Objective: To monitor and document the process of planning and implementing drug Treatment on Demand in San Francisco. Methods: The researchers reviewed community planning process literature. They did semi-structured key informant interviews, targeting people involved with the planning process, health department and city and county officials. Planning council meetings were transcribed and analyzed. In addition, the researchers reviewed local print journalism about TOD in the city and region and public documents from related planning bodies. Findings: San Francisco chose to plan TOD using HIV community planning models as a mechanism for ensuring democracy and accountability to underserved communities. These models are internally challenged by the dynamics innate to large, diverse groups. Externally they are challenged by accusations that they are less “efficient” than top down models. Additionally, the San Francisco TOD planning council was mandated to find ways of implementing TOD with a harm reduction and systems approach, which requires examination of how services are delivered and how they articulate with each other. This evaluation will discuss how San Francisco is attempting to meet these challenges. Conclusions: Drug treatment clearly offers a cheaper and more humane option than incarceration. Yet most cities have a demand for treatment that far outstrips their supply. This evaluation discusses some of the challenges faced by a municipality trying to address a dire public health emergency.
Learning Objectives: 1. Develop methods to assess the impact of changes in communnity-wide treatment systems. 2. Identify planning models to implement Treatment on Demand programs in other underserved communities
Keywords: Community Health Programs, Assessments
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.