Community Consortium Meeting
November 17, 2014
In attendance: Brian Bickford, Community Health Link, Nate Guevremont, UMass, David Modzelewski, Network, Pamela Schwartz, Network, Chris Zabik, DMH, Heather Zayjowski, UMass
Evaluation Update (Heather):
Click here for evaluation data. Overview: not many changes in numbers since enrollment completed and now just finishing up surveys for those enrolled (collecting data until the end of the grant extension in Feb. 2015). A poster on the project was produced and presented at the American Public Health Association conference this week. The poster highlights two features: changes in mental health and substance abuse and housing status. In general, findings demonstrate a decline in mental health problems, and a huge leap from homelessness to permanently housed, the ultimate measure of success.
MA DPH received CABHI grant but for Eastern Mass. Neither BHN or ServiceNet were funded. Only Eastern MA received funding. They should receive feedback.
Funding ends in February. Will continue to collect data, will finish up the services. After February, UMass will provide an end of services report.
We agreed our Western Mass group should convene to do our own informal evaluation, specifically around how successfully individuals have been connected to services post SAMHSA grant.
UMass updates (Nate):
Got a new project officer from SAMHSA. Will be planning our next steering committee meeting. David and Leon at APHA conference. Will send poster and Pamela will put on blog.
CHL (Brian):
Working on transitions of Year 3 folks. People are doing pretty well. Still have one person really struggling and just recently moved her into her own apartment.
Network (Pamela and Dave):
Pamela reported that conversations are underway with our region’s CoC’s about how to continue the work of the Housing Options Tool (currently out of funding) and if/how to integrate it into the work of the Hampden County CoC’s Zero 2016 campaign (which also offers housing tracking tools).
Dave reported that the coordinated intake and assessment tool, the VI-SPDAT, is slowly being implemented across the region under the guidance of the CoC’s.
Pamela and Dave noted that with the end of this grant, funding for the REACH meetings is no longer available. Pamela will follow-up with the Western region group to brainstorm how to close the gap.
BHN (Jennifer, via email): No new information.
Next meeting: Monday, January 12, 11 am, same number
