The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) has received funding from SAMHSA/CSAT to implement a comprehensive statewide strategic treatment and communications plan to improve treatment for adolescents and young adults (age 12-21) with substance use disorders with or without co-occurring mental health disorders. This project is known locally as ASSERT (AccesS, Screening and Engagement, Recovery Support, and Treatment). DCF is partnering with state agencies (DMHAS, CSSD), Beacon Health Options, UConn Health, treatment providers, training entities, and youth and family organizations to support this initiative. ASSERT’s overall goal is to is to improve access to evidence-based substance use screening and treatments (EBPs), and recovery supports to increase engagement and retention in high quality care at all levels of need.

ASSERT grant activities fall into the following major categories:

• Workforce Development: Implementing strategies to expand the skills and competencies of the workforce, particularly in response to CT’s opioid crisis. ASSERT defines workforce broadly to include clinical, non-clinical, and family and youth participants from a variety of youth-serving sectors;
• Finance: Using financial mapping to identify current finance practices, and developing pragmatic funding and payment strategies for sustaining and growing EBPs;
• Quality Improvement: Reducing health disparities in access to services; expanding co-occurring treatments;
• Improving Access: De-linking service access to systems involvement, increasing awareness of services, reducing stigma around substance use problems;
• Early Identification: Increasing screening for youth in diverse settings, promoting early access to care;
• Data-driven Decision-making: Enhancing existing data infrastructure to improve access to and use of administrative data, and increasing the quality of administrative data

The ASSERT grant (4) strategies:

1. Comprehensive Evidence Base Practice (EBP)
   The ASSERT Treatment Model (ATM) is a new treatment for youth and young adults 16-21 years old with opioid use problems.
   ATM combines three services:
   • Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT)
     • MDFT is an intensive, family-centered treatment for youth with substance use and co-co-occurring mental health problems.
   • Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
     • MAT for opioid use problems is available within the ATM program for those youth who need and want it. (MAT is not required.)
   • Recovery Management Checkups and Support (RMCS)
     • RMCS starts after MDFT treatment ends and provides monitoring, re-connection to services and supports through linkages to community and peer programs; up to 12 months of support after treatment ends.

2. Enhanced Training
   Trainings to expand the skills and competencies of the workforce, particularly in response to CT’s opioid crisis.
   • Substance Use Disorder/Addiction training
   • Family EBP workshop
   • Social Marketing & Media training

4. Treatment Financial Mapping
   Collaborating with state agencies to identify current finance practices, and developing pragmatic funding and payment strategies for sustaining and growing EBPs.
5. Youth and Young Adult Involvement
   Collaboration with TurningPointCT.org; a platform to improve access to treatment services and resources.

Contact

Please email any further questions to Marsha Murray

 

ASSERT Treatment Model (ATM) for Youth with Opioid Use Disorders

Area	Provider	Contact
Danbury Torrington Waterbury	Connecticut Junior Republic (CJR) 80 Prospect Street, Waterbury 06702	(203) 757-9939 mbenjamin@cjryouth.org
Hartford Manchester	Community Health Resources (CHR) 469 Center Street, Manchester 06040	860-730-8641 aburke@chrhealth.org
New London Norwich Willimantic	United Community & Family Services (UCFS) 77 East Town Street, Norwich 06360	(860) 822-4292 cpalma@ucfs.org
Meriden New Britain	Wheeler Clinic 74 East Street, Plainville 06062	(860) 539-2405 ABeckerman@Wheelerclinic.org