I AM THE ARCHIVE.PHP FILE

Author: Nilagia McCoy

Local Agencies Address Opioid Epidemic with Compassion, Collaboration

Panel features harm reduction approaches from social work, public health, and emergency services

Social work, public health, and law enforcement experts discussed their agencies’ efforts to address the opioid epidemic at a panel discussion on February 25, 2019, at Boston University’s Kilachand Center. Hosted by the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health, the panel focused on strategies for harm reduction, an approach that aims to lessen the negative effects of drug use in a person’s life, even if the person is not ready to stop their substance use.

With roots in social justice movements and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, a harm reduction approach to substance use prioritizes empowerment and dignity. Although harm reduction can include referrals to treatment, it also includes “meeting people where they are,” through needle exchange and overdose prevention services. Harm reduction emphasizes access to health and social services regardless of whether a person is ready to commit to recovery.  

BU School of Social Work (BUSSW) doctoral student Corinne Beaugard, who co-organized the panel, opened the event with an overview of the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts and harm reduction principles. During the discussion, moderated by Chris Salas-Wright, assistant professor at BUSSW, common themes emerged regarding respect for individuals’ lived experiences and the importance of collaboration across service areas.

“There’s a myth or perception that people who use drugs don’t care about their health,” said Clare Schmidt, program coordinator for Boston Public Health Commission’s AHOPE Needle Exchange. AHOPE, which serves 80-150 people daily, provides access to clean needles and Narcan, as well as testing for hepatitis C, HIV, and other STIs. AHOPE also acts as a bridge to other medical and social services, said Schmidt. The population AHOPE serves is largely homeless, with coexisting mental and physical health conditions. Many clients have had traumatic experiences with law enforcement or social workers, said Schmidt, making relationship building over time an important part of the organization’s work.  

“A lot of times in treatment or in detox, you’re only seeing the person at the chaotic end of the drug use spectrum, and you’re ignoring their abstinence, low use, moderate use,” said Schmidt. “With harm reduction, you can see that person as a whole human being and recognize that they have so many more dimensions than whatever their drug use looks like at that point in time, and I think people respond really well to that in general.”

Caitlin Clark, a social worker for Boston Medical Center’s Project RESPECT, which provides services to pregnant women struggling with addiction, also stressed the need for relationship building. “For anyone with an opiate use disorder, asking for help can be incredibly challenging and difficult because of this wider social stigma,” she said. Feelings of shame and guilt are particularly strong among expecting mothers, and many OBGYN doctors will instruct pregnant women to stop opioid use immediately—even though medication-assisted therapy, such as methadone treatment, is considered the “gold standard,” said Clark.

Fear of interaction with child welfare and law enforcement agencies can further compound problems, deterring women from obtaining the prenatal care they need, she said. “Data show that women who use throughout their pregnancy but come consistently to prenatal care have better outcomes—so just giving a patient a space to come in and feel like they have dignity, worth, and support is harm reduction in and of itself.”

Law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts are also incorporating harm reduction techniques, a reversal of the punitive policing of drug offenses in past decades. “We can’t arrest our way out of the problem,” said Chief Scott Allen, East Bridgewater chief of police, and member of the PAARI (Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative) National Advisory Police Council.

Allen said the East Bridgewater Police Department now has a social worker on staff, and sends outreach teams to homes to encourage people who have survived an overdose to seek treatment. Officers carry Narcan, a development he said he would not have predicted 20 years ago. Allen encouraged people working in social work and public health to learn how different fields are approaching the opioid epidemic, rather than making assumptions. “If you think every police officer is just looking to make an arrest, you’re not going to be able to interact with them as effectively,” he said.

Even when a person embarks on recovery, the principals of harm reduction are still highly relevant. Tyshaun Perryman, a recovery coach at Boston Medical Center’s Project RECOVER, works with people who have been discharged from two opioid detox programs, Lahey Health Behavioral Services Boston Treatment Center and Dimock Community Health Center. Perryman works with clients for six months, acting as a guide and mentor by developing a recovery plan, and connecting them to needed resources such as medical care, housing, food, and job training. His work is part of a BMC study to evaluate the role of recovery coaches in addiction treatment, as well as racial disparities in treatment access.

“When some people leave detox, they’re just not ready, even though they made a step,” said Perryman. “The key thing is I’m still there with them. They know ‘if I relapse, my recovery coach is still there with me.’ It’s not that they are bad people, or that they’re undecided. If you know about the stages of change, relapse can sometimes be a part of that process. It may take a person a thousand times before they actually get it—and they’re sincerely trying. It supports them for me to just be there and to be non-judgmental and tell them that listen, no matter what, we’re going to support you in whatever change you want to make.”

