HEALing Franklin County (Helping End Addiction Long-term in Franklin County, MA- a federally designated rural county) is being proposed by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) to enhance and expand capacity to deliver medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorders (OUD) to individuals currently incarcerated in Franklin County House of Correction (FCHOC) and individuals involved in the justice system residing in Franklin County and neighboring communities who screen for OUD, most of whom have trauma histories and a co-occurring mental health disorder. Over the five-year period, approximately 400 individuals will be served (Year 1 =50, Year 2 =75, Year 3 = 75, Year 4 =100, Year 5 =100).
To engage vulnerable populations in MAT and improve outcomes for medication adherence we will (1) incorporate a holistic gender and trauma responsive treatment program both pre/post release for individuals incarcerated at FCHOC, with a special focus on women and (2) enhance and expand the reentry component linking individuals with OUD to community-based providers of MAT and other support services and incorporating a contingency management model throughout our continuum of care. This continuum begins with FCSO's well-established evidence-based treatment model that uses CBT curricula in integrated substance use and mental health treatment. An initial batter of assessments help determine targeted interventions and barriers/challenges to successful treatment and reintegration in the community. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Helping Men and Women Recover, and Cognitive-Processing Therapy will be offered to individuals participating in the FCHOC program. ACT will also be offered in the community.
An essential element in the continuum of care, FCSO offers intensive and comprehensive post-release case management services via a team of reentry caseworkers. Continued use of MAT and behavioral health care in the community will be supported through the Center for Human Development and Community Health Center of Franklin County staff, and peer mentors from the Salasin Project and FCSO. Participants in the community will also receive IDDT case management support and be required to engage in behavioral healthcare. Programming and services in the community will be in "hub" as part of Addiction Treatment and Recovery - an open enrollment, voluntary, and incentivized reentry group. Other goals of the project include increasing the physical health/wellness for participants through screenings and educational programming around infectious disease risk behaviors, sexual/reproductive health, overdose trainings, and providing resources and education regarding sexual exploitation/trafficking for women at FCHOC.
UMass School of Public Health will provide the program evaluation of processes and outcomes to inform improved service deliver; Alternative Solutions Associates, Inc. will provide quality assurance oversight and expertise in gender responsive programming.