FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 17, 2017

DC Area Non-Profit Earns Internationally Recognized Accreditation to Expand Opioid Addiction Prevention &

Treatment Services

Renaissance Treatment Center in Capitol Heights, MD builds on two decades of drug & alcohol rehabilitative services with 3-year CARF Accreditation.

Capitol Heights, MD — November 17, 2017 — Renaissance Treatment Center (RTreatment), a Washington, DC area nonprofit alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility, has earned an esteemed three-year accreditation from CARF International, an agency dedicated to excellence in behavioral health services. RTreatment received accreditation for its Intensive Outpatient, Outpatient and Prevention programs. This is RTreatment’s first accreditation from the international accrediting body, CARF, and it will bolster the Center’s programming, treatment and outreach to fight alcohol abuse and other drug abuse as well the growing opioid epidemic in the Washington DC/Prince George’s County border area where RTreatment is located. While the initial focus is in this unique community, RTreatment plans to use a targeted approach to expand to other communities in US, recognizing that each jurisdiction is impacted differently by the epidemic.

“For two decades, Renaissance has been at the forefront of providing addiction treatment and prevention services in Maryland, DC, and Virginia,” said Ms. Andrea L. Syphax, M.S., RTreatment Administrator. In September 2016, Renaissance was chosen by The White House to be the Community Treatment Provider visited during the Inaugural Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week. “As the need for our services increases – especially for combatting the growing nationwide opioid epidemic – the CARF International accreditation is further recognition of the impact we have had in the communities we serve and our call to action to do more.”

The Three-Year CARF accreditation represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to alcohol and drug rehabilitation facilities worldwide and allows those seeking help with addiction and their families to have confidence that recognized providers meet CARF’s high standards of care and demonstrate a commitment to “being among the best available”. RTreatment’s accreditation means that the Center has undergone a rigorous peer review process and demonstrated to the CARF team of surveyors during an on-site visit its

commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.

To arrange media interviews and guided tours of the Renaissance facilities with Administrator Syphax and to find out more about the innovative programming that

RTreatment is offering to tackle the opioid epidemic and other addiction challenges, please contact Calvin Dark, (202) 309-0372, calvin@cdglobalstrategies.com

Renaissance Treatment Center is a nonprofit organization in Capitol Heights, Maryland on the Washington, DC border. It has been providing Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Alcohol and Drug rehabilitation, Integrated Addiction/Mental Health services, Relapse Prevention, DWI programs, and Addiction Education services in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area since 1997. For more information about RTreatment, please visit its website http://www.rtreatment.org/ and follow on Twitter and Instagram (@RTreatment).

Andrea Syphax co-founded the Renaissance Medical Group, Inc. in 1994 and has served as President and Chief Executive since inception. Renaissance has been one of the Washington area’s largest providers of outpatient substance abuse treatment and related services. Renaissance was the Community Treatment Provider chosen for a visit during the White House’s Inaugural Opioid and Prescription Drug Awareness Week in September 2016. Andrea and her team have established Renaissance as a highly sought after field study site for several

top graduate schools of social work to include: Columbia University, University of Southern California, and University of Maryland. She is the past Chair of the Maryland Primary Care Providers Advisory Board, a member of Leadership Prince George’s, and a charter member of the Zonta Club of Mid-Maryland, a global multicultural organization of professionals. Andrea received a Bachelor of Science degree at Howard University and a Master of Science degree at University of Maryland University College. (Click here for full bio) CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org.

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Andrea L. Syphax, Administrator Since her middle school days of working at her family’s health center in the Washington Metropolitan area, Andrea Syphax has been interested in community health services.

In 1994, Andrea co-founded the Renaissance Medical Group, Inc. which provided primary care to some of Maryland’s most vulnerable residents through an innovative, pilot health care program for the working poor in partnership the State of Maryland. This program was the original predecessor to the Maryland Health Care Exchange.

Andrea has served as Renaissance’s President and Chief Executive since inception. She oversaw the development and initial certification of

the Renaissance Treatment Center in 1996-1997. Renaissance has been one of the Washington area’s largest providers of outpatient substance abuse treatment and related services. In addition, Renaissance was chosen to be the Community Treatment Provider visited during the White House’s Inaugural Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week in September 2016.

Andrea continues to oversee all organizational operations and systems. In conjunction with the organization’s clinical team, Andrea directs the development and implementation of policies and procedures. She monitors the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and develops ways to meet program goals, improve service delivery, and maintain compliance with contractual obligations and licensing requirements.

Andrea works with other stakeholders to develop the strategic plan and is responsible for ensuring that the organization achieves short and long term goals that support the organization’s mission. She and her team have established Renaissance as a highly sought after field study site for several top graduate schools of social work to include: Columbia University, University of Southern California, and University of Maryland.

Andrea was instrumental in preparing Renaissance for CARF (founded as Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation and leading the organization through its first CARF survey in September 2017 which resulted in a gold standard three year accreditation.

As Andrea has responded to the ever-changing need for community treatment services, particularly among high risk populations, she has also made significant contributions to the human services and non-profit sectors in the Washington Metropolitan area. She is the past Chair of the Maryland Primary Care Providers Advisory Board, a member of Leadership Prince George’s, and a charter member of the Zonta Club of Mid-Maryland, a global multicultural organization of professionals.

In addition, Andrea served on County Executive Rushern Baker’s 2010 Transition Team as a member of the Health and Human Services, Community-Based Care Subcommittee. She also graduated from the Prince George’s County Non-Profit Cohort Advancement Project administered by the Maryland Association of Non-Profits in 2010. In 2013, Andrea became a LEAD Fellow (Leaders Engaged in Achieving Development) of the Community Foundation for the National Capitol Area.

Prior to co-founding Renaissance, Andrea served as Executive Director at Uplift Medical Enterprises, Inc., a community health program; a Vocational Development Specialist for the District of Columbia, and Administrative Assistant in the Office of the Chief Operating Officer of Howard University Hospital.

Andrea received a Bachelor of Science degree at Howard University and a Master of Science degree at University of Maryland University College.