Perryman advised social workers and other health professionals to acknowledge the seemingly insurmountable obstacles people living with addiction may face, including unstable housing, family abandonment, and depression. “They have come through a battlefield just to make it to your office.”

 

Clare Schmidt
Clare Schmidt and Chris Salas-Wright
Tyshaun Perryman
Tyshaun Perryman and Caitlin Clark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article and photos by Nilagia McCoy of the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health. 

Apply for Pilot Funding for BU School of Social Work, School of Public Health Collaborative Project

The Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH), in partnership with the Boston University School of Social Work and the School of Public Health, is pleased to announce a  Request for Proposals (RFP) for the CISWH-SPH-SSW Research Collaboration Development Pilot Funding grant. 

Social work and public health share a common interest in promoting the health of populations. This RFP aims to encourage innovative work that aspires to generate scholarship toward that end by building on collaborations between faculty in the Schools of Public Health and Social Work in one or more of the following domains: outcomes-oriented research, practice and community partnerships, education and training, and/or policy development and advocacy.

Applications must include at least one faculty member from both schools. One pilot grant will be awarded in the amount of $35,000 for a one-year period beginning September 2019. Proposals are due June 14, 2019. 

Download the full RFP with submission details.

Words of Wisdom from Community Health Workers on Developing and Sustaining a Program

What does it take to be an effective Community Health Worker (CHW)? How can health organizations seeking to improve their outreach to marginalized communities best implement a CHW program? On January 15-17, 2019, the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) hosted more than 30 CHWs and their supervisors to discuss these issues, share their accomplishments, and network.   

With roots in the communities they serve, CHWs play a valuable role in connecting underserved populations to the health and social services they need. However, the roles and responsibilities of CHWs are not always clearly defined, and more health organizations could make use of CHW services if they had effective programs in place.   

To help address this need, CISWH’s Improving Access to HIV Care Using CHWs project is providing training, evaluation, and technical assistance to ten HIV/AIDS service providers that are developing CHW programs. The January conference was part of a series of convenings that began in 2016, which will help inform the creation of resources for CHWs across the U.S.

During an interactive session, attendees shared their advice for CHWs and for organizations considering starting a CHW program. From logistics to working with clients, the session provided insight and words of encouragement relevant to CHWs in a range of settings. Below are some highlights from the discussion.    

On working with clients:

CHWs share their experiences

“Connecting is the most important thing. Connect with providers regularly so they remember what you do. Connect with other departments so you know who to ask for resources. And connect with your clients in a genuine way. They are experts in their own experiences; use their expertise as you work together to improve health outcomes.” — CHW supervisor, Houston, TX

“Be flexible; ask tons of questions; don’t be afraid to tell your clients you don’t know the answer to a question they may have but you will try to find the answer; but most importantly, be open to learning new things.”— CHW, Mobile, AL

“Patience is a virtue. The ability to wait for something without frustration is a useful skill and a good aspect of one’s personality.” — CHW, Baltimore, MD

“Listen to the small things, because that’s where the story will be.” — CHW, Baltimore, MD

On developing a CHW program:

CHW presenting at conference.

“Clearly define the roles and functions of the CHWs. This will avoid any role confusion.” — CHW supervisor, Las Vegas, NV

“CHWs and case managers can co-exist indefinitely. Their end game may be the same but the routes are different.” — CHW supervisor, Mobile, AL

“Choose CHWs who are flexible, open-minded/not afraid, knowledgeable, resourceful, dedicated, passionate. Create a system/structure for: regular check ins, communication, standardized documentation, and connecting the patients to the healthcare team and community resources.” — CHW supervisor, Baltimore, MD

“Continue to offer trainings and staff development, refreshers on motivational interviewing, conflict resolution, etc. Remember to say thank you for service and to those who go above and beyond – kudos!” — CHW supervisor, Lake Charles, LA

“Don’t be disappointed if you don’t see immediate change after implementing your program. Change sometimes happens slowly, no matter how much love and attention you are putting in.” — CHW, Houston, TX

On dealing with difficult times:

“Celebrate your successes, no matter how seemingly small. Small successes may make a big impact!” — CHW supervisor, New Orleans, LA

“Be encouraged; even when it seems no one is watching your hard work, someone is. Your ‘shine’ is not unnoticed.” — CHW, Fort Myers, FL

“Self-care should be your number one priority. Your work will be ineffective, lack passion, and direction if you aren’t intentional about taking care of you.” — CHW supervisor, Greenville, NC

“Open yourself to receive as much as you give. You are worth the effort, joy and passion you give to others.” — CHW, Birmingham, AL

CHWs and supervisors representing 10 project sites attended the January conference.

