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Full-Text Articles in Health Policy

Rural Health Action Network Enhanced Outreach Initiative. Year One Final Report, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Evelyn Ali Bs Dec 2022

Rural Health Action Network Enhanced Outreach Initiative. Year One Final Report, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Evelyn Ali Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Healthy Community Coalition (HCC), in coordination with the Rural Health Action Network (RHAN) of greater Franklin County, is implementing a multi-faceted outreach program to improve health outcomes among the rural poor living with chronic conditions in greater Franklin County, Maine.

The goals of the Franklin County Rural Health Action Network Enhanced Outreach Initiative (RHAN-EOI) include:

  • Expand access to quality services;
  • Expand training for community health extenders;
  • Decrease hospital admissions, emergency department use, and costs; and
  • Improve communication and care coordination across project partners

This report highlights the implementation and progress of HCC RHAN in Year 1. For more information, please …


Medication Assisted Treatment: Prescription Drug And Opioid Addiction Expansion Project, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katharine Knight Mph, Mark Richards Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs Dec 2022

Medication Assisted Treatment: Prescription Drug And Opioid Addiction Expansion Project, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katharine Knight Mph, Mark Richards Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Greater Portland Health (GPH) in collaboration with Preble Street Resource Center was awarded a Medication Assisted Treatment: Prescription Drug & Opioid Addiction (MOUD-PDOA) grant from SAMHSA. The GPH MOUD-PDOA project will include a mixed-methods evaluation led by Catherine E. Cutler Institute. The evaluation team will build knowledge and provide feedback to inform the implementation and refinement of the GPH MOUD-PDOA Program.

Evaluation Goals:

  • Document program strategies and identify barriers and facilitators to implementation
  • Examine the efficacy of using a continuum of treatment services to increase access to MOUD among vulnerable populations in underserved communities
  • Assess the impact of the intervention …


House: Homeless Opioid User Service Engagement Program. Year 1 Report, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katharine Knight Mph, Evelyn Ali Bs, Thomas Chalmers Mclaughlin Msw, Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mark Richards Bs, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma Apr 2022

House: Homeless Opioid User Service Engagement Program. Year 1 Report, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katharine Knight Mph, Evelyn Ali Bs, Thomas Chalmers Mclaughlin Msw, Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mark Richards Bs, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Homelessness and lack of stable housing is often a barrier to achieving stability for individuals who are experiencing homelessness (IWAEH) with an OUD. In order to meet the complex needs of IWAEH with OUD, the Department of Health and Human Services funded a pilot program in 2021, the Homeless Opioid Users Service Engagement (HOUSE) Program; clinicians at Greater Portland Health provide clients with low-barrier Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), while staff at Preble Street provide casework support and rapid housing assistance to individuals who have been identified as being at high risk of overdose, are experiencing homelessness, and are diagnosed with …


R.A.C.E. To Recovery Year 1 Evaluation Summary Report, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd Mar 2022

R.A.C.E. To Recovery Year 1 Evaluation Summary Report, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Through a collaborative effort led by the Healthy Community Coalition, the multi-sector Rural Addiction Care Expansion (R.A.C.E.) to Recovery initiative consortium is utilizing evidence-based, community-wide response to impact and reduce the effects of the opioid epidemic in the Western Maine Public Health District/ Greater Franklin County. To assess and evaluate the implementation, successes, and challenges of the RACE to Recovery project, the Cutler Institute is collecting and analyzing data for both process and outcomes of the initiative.

In the first year of the initiative, the Cutler evaluation team utilized both primary and secondary data to assess RACE to Recovery program …


Support For Me Needs Assessment Summary., Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Mark Richards Bs, Katharine Knight Mph, Tyler Egeland Ba, Olivia Dooley Mpa Feb 2022

Support For Me Needs Assessment Summary., Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Mark Richards Bs, Katharine Knight Mph, Tyler Egeland Ba, Olivia Dooley Mpa

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Maine Department of Health and Human Services contracted with the Catherine Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine to conduct a baseline needs assessment. The overall goal was to better understand the current capacity to address substance use in Maine; find barriers to receiving and utilizing SUD treatment and recovery services; and identify any gaps in SUD-related services in the state. The Cutler team conducted interviews, surveys, community listening sessions and focus groups with healthcare key informants (leadership from health systems, residential care, recovery housing, behavioral health agencies), providers (medical, behavioral health, first responders, residential treatment, law enforcement, opioid …


Time To Ask Program At Greater Portland Health [Infographic], Evelyn Ali Bs, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd Jan 2022

Time To Ask Program At Greater Portland Health [Infographic], Evelyn Ali Bs, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

The goals of the Time to Ask education and quality improvement program of the Lunder Dineen include increasing the capacity of interprofessional care teams in discussing alcohol use with the patients through the screening, brief intervention, and referral (SBIRT) process, and expanding providers' use of screening and monitoring unhealthy alcohol use of their patients.

This evaluation infographic visualizes the impact of Greater Portland Health's use of this program.

