The city of springfield will increase access to substance use treatment and services for homeless and justice-involved individuals by adding engagement and service connections at two intervention…

The City of Springfield was awarded a $1,300,000 Project Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (CFDA 16.838). The grant will fund a two-pronged initiative to increase access to substance use treatment and services for homeless and justice-involved individuals in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Specifically, the grant will establish: 1) a multidisciplinary homeless outreach team comprised of a behavioral health clinician and police officers, and 2) the presence of a behavioral health clinician in the Springfield District Court for arraignment sessions. Additionally, the grant will fund a new community care coordinator position within the Springfield Police Department to enhance coordination between partners and community service providers. The initiative aims to engage unsheltered homeless individuals and those at the pre-disposition/arraignment stage in the court system, and connect them to substance use treatment and peer support programs, as well as housing assistance through the local Continuum of Care. The University of Massachusetts-Amherst Department of Public Health will serve as the research partner to conduct process and outcome evaluations for the project.

The city of springfield will increase access to substance use treatment and services for homeless and justice-involved individuals by adding engagement and service connections at two intervention points. The initiative will provide: 1) a multidisciplinary homeless outreach team made up of a behavioral health clinician and police officers, and 2) the presence of a behavioral health clinician in the springfield district court for arraignment sessions. The project is further supported by a new community care coordinator, housed in the springfield police department, who will enhance coordination between the partners and community service providers. Through these interventions, the initiative will engage unsheltered homeless individuals and individuals at the pre-disposition/arraignment stage in the springfield district court. When individuals at these intervention points are interested in substance use treatment, they will be referred and enrolled in treatment, including connecting with a community peer support program. Homeless individuals will also be referred to the springfield-hampden county continuum of care (COC) coordinated entry system for housing assistance. The city is partnering with behavioral health network (BHN) for this initiative, and the service area is the city of springfield, massachusetts. The university of massachusetts-amherst department of public health is the research partner and will conduct process and outcome evaluations.