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New Guide on Expanding Services

Jan 21, 2023 | Insights and Highlights

This free guide to download focuses on five programs and practices that have demonstrated success in improving mental health and substance use outcomes during the often-lengthy period of homelessness prior to housing placement. These practices include medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), motivational interviewing (MI), intensive case management, Community Reinforcement approach (CRA), including adolescent community reinforcement approach (A-CRA), and peer support.

The guide includes both the evidence of the impact of these interventions and specific strategies for providers, staff, and organizations to consider when implementing them. Specifically, organizations should consider engaging community partners, securing sustainable funding streams, building a strong workforce, reducing barriers to treatment engagement and retention, and evaluating effectiveness. Individual providers should pay particular attention to implementing the practice with fidelity, engaging, and retaining clients in care, and integrating and coordinating other needed services. Several resources are provided to assist organizations and providers in these areas.

This overview provides a summary of the Evidence-Based Resource Guide titled, Expanding Access to and Use of Behavioral Health Services for People Experiencing Homelessness (SAMHSA Publication No. PEP22-06-02-003).

The complete guide is available on the SAMHSA Store: https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/SAMHSA_Digital_Download/PEP22-06-02-003.pdf

Tags: #MOUD, #Homelessness #adolescentSUD, #PeerSupport, #MAT