Thursday, April 25, 2024
4/25/2024
“Centerstone Connections: Connecting with People through Home, Recovery, and Community in Illinois” (“Connections”) will provide services to 190 individuals (including youth) and their families who experience homelessness and have a substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder (COD) (Yr. 1: 30; Yrs. 2-5: 40 annually). The project will serve persons in Manatee and Sarasota counties, Florida, providing SUD/COD treatment, housing navigation, and recovery support services. Florida is 3rd in the nation for homelessness, and from 2018-2019 the number of homeless school children increased by 33%. Florida’s 2018 Point in Time count identified 1,135 homelessness persons in Connections’ catchment area. The focus population comprises an estimated 35% of homeless individuals with SUD, including an estimated 54% with COD. PTSD is expected among 75% of women and up to 45% of men in the focus population. Among Connections’ focus population, 71% are male; 28%, female; 74%, White; 22%, Black; and 12%, Hispanic. Between 2012 and 2016, opioid deaths increased 174% in Manatee and 38% in Sarasota. The area has limited treatment options, and for homeless persons with COD, most treatment facilities are unable to address their complex needs. Connections’ focus population experiences multiple disparities (e.g., high poverty, lack of affordable housing) that contribute to homelessness and untreated/undertreated SUD/COD. Connections will provide outreach and housing navigation using a Housing First approach to provide housing as a top priority and without precondition or service participation requirements. Connections will follow SAMHSA’s Treatment Improvement Protocol 55 to guide/inform delivery of selected evidence-based interventions/models. Connections will implement Critical Time Intervention case management; provide direct SUD/COD/trauma treatment via Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment; and ensure access to federal income supports via SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery. Other Connections program components include screenings/assessments; individualized and integrated substance abuse treatment, individualized treatment planning; linkages to primary/specialty care; peer and wraparound/recovery supports (e.g., employment/education services, hepatitis/STI/HIV screening/education/counseling/referral, benefits engagement/enrollment), and dissemination of comprehensive evaluation. An Advisory Council comprising stakeholders and focus population members will support Connections’ goals, which include providing treatment, recovery support, and linkages to housing; developing/expanding the infrastructure/capacity of an integrated community service system; improving client health status and outcomes; increasing permanent housing and related support services; and developing/ disseminating a replicable service model. Measurable objectives include: outreach to 250 individuals experiencing homelessness to increase project participation/access to services; outreach to 570 community providers to strengthen referral/collaborative relationships; increased access to housing; increased access to treatment, employment, and education; reduced criminal justice system involvement, substance use, and mental health symptomatology; and increased functioning, social connectedness, and enrollment in health insurance/benefits programs. Key project partners (e.g., housing/homeless providers, schools, support service organizations) will serve as Connections linkage/referral sources, participate in service provision, and take part in training, Advisory Council, and evaluation activities.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
