Casa Esperanza's Proyecto Redes (Networks): Recovery & Early Diversion Engagement Services program will serve Latinos with substance use or co-occurring mental health disorders at risk of incarceration within Middlesex and Essex County. Through this diversion grant opportunity, the most vulnerable individuals with COD and SMI will experience increased access to behavioral health services, leading to reduced symptomatology and improved health outcomes, and avoid long-term socioeconomic issues resulting from justice involvement and incarceration. Connecting individuals with appropriate programming in lieu of arrest and incarceration reduces the burden on the court system to process new arrests and reduces the jail population with SMI and COD. Casa expects over 40% of clients to be monolingual Spanish speakers and all to be below the national poverty line. Casa anticipates serving 40 individuals in Year 1 and 50 individuals per year thereafter for a total of 240 individuals served throughout the project's lifespan.
Latinos receiving diversion services through Proyecto Redes will have access to mental health services, residential treatment, medication-assisted therapy, clinical stabilization services, and recovery support services. Additionally, a Behavioral Health Partnership Workgroup will provide project oversight and case conferencing. Proyecto Redes proposes to accomplish the following goals:
Strengthen the existing infrastructure responsible for coordinating, developing, planning, supporting, and providing effective early intervention services for Latine with SMI or COD who are at risk of detention due to behavioral health disorders.
Reduce the number of arrests for Latine with MI/COD by diverting them from justice systems to community-based behavioral health treatment and recovery supports that reduce risk, improve health outcomes, and sustain recovery.
Address the stigma, health disparities, and barriers to culturally and linguistically appropriate treatment and support services for Latine through education and training that reinforces existing competencies and develops new skills.
Proyecto Redes' success will be measured through the number of assessments completed, case management services provided, training staff on CLAS standards, training law enforcement and community partners, completing Sequential Intercept Mapping, and the number of referrals to crisis intervention and psychiatric rehabilitation services. Casa's Proyecto Redes team will ride along with law enforcement officers to directly intercept and assess individuals. Additionally, highly trained clinical staff will utilize evidence-based practices to administer mental health treatment, such as Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Intensive Case Management, and Assertive Outreach. Proyecto Redes staff receives ongoing training to reinforce existing competencies and develop new skills. Our proposed Proyecto Redes will address the interconnected problems Latinos face working with current diversion models, offer clients a resource for individual/family recovery management, emphasize long-term recovery, address stigma, and build community connection before arrest and booking.