Project Grant H79SM083338

IMPROVING ACCESS TO QUALITY TREATMENT - IMPROVING ACCESS TO QUALITY TREATMENT TO ENHANCE SERVICES IN MIDCOAST MAINE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR CLIENTS, GOALS, AND STRATEGIES WHICH WILL INCLUDE INCREASING ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, FAMILIES, AND MILITARY BY EXPANDING TELEHEALTH SOLUTIONS, CLIENT PORTAL ACCESS, AND LENGTHENING HOURS OF OPERATION TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION AND AVAILABILITY. WITH AN IDENTIFIED NEED FOR SERVICES FOR HIGH SCHOOL AGED YOUTH EXPERIENCING SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE, SWEETSER WILL ALSO INCREASE SCREENINGS AND SERVICES FOR SUICIDE AND SUBSTANCE USE RISK WITH A GOAL OF INCREASED INITIATION AND CONTINUATION FOR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR GOAL OF ZERO SUICIDE. PRIMARY CARE SCREENINGS WILL BE PROVIDED BY NURSING STAFF TO IDENTIFY THE NEEDS TO TREAT THE WHOLE PERSON. ADDITIONALLY, SWEETSER WILL BUILD ITS PROGRAMMING TO EXPAND OPEN-ACCESS SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE/OPIOID USE DISORDERS, INCLUDING MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT, TO HELP FACILITATE TREATMENT WITHIN AN INTEGRATED CARE MODEL. MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES WILL INCLUDE INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY TO SERVICES; INCREASING ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE AND SCREENINGS; INCREASING SCREENING, TREATMENT INITIATION, AND TREATMENT CONTINUATION FOR ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS; REDUCING INCIDENCES OF SUICIDE; ENSURING THAT STAFF ARE COMPETENT BY PROVIDING THE NECESSARY TRAINING AND TOOLS TO SUPPORT OUR POPULATION OF FOCUS; AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SAME-DAY SCHEDULING FOR PEOPLE WITH OPIATE USE ADDICTIONS. IN ALL, WE EXPECT TO SERVE 6,750 PEOPLE EACH YEAR, AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 10% ANNUALLY.