Connections - a West Virginia community infrastructure that integrates SUD treatment, housing services & other critical services for individuals (including youth) & families experiencing homelessness - Each day, homeless shelters in Parkersburg, West Virginia require individuals and families to leave their facilities and search for housing and employment. Westbrook Health Services, a community-based, comprehensive behavioral health center located in Parkersburg proposes Connections, to provide this vulnerable population (individuals (including youth) families, veterans, LGBTQ+, and other homeless, at-risk populations) with transportation from the shelters to the Connections site to participate in evidence based substance abuse and mental health treatment (Matrix Model), and wellness services (integrated health care) along with structured, hands-on assistance with linkage to housing, employment and other supports needed to be permanently housed, to become socially connected and to live successfully in their community. With a 30% increase in homeless individuals over the past year in the Parkersburg area alone, Westbrook pledges to serve a total of 475 individuals (75 in Y1, 100 in Y2, 100 in Y3, 100 in Y4 and 100 in Y5 with evidence based substance abuse treatment (including MAT), mental health treatment or co-occurring disorder treatment based on the individual need of the consumer. In addition to treatment services, all of which are available at Westbrook, a staff comprised of case management and peer recovery support specialists will assist each person with services and supports to address their specific needs. Commitments from local homeless service providers contribute to the program impact as all have agreed to provide reciprocal referrals and linkage to their service array. Transportation will be provided by Connections staff to alleviate access barriers often encountered by people experiencing homelessness in rural areas. Connections incorporates 4 goals and 17 measurable objectives into its service array and meets each of the required activities. Goal 1 - decrease the number of people experiencing homelessness with a mental health and/or substance use disorder in Wood County WV by establishing a community infrastructure to link people experiencing homelessness with the services they need including behavioral health treatment and housing. Objectives include formalizing referrals with local agency service providers so links are seamless; and establishing new reciprocal referrals the grant tenure. Goal 2 - increase the capacity of Wood County WV to reduce the number of individuals experiencing homelessness who have a mental health or substance abuse disorder. Objectives include hiring staff to expand treatment and support services capacity, linking consumers directly with permanent housing and connecting them with other community services (employment, training, education, benefits, wellness, primary care) that will assist them in maintaining their residence. Goal 3 - demonstrate a net positive impact/economic impact including reducing the number of homeless, showing a 60% decrease in the number of days Connections consumers are incarcerated between baseline and follow-up, reducing homeless days, increasing income from wages and determine the change in reliance on the social services system and ERs due to individuals being housed and employed; Sustain the Connections model post grant funding through billable services and embedding elements into the agency's and community's infrastructure. Replication is envisioned in other similar Appalachian communities by traveling to their location to explain the initiative and hosting community representatives in Parkersburg for site visits. The mayor of Parkersburg, all three Wood County Commissioners and Commissioner of the Bureau for Behavioral Health, West Virginia's single state authority, have all endorsed the initiative as meeting a local, county and state priority, respectively.
