Come Home Houston Is A New Program Recently Awarded ✓ Solved

Come Home Houstonis A New Program Recently Awarded Through

Come Home Houston is a new program recently awarded through funding from SAMSHA to Baylor College of Medicine, with Santa Maria (SMH) serving as a sub-grantee. The award is for a 5 year period for nearly $2 million. The grant will be specifically targeted to serve underserved homeless individuals who are living with both substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.

These services will be targeted in areas where there are high concentrations of women who need support; identified by data and designated by zip code. It appears that these identified areas share a common lack of access to available support services, creating conditions where women face steep barriers to self-sufficiency. These barriers include low levels of employment, poverty, poor educational backgrounds, prior criminal justice involvement and incarceration, trauma histories and lack of family support.

In short, almost every barrier standing on its own restricts successful reentry after treatment. Combined, these barriers require intensive intervention to provide a better probability of lasting recovery. Santa Maria has been selected as the site to provide services for these identified individuals. Primary treatment will include integrated substance use disorder and mental health treatment.

The program expects to assist 60 participants a year to successfully gain housing. This will be achieved by support and individualized services related to recovery housing, health, life skills, vocational training, and employment coaching. It will also include a strong enhancement of tobacco and vaping cessation services. The approach used will emphasize survivor empowerment and peer support.

The program will also be tailored to be culturally responsive to the needs of black and Latina female substance users who experience homelessness at a disproportionate rate. All participants will have access to a level of recovery support that will assist them in reconstructing their lives.

Women are already being selected by our case managers and coaching staff who have deep roots in the communities targeted by these objectives. As they are admitted, they are assigned a recovery coach and a counselor. They also are welcomed to their new residence.

This grant ensures that the door will be kept open for disenfranchised women in our community to receive life-changing services. We are grateful for our partnership at Baylor, the relationships with the team there, and for the opportunity to empower women to lead healthy, successful, productive, and self-fulfilling lives.

It is necessary to align policy and practices with recommended best practices. It was clear through our interviews that sectors were not routinely reviewing and updating policy and practice guidelines to follow current research and recommended best practices. For example, the Bexar County and Harris County jails are taking postpartum women off MAT (medically assisted program), which does not follow current best practices and actually increases the risk that these new mothers will overdose after release from jail.

Interviewees provided multiple accounts of needing to intervene in court proceedings in which a pregnant woman was ordered to stop MAT without the consent or recommendation of her medical provider. Language and interpretation were also found to be causing a lack of compliance with best practices.

In healthcare, there are multiple definitions and interpretations of the term “screening,” particularly as it refers to drug screening. When obstetrician/gynecologists (Ob/Gyns) were asked if they were screening for drug use during pregnancy, they often thought the question referred to urine drug screening (testing) and not verbal, self-report questions using validated screening tools.

This misunderstanding may be contributing to hesitation by providers to screen all patients as a part of standard prenatal care, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Paper For Above Instructions

The "Come Home Houston" program is a crucial initiative designed to support underserved women experiencing homelessness, particularly those grappling with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. This program was awarded a substantial grant of nearly $2 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), emphasizing its significance and potential impact on the community.

With Santa Maria (SMH) serving as a sub-grantee, the initiative recognizes the critical need for targeted services in areas with high concentrations of women in need. Often located in communities facing substantial barriers to self-sufficiency, these individuals encounter a myriad of obstacles, including poverty, low employment rates, limited education, and histories of trauma and incarceration. Addressing these challenges is paramount for successful recovery and reentry into society.

The program intends to assist approximately 60 participants annually in securing stable housing, a pivotal step for those on the path to recovery. The individualized services provided will include access to recovery housing, health and life skills training, vocational coaching, and nutritional education. Moreover, the program's enhanced approach toward tobacco and vaping cessation services speaks to the comprehensive nature of recovery—acknowledging that substance use often extends beyond just illicit drugs.

Moreover, the focus on culturally responsive care for Black and Latina women highlights a vital acknowledgment of the disparities these populations face regarding homelessness and substance use. By tailoring the program to meet their unique needs, the initiative empowers these women through survivor empowerment and peer support, fostering a positive environment conducive to recovery.

Each participant is assigned a recovery coach and counselor, ensuring personalized support throughout their journey. This model not only provides the necessary resources but also establishes trust, enabling women to feel welcomed and respected as they transition into their new residences.

While the program's structure presents a promising pathway to recovery for women on the margins, challenges remain in aligning local policies with best practices. Interviews revealed systemic barriers at the level of healthcare and criminal justice, wherein postpartum women were unnecessarily removed from medically assisted treatment (MAT), heightening their risk of overdose post-incarceration. This inconsistency undermines established practices that prioritize the health and recovery of mothers and their infants.

Furthermore, effective communication within healthcare settings is crucial for successful treatment outcomes. The varying interpretations of screening for substance use, particularly during pregnancy, reflect a profound need for standardized practices and training among healthcare providers. Ensuring that all healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge necessary to screen patients effectively can significantly improve prenatal care and reduce the stigma surrounding substance use.

Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) provide vital guidelines that should be acknowledged and integrated within local practices. By aligning policies with research-based recommendations, the "Come Home Houston" program can foster a holistic approach to recovery that emphasizes prevention and ongoing support.

Ultimately, the success of programs like "Come Home Houston" will rely heavily on collaboration across various sectors—healthcare, justice, and community services—creating a comprehensive network of support for women in need. By strengthening community ties and empowering individuals, this program holds the potential to transform lives, foster resilience, and contribute positively to public health outcomes.

References

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2021).
• Baylor College of Medicine. (2021).
• World Health Organization. (2020). Guidelines on prenatal care.
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2021).
• Santa Maria Hostel. (2021). Program Overview.
• The National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Substance Use among Pregnant Women.
• Bexar County Jail Health Services Report. (2021).
• Harris County Jail Medical Oversight. (2021).
• Empowering Women through Substance Use Recovery: Best Practices. (2020).
• Federal Guidelines for Substance Use Treatment. (2021).