Substance Abuse Treatment – Building Better Programs https://www.buildingbetterprograms.org Resources for Improving TANF and Related Work Programs Thu, 19 Mar 2015 20:26:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Intensive Case Management Improves Welfare Clients’ Rates of Entry and Retention in Substance Abuse Treatment https://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/2014/04/22/intensive-case-management-improves-welfare-clients-rates-of-entry-and-retention-in-substance-abuse-treatment/ Tue, 22 Apr 2014 20:35:35 +0000 http://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/?p=470 Read more]]> The purpose of this report is to present preliminary findings of a study conducted in New Jersey comparing the rates of entry and retention in substance abuse treatment for two contrasting intervention approaches: Care Coordination and Intensive Case Management. In Care Coordination, welfare recipients were screened for substance abuse problems by caseworkers in welfare offices. Women screening positive were interviewed in welfare offices by specially trained addiction counselors to determine the need for substance abuse treatment and to coordinate treatment, if needed.  The alternative approach, Intensive Case Management, combined several strategies thought to be effective in enhancing substance abuse treatment retention and improving outcomes. In Intensive Case Management, welfare recipients screening positive and needing treatment were assigned to a case management team. In addition, clients in ICM received small incentives in the form of vouchers for attending treatment. Preliminary findings clearly indicate the benefits of providing intensive case management services over a more limited triage and referral system. Clients referred to substance abuse treatment programs using the Intensive Case Management approach were much more likely to enter substance abuse treatment and were especially more likely to continue attending outpatient treatment sessions.

Intensive Case Management Improves Welfare Clients’ Rates of Entry and Retention in Substance Abuse Treatment

]]> CASAWORKS for Families https://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/2014/04/22/casaworks-for-families/ Tue, 22 Apr 2014 20:23:49 +0000 http://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/?p=468 Read more]]> From 1997 to 2007, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, New York, planned and carried out a demonstration project to help women on welfare who have substance abuse problems reduce drug and alcohol use and secure and retain jobs. The demonstration project was called CASAWORKS for Families and was designed to achieve four goals: 1) Facilitate and maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol; 2) promote work and economic independence; 3) address safety from violence for women and children; and 4) improve family functioning. The model hinged on a close working relationship between substance abuse treatment centers and welfare agencies. The project took place in three phases. The first phase, which was a pilot in 11 cities, yielded some promising results. There were decreases in substance use and increases in employment outcomes for program participants.

CASAWORKS for Families Helps Women Get Off Drugs and Into Jobs: Multi-site demonstration of substance abuse treatment program for hard to employ women on welfare

]]> Welfare Reform and Substance Abuse Treatment for Welfare Recipients https://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/2014/04/22/welfare-reform-and-substance-abuse-treatment-for-welfare-recipients/ Tue, 22 Apr 2014 19:58:39 +0000 http://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/?p=466 Read more]]> Changes brought about by the welfare reform law gave states wide latitude to design programs to help low-income people attain self-sufficiency. States could developed innovative programming for hard-to-employ welfare populations, including those with substance use disorders with screening and better integration of needed ancillary services (i.e., medical care, child care, help with housing and transportation). Or states could create a punitive atmosphere at welfare offices that may drastically reduce the number of low-income Americans with substance use disorders who receive public aid, and treatment programs dependent on public funds may face a resulting loss of revenue. Research on substance use disorders in the context of welfare reform primarily focused on four questions:

  1. What is the prevalence of substance use and substance use disorders among Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients?
  2. To what extent are substance use disorders and co-occurring problems a barrier to employability?
  3. Can screening strategies in welfare settings successfully identify and refer clients to substance abuse treatment?
  4. What types of services do these clients need to attain self-sufficiency?

This article reviews findings on these questions and offers suggestions for how these findings can inform policy and future research.

 National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism – Welfare Reform and Substance Abuse Treatment for Welfare Recipients

 

]]> New Mexico Works I-CARE Program https://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/2014/04/18/new-mexico-works-i-care-program/ Fri, 18 Apr 2014 15:50:26 +0000 http://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/?p=378 Read more]]> The New Mexico Works Intensive Case Management, Recovery and Employment (ICARE) program is a pilot program in Albuquerque which is designed to address substance use barriers to employment in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients. It is a new approach that combines 12 weeks of Intensive Case Management with job readiness classes and job development. TANF recipients identified as having substance use issues that prevent them from obtaining and retaining employment will be referred to the ICARE program. The program includes Intensive Case Management, Motivational Interviewing to motivate change and decrease substance use, Relapse Prevention to build skills, Family Management to improve family functioning, job readiness classes to enhance employment skills and increase retention, and job development to secure employment. A program evaluation component to determine the effectiveness of this program in addressing substance use disorders among TANF recipients is in place.

NM Works I-Care Program website

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