Article and photos by Nilagia McCoy of the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health.

The Improving Access to HIV Care Using CHWs project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U69HA30462 “Improving Access to Care: Using Community Health Workers to Improve Linkage and Retention in HIV Care” ($2,000,000 of federal funding). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Event, 2/25 – Opioid Epidemic & Harm Reduction: Social Work, Public Health & Emergency Services Approaches

Social Work & Health Equity Speaker Series

Monday, February 25, 2019
BU Kilachand Center, 610 Commonwealth Ave, Colloquium Room

5:30 – 7:00pm

This event will feature diverse perspectives of individuals working at the forefront of the opioid epidemic. Panelists will discuss care for individuals who use opioids (or other substances), and opportunities for prevention, harm reduction, and inter-professional collaboration.

Speakers:

  • Chief Scott Allen, Chief of Police, East Bridgewater; Member of the PAARI (Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative) National Advisory Police Council
  • Caitlin Clark, MSW, Social Worker, Project RESPECT Clinic, Boston Medical Center
  • Tyshaun Perryman, Recovery Coach, Project RECOVER, Boston Medical Center
  • Clare Schmidt, MPH, Program Coordinator, AHOPE Needle Exchange, Boston Public Health Commission 
  • Christopher Salas-Wright, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor, Boston University School of Social Work, moderator

The goals of the event are:

1) to explore the challenges and opportunities in harm reduction and inter-professional approaches to opioid use

2) to explore the social, economic, and political determinants of opioid use and access to quality treatment

3) to increase knowledge on the intersection of public health, social work, and emergency services in addressing the opioid epidemic.

The first half will be focused on panelists’ experiences in the field and the second half will be a moderated panel discussion with Q&A from the audience.

Metered parking available on Bay State Road and street parking available in Brookline. 

Registration is required; space is limited. 

Questions? Email [email protected]. 

Image credit: Flickr, ep_jhu

Boston University Researchers and Community Partners to Evaluate Police Response to Mental Health Incidents in Schools, Training for Parents with Intellectual Disabilities

Boston, MA, January 15, 2019—Boston University School of Social Work’s Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) announces the funding and launch of two new research projects to improve the health and welfare of vulnerable youth populations.

“These projects exemplify CISWH’s goal to foster innovative collaborations between researchers and community partners in order to address health inequities,” said Jorge Delva, dean of BU’s School of Social Work, Center director, and Paul Farmer Professor. “Both projects have the potential to create positive, real-world change and decrease racial, economic, and education-related health inequities in the youth mental health and child welfare systems.”

Examining Police Response to Mental Health Incidents in Boston Public Schools

Led by Jennifer Greif Green, Ph.D., associate professor at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, this project will examine the use of police services to respond to behavioral health incidents in Boston Public Schools (BPS). Using 911 call data and police incident reports, researchers will examine patterns of behavioral health-related police responses across BPS to evaluate the nature of concerns that lead to police involvement. The results will be presented to stakeholders at BPS and the Boston Police Department, with the goal of improving behavioral health services for Boston-area students.

“We are thankful for the support of the CISWH grant and the opportunity to move forward with this research, which we hope will provide information to support school and community-based providers in improving services for youth in Boston schools,” said Greif Green.

Collaborators include Melissa S. Morabito, Ph.D., associate professor at University of Massachusetts Lowell, and Jenna Savage, Ph.D., deputy director of the Boston Police Department’s Office of Research and Development. This project expands on existing work at CISWH, in partnership with Boston Medical Center Department of Psychiatry, focused on examining the relationship between mobile crisis utilization and school mental health services. Together, these projects aim to understand how schools are managing mental health crises and explore opportunities for addressing inequities in access and use of mental health services.

Building Evidence for a Preventive Parenting Intervention for Clients with Intellectual Disabilities

Led by Astraea Augsberger, Ph.D., assistant professor at Boston University School of Social Work, this project will evaluate the efficacy of Project IMPACT, an intensive in-home training program for parents with intellectual disabilities who are at risk of child removal due to allegations of child maltreatment. Children whose parents have intellectual disabilities are more likely to be placed in foster care, which is associated with long-term negative outcomes related to mental health, substance use, and education.

