Dialectic Behavioral Therapy for Borderlines," case management providers favor the "Strengths" model for people suffering from severe and persistent mental illness, chemical dependency providers utilize "Motivational Interviewing" and "Harm Reduction" models, housing providers adopt "Supportive Housing" and "Assisted Living" models.

A model is born through the experiences of one discipline grappling with a specific problem or providing a specific activity. Virtually all professions agree that a holistic approach to the person is appropriate, but no single model achieves it. Charles A. Rapp, one of the founders of the Strengths Model concludes, "The point here is that while discrete elements of the strengths model are often applicable, not every situation is amendable or can benefit from the full application of the strengths model nor should proponents claim that it is." If we substitute any other model for "strengths model," the statement remains true.

Our philosophical orientation and agency values reflect the diverse activities we provide and the individuality of the people we serve. We borrow from many sources, including all of the models mentioned previously, and will continue to evolve as we gain knowledge and experience. The list of values that follows is not exhaustive, nor ranked by priority.