​Caron to Buy Intensive Outpatient Program for Teens and Young Adults in Atlanta

Caron Treatment Centers announced an agreement today to acquire Solutions Atlanta, an intensive outpatient program for teens and young adults based in Roswell, Georgia.

Caron’s new strategic plan highlights the expansion of services in the Atlanta market as a priority along with its focus on unparalleled treatment innovation with leading medical and technological tools, proven patient outcomes and personalized behavioral healthcare solutions at its residential facilities in Florida and Pennsylvania.

Solutions, created in 1998 by industry veteran Dr. Robert Margolis, is designed for teens and young adults to receive treatment for drug and alcohol problems while still living at home and attending school and/or working. Those in the program attend group therapy several times a week while maintaining 25 hours of school or work every week and participating in random drug screens every week. Parents also attend a weekly group with their child.

“Dr. Margolis is one of the most well respected teen and young adult experts in the field, and we’re thrilled that he and his team will be joining Caron’s continuum of care,” said Doug Tieman, President and CEO of Caron. “We’re also excited to expand our treatment services in Atlanta. In the two years since initiating a local presence, we’ve seen an extraordinary commitment by communities, local government, parents and schools to address behavioral health issues facing families today.”

Dr. Margolis will continue to be responsible for the day to day clinical oversight of the facility under Caron’s management. He has been a licensed clinical psychologist in Georgia since 1979 and has worked in the field of teen drug and alcohol abuse treatment since that time. Before launching Solutions in 1998, he was Director of Psychological Services at Ridgeview Institute for 13 years where for many years he ran the only teen outpatient group therapy sessions in Atlanta. He has appeared in numerous television documentaries on alcohol and drug abuse.

"We are delighted to be part of the Caron family,” said Dr. Margolis. “Caron has been the premier provider of addiction treatment services for 60 years. We feel that becoming part of Caron will empower us to ensure the future of Solutions and to expand and enhance the services we provide to our clients.”

Nancy Zintak, Caron’s Regional Vice President in Atlanta, will be based at the Solutions facility. Caron already offers two local support groups in Atlanta for parents and families impacted by addiction. Caron Atlanta offers programs and special events throughout the year to engage and enlighten the recovery community, including film screenings, Sober St. Patrick’s Day Comedy Night, Speaker Series and coming in 2016, a Caron Atlanta Golf Tournament. Zintak also oversees Caron’s Atlanta Advisory Board consisting of prominent leaders from the community.

Kelli Grant is Caron's Atlanta based Addiction Resource Specialist. She has a Master's Degree in Counseling and has worked for more than 10 years in a clinical capacity in residential and outpatient treatment settings in Atlanta. In her role at Caron, she provides consultations for local patients and families, creates networking and CEU opportunities for local clinicians, and is the resource for referrals in the Southeast.

Additionally, Caron has five staff members from its nationally recognized Student Assistance Program (SAP) in Atlanta led by Regional Coordinator, Ursula Christie. The primary role of SAP is to provide nicotine cessation services and prevention education in middle school and high school. They also reach a wide audience of parents and professionals. In the past year, they have worked with 3700 area students, 245 faculty members and 40 parents.

Caron’s Atlanta Advisory Board includes: Linda Altman, John Decker, Boyd Doxtader, Stacey Orr Gallant, Richard “Sanders” Hickey, Ira Jackson, Sal Kibler, Bill Law, Rhonda Dawes Milner, Kathryn Roberts, Reverend Dr. Spenser Simrill and Jim Warlick.