Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
In the Pioneer Valley Homeless Families in Recovery Program, the Center for Human Development (CHD) proposes to expand upon its existing SAMHSA-funded Certified Behavioral Health Clinic-Expansion (CCBHC-E) Behavioral Health team by employing Homeless Community Support (HCS) staff who will conduct assertive outreach and engagement with 400 homeless individuals in three counties (Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin) in Western Massachusetts, also known as the Pioneer Valley. The HCS staff, who are trained (substance use) Recovery Coaches and/or Certified Addiction Counselors, will screen 240 of these individuals for substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders; provide brief interventions for 160 of these; and refer to the integrated CCBHC BH team (or provider partners) 80 of these individuals. Through this process, CHD will provide integrated treatment services for 80 homeless individuals per year or 400 over five years. This funding opportunity comes at a critical time for the region, which has experienced a 29% increase in the number of homeless individuals/families over the past year. Currently, there are 630 families or 2,378 individuals active in the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Emergency Assistance (EA) program in the region. There are many more experiencing housing instability and homelessness who go uncounted because they have not entered the system. Recognizable majorities among the region’s homeless are young parents between 18 and 24 years old, Hispanics, and those with behavioral health challenges. Most have experienced traumatic events in their lives that lead to a wide-range of behavioral health symptoms (depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use). As a one of the largest social services/behavioral health organizations in the region, serving 40% of homeless families in the Pioneer Valley, CHD is proposing an approach that will better integrate homeless families in our shelters with our robust CCBHC-E Behavioral Health teams and provider partners. In the proposed integrated system of care, CHD will employ HCS staff to engage homeless individuals and families in EA shelters, community based organizations, and community health centers and elsewhere in the community. The HCS staff will use a variety of evidence-based practices, including comprehensive case management, SBIRT, Motivational Interviewing, and Supported Employment and Housing to provide support and treatment services for eligible individuals. They will also refer individuals to the CCBHC BH Team and other providers for a continuum of substance use treatment services, Medication Assisted Treatment, primary care (working with partner community health centers), peer recovery coaching and support, trauma informed care, and telehealth services, among others.
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).