Project IMPACT (Improving Parenting Achievements Together), of Westchester County, NY, provides interventions that support parents and healthy child development, aiming to prevent children from entering or re-entering foster care. Project IMPACT social workers ensure that parents with intellectual disabilities can access a range of appropriate services. Project findings will be used to inform Project IMPACT’s services, while targeting the health inequities associated with race, class, and intellectual disability in the child welfare and mental health systems.

“Collaborating with CISWH offers a public health social work lens for child welfare research. It will also broaden our dissemination efforts to healthcare professionals who provide critical services to parents with intellectual disabilities at risk of family disruption,” said Augsberger.

Collaborators include Wendy Zeitlin, Ph.D, assistant professor at Montclair State University, Danielle Weisberg, director of child welfare services and director of the Children’s Advocacy Center at Westchester Institute for Human Development, and Trupti Rao, Psy.D, director of Project IMPACT.

The two projects were the recipients of CISWH’s 2018 Innovation Pilot Funding Grant, which awards $15,000 to Boston University faculty and doctoral students for cross-disciplinary projects focused on social work and health. Projects must include community partnerships, and focus on outcomes-oriented research, practice, education and training, and/or policy development and advocacy. The pilot project phase lasts for one year.

About CISWH

The Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) is dedicated to expanding the impact of social work in health care and public health in order to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations nationally and globally. CISWH seeks to improve outcomes, patient experience, and population health; reduce costs; and promote health equity and social justice. The Center supports social work leadership in health through cross-sector collaboration with public health, medicine, health economics, technology, and other relevant disciplines. The Center accomplishes its mission through research, community partnerships, policy development, and by providing technical assistance and educational opportunities. Learn more at bu.edu/ciswh

Media Contact:
Nilagia McCoy
Communications Manager, Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health
[email protected] | 617-358-1889

Best Practices for Improving HIV Care for Homeless Populations Published in AJPH

HIV treatment advances have dramatically improved longevity and quality of life for people living with HIV — yet disparities in treatment persist in the U.S. Homeless people are at increased risk of contracting HIV and are less likely to receive consistent care. How can public health and social service professionals best treat people living with HIV and homelessness? The American Journal of Public Health’s (AJPH) December 2018 special issue, “Medical Home for HIV-Positive, Multiply-Diagnosed Homeless Populations,” features research from the Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH), and its community partners, providing an updated examination of people living with HIV and homelessness, and strategies for improving their health.

The AJPH issue features research and editorials by Serena Rajabiun, MA, MPH PhD, research assistant professor at Boston University School of Social Work (SSW) and principal investigator at CISWH. Rajabiun led the Medical Home HIV Evaluation & Resource Team (Med-HEART) project, a five-year partnership between Boston University School of Public Health (SPH), SSW, and Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program.

Med-HEART evaluated nine demonstration sites across the U.S. that participated in interventions to improve HIV care and housing stability. These interventions included partnerships between HIV services and housing providers, integrated behavioral health and HIV services, and network navigators—members of the health care team who worked one-on-one with clients to improve access to HIV care, housing, and support services.

Med-HEART was funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Project collaborators include SPH’s Howard Cabral, Alexander DeGroot, Emily Sisson, and Karen Fortu, along with SSW faculty member and former CISWH Director Sally Bachman.

The articles highlight best practices and lessons learned from Med-HEART on a range of topics—including the impact of housing on HIV care, stigma reduction, determinants of housing stability, patient-centered care, patients living with multiple comorbidities, rural patient considerations, and more.

CISWH at the 2018 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care & Treatment

Researchers affiliated with the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) will present their recent findings and participate in panels at the 2018 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care and Treatment, which will take place from December 11-14, 2018 in Oxon Hill, MD.

