 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Norma Finkelstein, PhD and Cheryl Kennedy, MSW. Institute for Health and Recovery, 349 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617-661-3991, normafinkelstein@healthrecovery.org
Massachusetts has developed an innovative statewide Family Substance Abuse Treatment Shelter model to serve homeless women with substance abuse problems and their children, collaboratively funded through state TANF, child welfare, public health and Medicaid agencies. Within the past two years the number of homeless families in Massachusetts has increased to record levels: over 1,000 in emergency family shelters and almost 600 temporarily sheltered in motels. In response to this crisis, several new family-centered efforts, sited at shelters and motels, have emerged to facilitate access to treatment and housing, including a state-funded home visiting program (FOR Families) and a CSAT-funded intensive outreach, engagement and clinical care management project (Project RISE). Through the work of the Institute for Health and Recovery, these programs have worked together to successfully engage homeless women to access substance abuse/mental health services, foster family stability, access services for children, move families into permanent housing, accept placement in Family Treatment Shelters and continue outpatient treatment in the community. This presentation will provide an historical perspective on development of this collaboration, a description of the current program model and population served, successful outcome data on families served, and preliminary baseline and outcome data on Project RISE.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.