Vision:

The History of Gateway

Gateway to Prevention and Recovery started as a group of local, concerned citizens coming together as a result of watching two Chemical People television specials in the 1980s. These citizens sustained a planning group in an effort to pave the way for addiction treatment services to be offered in their community. Gateway was initially named the “DARE” program of Shawnee, Oklahoma. In 1985, “DARE” secured their 501c3 non-profit status; hired their first professional staff member; and received a foundation grant for operating capital. Through efforts from the Board of Directors, private donations, the Shawnee Noon Day Lion’s Club and United Way, funding was acquired to start providing addiction treatment services to the community.

By 1986, Gateway had four full time staff members and in 1987, an Advisory Board was developed.  “DARE” received a prevention grant to provide a best practice prevention program named, “School Team Training”. The State of Kansas was already conducting School Team Training and the Executive Director, Sallie McLaughlin, traveled to Kansas to participate and bring this information back to Oklahoma schools.

The “DARE” program changed its name to “Gateway to Prevention and Recovery” which has now grown into a comprehensive continuum of prevention, intervention, treatment and training services for the counties of Pottawatomie, Lincoln, Okfuskee, Seminole, Hughes, McIntosh, and surrounding areas. Gateway is fortunate to have professional, experienced staff providing all our services as well as a committed Board of Directors providing leadership. Gateway is nationally and internationally accredited through CARF for integrated substance abuse and mental health services. Gateway embraces a philosophy of person centered care in all programs offered.

Gateway to Prevention and Recovery is a private, non-profit corporation. As such, all board members are unpaid volunteers. These men and women donate countless hours in the hopes of making our community a better place to live.

We are proud of our history, heritage and journey. We are honored to serve this community and are looking forward to our next 25 years.

What Gateway Can Do

Gateway to Prevention and Recovery has multiple programs that include education, prevention activities, support, case management and treatment for individuals who live with behavioral health illnesses in their lives. Gateway believes that each individual matters and deserves access to programs and services that will save and enrich the lives they were intended to live.

Gateway specifically offers treatment services for mental health and substance use disorders. Gateway also offers opportunities to serve our community in preventing these disorders and other contributing risk factors to these illnesses.

Gateway has been a certified Alcohol and Drug Treatment program since 1985 and has offered outpatient counseling to more than 1,100 individuals annually through offices in Shawnee, Chandler, Boley (John H. Lilley Correctional Center) and McLoud (Mabel Basset Correctional Center).

In 2010, Gateway added a broader array of behavioral health services in an effort to serve the greater community. These services include: Mental Health and co-occurring treatment; child, adolescent and family therapy with or without addiction present; marriage and family therapy; intensive case management; peer recovery support services; compulsive disorder treatment (chemical addiction, sexual addiction, gambling addiction, shopping and eating addiction); school based counseling and support services; crisis intervention services and life coaching.

Behavioral Health Treatment services are provided on an assessment of client need. Payment for these services is determined by financial eligibility. Multiple pay sources are available such as: private pay, insurance reimbursement, sliding fee scale, scholarships, month to month payment options and other subsidized services. Gateway provides services regardless of the ability to pay. Please do not allow hesitation regarding your available finances to prohibit you from accessing these services. We will work with you.