Bridge to recovery - the alcott center for mental health services in LOS angeles will implement bridge to recovery, a RE-entry service for individuals who are diagnosed with CO-occurring mental health…

Bridge to recovery - the alcott center for mental health services in LOS angeles will implement bridge to recovery, a RE-entry service for individuals who are diagnosed with CO-occurring mental health and substance use disorders coupled with homelessness. The project will serve 100 unduplicated people annually (total 200) with treatment for mental health and substance use disorders and case management. Comprehensive trauma-informed services will be coupled with preparation for stability in permanent housing, housing search, case management, and peer services to support stability in recovery and avoid relapses into homelessness and incarceration. The services will serve as a foundation for the development of practices that support compliance with terms of supervision as well as treatment and independent living. Participants are male, range in age from 18 to 75, and are 35% african-american, 35% latinx, 20% white, and 10% a/PI and other ethnicities. All participants have severe mental illness or mood disorders with CO-occurring substance use disorders. Release from incarceration is due to policy changes in california favoring community-based treatment for individuals whose crimes are related to their mental health status, addictions, and/or homelessness. This practice accelerated during the covid pandemic. This trauma-informed project will also establish a program of services for alcott center staff members (50 unduplicated per year, total 100) to prevent and treat the trauma experienced by employees serving highly traumatized, ILL, and unhoused clients. Mental health and substance use treatment will be offered using cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, behavioral self control training, and other evidence-based practices, along with intensive case management and peer support. Project objectives for participants include maintaining abstinence from substance use, maintaining housing stability, avoiding RE-incarceration, obtaining and maintaining education and/or employment, improved social connectedness, and other measures of recovery and self-determination. The project will also enhance the alcott center's infrastructure for continuing services remotely.