The conference is the largest national gathering of HIV care and treatment providers in the U.S, and is hosted by the HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau. Sessions featuring CISWH projects, researchers, and community partners are listed below. View the full conference schedule and detailed descriptions.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

10:30 AM–12:00 PM

1:30 PM–3:00 PM

4:00 PM–5:30 PM

Thursday, December 13, 2018

10:30 AM–12:00 PM

1:30 PM–3:00 PM

4:00 PM–5:30 PM

  • Improving Linkage and Retention in Care: Integrating Community Health Workers into Multidisciplinary Care Teams (Affiliated project: CHWs)
  • Applying Implementation Science to a Multi-Intervention, Multi-site Study Linking and Retaining HIV-positive Patients in Care (Affiliated project: DEC)

Friday, December 14, 2018

10:15 AM–11:45 AM

CISWH Announces Fall 2018 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Innovation Pilot Funding Grant

The Boston University School of Social Work’s Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) is pleased to announce its Fall 2018 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Innovation Pilot Funding Grant. We are seeking proposals for a collaboration that involves BU-affiliated stakeholders and community partners, in one or more of the following domains:

  1. Outcomes-oriented research
  2. Practice and community partnership
  3. Education and training
  4. Policy development and advocacy

One pilot grant will be awarded for this inaugural RFP. Applicants are required to propose a project that is consistent with the following CISWH Guiding Strategies:

  • Foster innovative, multi-sectoral collaborations among social work, public health and other disciplines, and with community partners.
  • Use transdisciplinary organizational models that promote responsiveness, flexibility and community engagement.

The Award is open to all faculty or graduate students from all Boston University Schools and Colleges, as described in the Guidelines. Interdisciplinary collaboration and community partnerships are required.  If you are a community partner interested in finding a BU partner to collaborate with, please email Madi at [email protected]. The successful proposal will receive pilot funding of up to $15,000 for a one year period.

About CISWH

The Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health’s mission is to expand the impact of social work in health, public health, and global health in order to reduce health costs, improve outcomes, improve patient experience, promote population health and stimulate health equity nationally and globally.  The Center promotes social work leadership in health through inter-professional and transdisciplinary collaboration with public health, medicine, health economics, technology, and other relevant disciplines.

CISWH Priority Areas

1. Transdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations that address social determinants of health and promote health equity, racial equity, and social justice
2. Community-based research that includes meaningful engagement of community partners in all aspects of the work and utilizes existing expertise inside and outside Boston University
3. Education and training opportunities such as leadership, management, and structural racism
4. Social workers’ participation in local and national policy development and advocacy regarding health care, public health and the social determinants of health
5. Integrated health care models that place social workers in leadership positions
6. Economic analyses of the role of social work in health

Submission

Please follow our Guidelines. All proposals must be submitted in a single PDF and include the relevant documents listed. Submissions should be up to 5 single-spaced pages in total for narrative, exclusive of attachments, including staff bios, budget, and support letters. Please email proposals to [email protected] by 5pm on October 19.

Important Dates

RFP Release Date: September 22, 2018
Proposal Due Date: October 19, 2018
Successful Proposal Identified: December 3, 2018
Program Start Date: January 7, 2019
Program End Date: December 31, 2019

Contact

Please direct any questions to Madi Wachman, Assistant Director, CISWH Programs and Projects at [email protected].

Appointment of Dr. Jorge Delva as Director ad interim, CISWH

Dr. Jorge Delva, Dean of the School of Social Work, has been named Interim Director of the BU Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH), effective Wednesday, September 19, 2018. He assumes this additional role as outgoing CISWH Director Dr. Sally Bachman departs BU to become Dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. We congratulate Dr. Sally Bachman and wish her well as she moves on to this new role at the University of Pennsylvania.

Appointed Dean and Professor of Social Work in January 2018, Dr. Delva is a national leader in the field. His multi- and trans-disciplinary research seeks to reduce health disparities and improve the lives of low-income and racial and ethnic minority populations. His scholarship has made substantial contributions to advancing our understanding of psychosocial-cultural mechanisms associated with substance-using behaviors among Hispanic/Latino, African American, and American Indian populations, as well as with populations in Latin America. He is an elected Fellow of the Society for Social Work Research and a past Editor-in-Chief of Social Work, the flagship publication of the National Association of Social Work.

In the CISWH, Dr. Delva takes over one of the nation’s premier interdisciplinary centers for social work and health scholarship and practice. Since opening in 2017, the CISWH has worked to expand the impact of social work and social workers in healthcare delivery, public health, and global health in order to reduce costs, improve outcomes, improve patient experience, promote population health, and stimulate health equity nationally and globally. Overseen by the School of Social Work and working in partnership with public health, medicine, health economics, technology, and other relevant disciplines, the Center promotes social work leadership in health through inter-professional and trans-disciplinary collaboration. It accomplishes its mission through outcomes-oriented research, community partnerships, policy development, education, and training activities and through robust collaborations among BU faculty, particularly those in the Schools of Social Work and Public Health.