For more information about Time to Ask, visit https://lunderdineen.org/program/alcohol-use-time-to-ask/

For more information about the evaluation, please contact M. Lindsey Smith, PhD, m.lindsey.smith@maine.edu


Support For Me: Substance Use Disorder Prevalence And Treatment Capacity Assessment, Rachel T. Gallo Mph, Katharine Knight Mph, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd Nov 2021

Support For Me: Substance Use Disorder Prevalence And Treatment Capacity Assessment, Rachel T. Gallo Mph, Katharine Knight Mph, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

The aim of this report was to understand the sociodemographic and geographic distribution of substance use disorder (SUD) prevalence in Maine, through a claims-based analysis which assessed current statewide capacity to address SUD by examining current SUD treatment and recovery infrastructure, service utilization patterns, and geographic distribution of services and usage throughout the state to identify any gaps in treatment and recovery capacity.

The authors would like to note that this report was completed during the planning phase of the SUPPORT for ME project, which was funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) via the SUPPORT Act …


Support For Me: Provider Focus Group Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Mark Richards Bs Oct 2021

Support For Me: Provider Focus Group Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Mark Richards Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This summary highlights feedback from focus groups with providers across Maine who currently address the needs of persons with substance use disorder (SUD). These providers represent individuals working in the following organizations: Health Systems, Behavioral Health Agencies, Residential Treatment, Community Recovery Programs, Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), First Responders (EMT, fire, police), and law enforcement (e.g., Sheriff’s Office, Corrections). This summary report is designed to provide feedback to the Office of MaineCare Services to help inform their strategic planning process to increase statewide capacity for SUD treatment and recovery service capacity to better meet the needs of …


Support For Me: Key Stakeholder Interview Summary, Katie Rosingana Ba, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mark Richards Bs May 2021

Support For Me: Key Stakeholder Interview Summary, Katie Rosingana Ba, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mark Richards Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This summary feedback report is organized to inform the Office of MaineCare Services goal of addressing barriers and finding new and/or improved ways to increase capacity in Maine for people who seek treatment and recovery services for substance use disorder. Interview protocols were designed to assess critical domains of interest for the state, which include: current and potential provider capacity, access to care & service delivery provider willingness, and financial/ administrative policies.

Key Highlights from the stakeholder interviews indicated that:

  • While there have been improvements in the integration of care for persons with behavioral health (BH) diagnoses, this integration has …


Downeast Maine Mat Expansion Project: Year 3 Final Data Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Evelyn Ali Bs, Katharine Knight Mph, Tyler Egeland Ba Jan 2021

Downeast Maine Mat Expansion Project: Year 3 Final Data Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Evelyn Ali Bs, Katharine Knight Mph, Tyler Egeland Ba

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This report summarizes the collaborative effort of Healthy Acadia, its providers, the Downeast Substance Treatment Network, and Downeast Substance Use Response Coalition, to combat opioid use disorder (OUD) in Downeast Maine through multiple evidence-based strategies.

Project goals included the reduction of barriers to accessing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and the enhancement of MAT services by improving provider capacity through training and implementation of best practice treatment.

For more information, please contact M. Lindsey Smith, PhD, m.lindsey.smith@maine.edu


Downeast Maine Mat Expansion Project: Year 2 Data Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba Dec 2020

Downeast Maine Mat Expansion Project: Year 2 Data Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This report summarizes the Year 2 activities of the Healthy Acadia Downeast Maine MAT Expansion Project. Through a collaborative effort of Healthy Acadia, its providers, the Downeast Substance Treatment Network and Downeast Substance Use Response Coalition, the project utilized multiple evidence-based strategies to combat opioid use disorder (OUD) in Downeast Maine.

FMI: M. Lindsey Smith, PhD, m.lindsey.smith@maine.edu


Lincoln County Community Paramedicine Data Collection Initiative [Infographic], Evelyn Ali Bs, Katie Rosingana Ba, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma Jan 2020

Lincoln County Community Paramedicine Data Collection Initiative [Infographic], Evelyn Ali Bs, Katie Rosingana Ba, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.


Lincoln County Community Paramedicine Data Collection Initiative, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma Jan 2020

Lincoln County Community Paramedicine Data Collection Initiative, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.


Downeast Maine Mat Expansion Project: Year 1 Data Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Olivia Dooley Mpa, Evelyn Ali Bs Dec 2019

Downeast Maine Mat Expansion Project: Year 1 Data Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Olivia Dooley Mpa, Evelyn Ali Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This report summarizes the Year 1 activities of the Healthy Acadia Downeast Maine MAT Expansion Project. Through a collaborative effort of Healthy Acadia, its providers, the Downeast Substance Treatment Network and Downeast Substance Use Response Coalition, the project utilized multiple evidence-based strategies to combat opioid use disorder (OUD) in Downeast Maine.

Key findings focused on:

  • capacity building,
  • stakeholder engagement,
  • organizational and peer support,
  • payment and reimbursement issues,
  • the creation of low-barrier access to MAT,
  • barriers, including stigma, to MAT
  • patient-centered approaches
  • auxiliary recovery supports

For more information, please contact M. LIndsey Smith, PhD at m.lindsey.smith@maine.edu